Live Review: Daniel Caesar

The bars are serving up special Freudian espresso martinis tonight named after the headlining artist's debut album.

Our warm-up DJ points out a connection between Forum Theatre's Roman statues and the main artist's surname (Caesar). He gets the audience pumped-up with popular hip hop and R&B tracks as we all dance along to hits from the likes of Rihanna, Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Bruno Mars. As he plays Estelle's American Boy (feat Kanye West) we're encouraged to replace the chorus with "Canadian Boy" to welcome Toronto-based musician Daniel Caesar to the stage.

Opening with Japanese Denim, Caesar's smooth and soulful vocals make the hairs on the backs of our necks stand on end. The bluesy track is paired beautifully with jazzy riffs and funky chords that hook us in right from the get-go. "He's even better live than recorded!" plus one confirms, which is what we're all thinking as we listen to his enchanting falsetto. Caesar burns a sage smudge stick and waves it the air to cleanse the energy around the stage. We feel enlightened by this ritual and let go of any negativity as he continues to sing the uplifting Best Part. Caesar recites the chorus in a spoken word style, getting everyone to repeat the lyrics and sing along with him.

"I feel at home here," Caesar tells us. It's his first time playing shows in Australia and we give him a pretty warm welcome since demand for tickets resulted in a venue upgrade. Despite this being a sold-out show, Caesar's entrancing presence makes it still feel intimate. He croons his way through the euphoric track Violet, which is a song he tells us he wrote to himself a long time ago. "This makes me feel so light," says a nearby punter as Caesar's atmospheric music makes us all feel as if we could float.

Caesar includes a delicate rendition of River Tiber's West (for which he contributed vocals) before diving into the moshpit to deliver a '90s R&B flavour on Neu Roses (Transgressor's Song). We Find Love highlights gospel melodies that build in intensity thanks to Caesar's vulnerable and emotional performance. He introduces his band right before an encore of Get You (during which his bassist sings Kali Uchis' parts). The audience sings along in unison at the top of their voices and it's apparent that Caesar's fans have a very strong connection to this song. Caesar's breathtaking live show is both captivating and moving. He's a rising superstar.