“I feel like I’m in a movie right now”: ESHA TEWARI’S headlinE show in Sydney
words: SAVANNAH GALLIMORE
During Esha Tewari’s sold out headlining show at Vanguard in Sydney someone near me said, “I feel like I’m in a movie right now,” and I could not help but agree with that sentiment. The people were decked out in lacy tops with bows in their hair, and the air was full of an anticipatory buzz. From the moment the lights went down and blue washed over the stage, everyone in the crowd was psyched for her performance.
This marked Tewari’s first show with a full band, which brought more energy to her captivating vocals. Starting off the set with “bad decision!” and going straight into “In Twos” was the perfect way to get the crowd moving and dancing from the jump. Her band, which consisted of one drummer and one guitarist, as well as herself, had amazing energy that lit up the stage. With a ribbon tied to the end of her guitar and a voice that entranced everyone in earshot, Tewari sparkled from her spot onstage.
Tewari’s crowd work and stage presence truly set the tone for the night. She spoke in between songs about how excited she was to be playing and riled up the crowd by getting them equally as enthusiastic to be in the room. Prior to playing “About Me,” she asked everyone in the crowd to help her sing bits of the chorus when it came around, which made everyone in the room stoked to be able to participate.
A Jeff Buckley reference preceded “empty pages,” which was another way she incorporated crowd work into her set, telling everyone to throw their hands up and yell when they heard the Jeff Buckley-related lyric. At the end of “empty pages,” instrumental interludes built tension, flashing lights and swelling sound that left the crowd suspended, unsure if it was really over. She walked off the stage as the crowd chanted “One more song!” over and over, until she reappeared alone with her acoustic guitar.
She debuted an unreleased song that had already gained traction on Instagram, followed by another new track set to appear on her upcoming EP, “What Makes a Girl a Girl.” Lyrics like “you still love me when I cry” and “you are my achilles heel” landed hard, this beautiful love song ringing through the room touched everyone despite not even being released yet. “beautiful boy” played next, fans burst into excitement and the venue turned into a full room singalong.
After exiting again, Tewari returned with the band for a final jolt of energy. Heavy drums and electric instrumentation lit up the crowd before launching into a cover of the iconic Metric song, “Black Sheep”. As the band played on, she slipped offstage, letting the music finish the story, lights still up, sound still full, the moment lingering.
With a world tour alongside Conan Gray and her third EP on the horizon, Tewari’s Vanguard show felt like a glimpse into what is to come for her as an artist. There is no doubt Esha Tewari will solidify her place as a force to be reckoned with and is stepping into a much bigger chapter as a performer.