Live Review: Meg Mac, Lilt

Australia has had this soul vibe coursing through its music scene for the past couple of years and it's only growing with intensity. It was probably spawned from that defining piece of electronica from Chet Faker along with Flume's projects back in 2012, which kinda kickstarted the whole genre movement, redefining what's pop and redefining what's cool. The whole scene just keeps getting bigger and bigger and right now, Meg Mac is the epitome of the genre, adding a pop twist and some neo-soul beats that have seen her heralded as the darling of pretty much every media outlet the nation.

Performing to a sold-out audience in Perth on the weekend, the 25-year-old Sydney-based singer-songwriter captivated a 400-strong audience in the intimate concert hall at Capitol. The gig started with an appearance from Lilt, a West Australian indie-pop group who add a unique twist to some deep house backing beats through soft and mellow vocals. Lilt offered a perfect way to kick off the evening, with a chilled and inspiring sound that complemented the powerful vocals delivered by Mac a little later.

Meg Mac hit the stage after a short break, wasting no time and jumping straight into some of her signature bangers. Headline songs from the night included Turning, Never Be and Known Better, alongside the obvious radio hits Roll Up Your Sleeves and that killer Bill Withers cover that made her blow up initially in 2014, Grandma's Hands. Some unreleased material received a very warm welcome, definitely showing there's even more solid content on the horizon.

Shortly before the end of the night, Mac flexed her musical muscle, casting off the support and performing an entire song with nothing but a microphone and a loop pedal, beating on her chest for bass and looping these gorgeous vocals to create a medley of sounds that definitely recalled the spirit and maybe even rivalled the calibre of the late Amy Winehouse. It was fantastic to see something executed with such passion.

Mac is undeniably one of the most talented musicians to come out of Australia over the last few years; her voice is powerful and unique, and she's quickly forging her own style. Coupling those traits with a strong touring band she managed to create some very soulful vibes that captivated the Perth crowd for a solid hour, no mean feat for someone relatively new to the touring circuit.

Meg Mac delivered some soul in a fresh and charmingly Australian way. She's someone you've got really got to see live to fully appreciate; her vocal range is just amazing, powerful yet still delicate. A solid performance from a very talented young musician.