BAYNK - Live at Howler, Melbourne

With nearly a two year gap between his last visit to Melbourne, New Zealand’s BAYNK brought his highly acclaimed live show down to Howler on a typical winter’s evening with the aim to warm up every punter with his uplifting blend of electronica.

After seeing glimpses of his performances at Coachella and across his previous North American tours, it was clear that we were in for an up close and personal performance from the New Zealand star with the stage setup of two separate consoles and a electrified frame at the rear. Throwing in some extravagant lighting to accompany, BAYNK led us into the party with his two big hits in ‘Water’ and ‘Poolside’ that truly got the crowd up and about.

It didn’t take long for the crowd to be treated to the musical prowess of BAYNK with his implementation of the live saxophone which oozed absolute charisma and charm through each playful solo. Whilst playing, BAYNK controlled significant amount of space on the stage that demanded significant presence and comfortability that was extremely well received from all the punters with mass appreciation.

Whilst showcasing the big hits from his recently released ‘Someone’s EP II’ including flipping ‘Settle’ on its head halfway through and the crowd favourite ‘Off Limits’, a major highlight of the night was the performance of ‘go with u’. Following on from the music video that dropped recently, this is where we saw BAYNK dive into his eccentric and joyous dance moves that matched the intensity and force created in the music.

In continuing the ‘party’ vibe that translated throughout the whole evening, we must acknowledge the incredible DJing skills that BAYNK presented us. Throwing in moments of Modjo‘s ‘Lady – Hear Me Tonight’, KC & The Sunshine Band‘s ‘That’s The Way (I Like It) and Chance The Rapper‘s ‘All Night’, these moments caught the crowd off guard and forced them to dance instantly. As well as this, BAYNK produced several astonishing covers that added another layer to his already impressive palate. Featuring Drake‘s ‘Hotline Bling’ and Outkast‘s ‘Ms. Jackson’ in his trademark lively electronic/pop sounds, these covers were a welcomed treat that further emphasised the upbeat tempo of the night.

Rounding out the night with some of his most notable music in ‘Come Home’ and ‘What You Need’, fans were given that last chance to join in a mass sing along and dance breakdown within the blistering bass and synth driven tracks. If this night is any indication of BAYNK‘s future, he is in for a rapid ascendancy with his exuberant live show and stage presence taking us to another dimension.