Live Review: Mansionair

With their first single Hold Me Down receiving over 8,000,000 hits on YouTube and close to 2,000,000 plays on Soundcloud, it’s easy to see why Sydney indie-electronica trio Mansionair have been on the tip of everyone’s tongue lately.

After releasing their debut Hold Me Down EP in October last year through Goodbye Records (CHVRCHES’ label), the band have subsequently landed gigs from Lost Paradise to Laneway Festival and SXSW in Texas later this month. Not only have they gained ample airtime on triple j, the band have also received an FBi SMAC nomination for the Next Big Thing.

Stepping into the intimate venue was like sneaking into someone’s backyard for a small-scale private party with all your high school mates. The crowd all sat cross-legged, childlike in a dimly lit room, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the band before being instructed to stand by staff members.

While only having released two tracks of their own, Mansionair played a mix of unheard tracks before playing their cover of Future Island’s Seasons, recorded for triple j’s Like A Version.

Still humbled by their recent success, the band dilly-dallied with crowd banter before performing Second Night, the second track off their EP. Vocalist Jack Froggatt delivered elegant, spine-tingling vocals, mesmerising the crowd while showcasing his somewhat eccentric dance moves, bending and arching, arms flailing side to side and not necessarily in time to the music but immensely likeable groovin’ nonetheless.

With Lachlan Bostock on guitar, keyboard and back-up vocals and Alex Nicholls whipping out the maracas while on the drums, Mansionair closed with the song we were all waiting for, Hold Me Down. It’s multi-dimensional and has the capacity to take the audience on a delicate and delightful audio journey, crossing and combining musical genres wherever it sees fit.

Keep your eyes peeled for the breath of fresh air that is Mansionair, having been rightfully dubbed as artists to watch in 2015.