Live Review: Jhene Aiko, Ladi6

As a young woman vomits into a plastic red cup, rising New Zealand artist Ladi6 arrives on stage. Fusing R&B, hip hop and neo-soul in her vibrant sound, it doesn’t take her long to get the growing crowd swaying along and singing with her, including vomit girl, who’s now miraculously recovered and dancing near the exit. Although her set is short, Ladi6 offers enough to suggest you’ll be hearing more from her in the future. 

A calm voice-over informs the crowd to put their phones away and prepare themselves for a sensory journey as tonight’s main attraction, Jhene Aiko, floats into view. Of course, nobody listens and the arena is suddenly lit by thousands of people holding their phones above their heads and screaming as Aiko gets things underway with the soulful LSD, leading into the equally as soothing Jukai.

Touring in support of latest album Trip, the set is predictably heavy with tracks from that record. Aiko shimmies around the stage during the slow-burning guitar pop of While We’re Young and waves to the audience during the sombre New Balance. The slinky Never Call Me gets a roar of approval as the smell of weed fills the air during Psilocybin (Love In Full Effect), with Aiko enquiring if “anyone likes mushrooms”?

Backed only by Julian-Quan Viet Le on the keys and Gracie Sprout on the harp (along with a heavy backing track at times), Aiko’s set-up is minimal. The stage is overrun with vegetation as the large video screen plays short vignettes, video clips and trippy visuals during each track. Wandering the stage in a white crop top and sparkling red pants, she often rips flowers from her surroundings and throws them to members of the crowd during songs. Aiko commands attention, her majestic voice hypnotising everyone present and sounding just as lush in the live arena as it does on record.

When the LA native delves into tracks from her early releases the crowd really let loose. Comfort Inn Ending (Freestyle) receives a deafening reception, piano-led The Worst has a lad in a bucket hat doing his best Michael Jackson impersonation as everyone sings along, while the famous clip of John Lennon and Yoko Ono holding their bed-in plays during the romantic Bed Peace, minus Childish Gambino’s underrated verse. 

A couple who look deliriously in love slow dance during Stay Ready (What A Life) before Sativa, one of the best tracks on Trip, has even those seated in the stands up and dancing along. Aiko invites a throng of people on stage to dance during final song OLLA (Only Lovers Left Alive), ending her hour-long set on a high with everyone wanting more.