Live Review: Teyana Taylor

As Vivid crowds gathered around Sydney’s lit-up Opera House, fans of Harlem’s Teyana Taylor waited within. The R&B singer, who was scheduled to appear at 7.30pm, didn’t walk on stage until after 9pm. Punters were told "travel delays" were the reason for the hour-and-a-half delay – it turns out her band and dancers had missed their flight.

Some time after 8pm, DJ Mac Major took to the stage, spinning some R&B tunes to fill in time. The unfazed crowd broke out into little dance battles, creating their own entertainment as they patiently waited.

They erupted into cheers as Taylor, her small band, and three dancers in matching camo outfits outfits finally made their way on stage, opening with No Manners off of her 2018 album KTSE. The natural performer, and choreographer responsible for Beyoncé's Ring The Alarm video, incorporated long dance breaks into songs like Broken Hearted Girl, Hurry and WTP, her vocals rarely slipping after performing the high intensity choreography.

Taylor and her dancers made their first costume change of the night, returning to the stage in what looked like brightly coloured swimwear. “This is the part where I get really lonely on stage”, she announced, searching the audience for a worthy volunteer to bring up. The crowd, who had now gotten to know each other, pointed in perfect synchronicity to a woman who had won them over while dancing during the DJ set. As Taylor straddled the fan on a plastic chair and serenaded her, a few older patrons made a beeline for the exit. Taylor drew a wildly diverse crowd, with an age range of about five to 75.

She dedicated a beautiful rendition of Gonna Love Me to the late Nipsey Hussle and his partner Lauren London, getting the whole crowd out of their seats and singing along. Never Would Have Made It slowed things down and truly showcased Taylor's soulful vocals, supported by soft, sustained keys.

Taylor ended her short, 50-minute set with Rose In Harlem. It’s easy to see how the magnetic and extremely talented performer has made fans out of Pharrell Williams, Kanye West and Elton John. Although the show seemed slightly rushed and not as polished as it might usually be, Taylor still delivered a captivating and very entertaining Vivid LIVE show.