Mallrat & Riiki Reid – Tuning Fork: 13th Floor Concert Review
Mallrat returned to Auckland for a stop at The Tuning Fork for her Light Hits My Face Like A Straight Right tour, bringing her signature mix of dance-pop sparkle, lo-fi charm, and carefree charisma to a packed house.
The night opened with rising star Riiki Reid, who set the tone with an energetic and heartfelt performance before handing the stage to the Australian pop gem.
Riiki Reid
Riiki Reid, dressed in Mallrat merch, delivered a set full of passion and promise. Much of her setlist drew from her upcoming debut album Drench, due October 9. Four of the tracks are already released, but fans were treated to an exclusive first listen of Race Against My Heartbeat, a song about FOMO, friendship, and missing loved ones overseas. Its lush production and pulsing rhythm made it a clear standout.
Riiki’s flawless vocals and natural stage presence made the performance shine. From the falsettos on Home With Me to the emotional cracks in her voice reminiscent of Grace VanderWaal, she balanced technical control with raw feeling. Her choreographed routines, hair flicks, and twirls never felt forced, instead adding to her confident, diva-like presence. At the same time, her bubbly personality kept the vibe warm and grounded. She closed with The City, her most popular song, sending the crowd into dance mode and setting the stage perfectly for the headliner.
Mallrat
When Mallrat (Grace Kathleen Elizabeth Shaw) finally took the stage, anticipation had been building through a long, dark, techno-driven intro that exploded into light and sound. If Beabadoobee experimented with autotune, it might sound a little like this — a dreamy, danceable, and slightly offbeat mix. Tracks like Teeth lifted the room to euphoric heights, with Mallrat’s high notes layered over electronic production and live instrumentation, creating a cinematic, coming-of-age-film atmosphere.
Her band added depth to the backing tracks, making each drop hit harder. The balance of live percussion, keys, and bass gave her set a strong backbone, even though her voice and stage persona carried the show. Mallrat herself was relaxed and playful throughout, joking with the crowd, complaining about the heat, and even breaking into a “meow meow” version of Billie Eilish’s What Was I Made For before launching into a cover of Lana Del Rey’s Radio — a cheeky move that sent the audience into cheers.
The highlights came thick and fast: Wish on an Eyelash earned one of the loudest crowd reactions of the night, while Groceries was the undeniable peak, with fans singing every word back so loudly that at times they drowned her out. Horses, inspired by her little sister and her hometown Brisbane, showcased her softer side, proving she can craft heartfelt ballads as well as club-ready bangers.
Also this may just be me, but she reminds me a lot of 2Hollis with her electronic sounds, but Grace cleary defines her self by her signature “anti-pop” style incorporates elements of cloud rap, dance snares, and even Gaelic choirs, creating a unique and surprising sonic landscape.
Visually, the show was minimalist. For much of the set, Mallrat was bathed in pure white light, which gave the performance a stripped-back honesty that contrasted with her glossy production. The only dramatic shift came during the rock-infused outro of Rockstar, where the lights finally burst into red.
Mallrat’s stage presence was effortless — part cool-girl pop star, part casual friend chatting at the bar. She radiated silliness and sass in equal measure, moving between high-energy tracks and slower moments with ease. Wearing headphones and a white dress, she looked every bit the Gen-Z icon she has become.
By the end of the night, Mallrat had reminded everyone at The Tuning Fork why she is one of the most intriguing names in modern pop. She might keep her stage design simple, but her mix of playful charisma, emotional vulnerability, and infectious dance-pop makes her a performer you can’t take your eyes off.
Azrie Azizi
Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Azrie:
Mallrat:
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