Alayna – Big Fan: July 7, 2023 (Concert Review)

Alayna celebrated the release of her debut album, Self Portrait Of A Woman Unravelling at Auckland’s Big Fan, where much of it was recorded.

Kiwi artist Alayna Powley has been releasing her own songs since 2017, a few singles here, a couple of EPs there, and finally has released her first full-length album titled Self Portrait Of A Woman Unravelling. You can click here to watch the 13^th Floor with Alayna discussing the new album.

Hina

Hina (aka Amy Boroevich) is another one who seems to finally be emerging after getting some attention several years ago. Here she is at The 13^th Floor back in 2020.

Despite the foul weather (I seem to be saying that a lot these days) Big Fan was packed when Hina started her set at 8pm. With guitarist Navakotoa Tekela-Pule sitting behind her in the shadows, Hina performed eight songs, many of them brand new.

Made This Way highlighted her breathy vocal that drew the crowded house into her world.

Oh, and her violin playing added a extra texture that fit right in with the mood. Another highlight of the 30 minute set was Tararua, a new song that will be released as a single next Friday.

We’ll be on the lookout for that along with Hina’s own headlining shows that can’t be too far off.

Alayna

With the crowd keen to be entertained, Alayna wasted little time tonight, taking the stage just before 9pm along with her three-piece band featuring guitarist/songwriter/producer Noema Te Hau along with Forest on keys and Damo on drums.

‘Oh, she’s there!’ shouted out one excited fan as they got things underway with Arrival. And, yes, it seems that Alayna has indeed arrived.

“Alayna where are you?’ his how second song Buckle In Baby starts and it encapsulates the journey the songwriter has taken in an effort to find herself through her art.

The journey has been a bumpy one as Icicles On My Eyelashes reflects…a song about feeling detached and depressed.

Alayna performed that one solo, accompanying herself on keyboard.

But she did have plenty help when it was called for.

Hine returned to play her fiddle on A World Without You and Cherry Tree which also feature Levi Patel sitting in on guitar.

A total of 12 of the new album’s 14 tracks were played along with a few old favourites such as Bliss and Falling Autumn.

The song that got the biggest reaction was The Ground, a performance that built to a grand crescendo connecting performers and audience in a rousing explosion of emotion.

The encore featured Alayna solo on the stage, performing Tender. But judging by the rapt attention she commanded, Alayna was anything but alone.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by David Fu

Alayna:

Hina:

Alayna setlist:

1. Arrived
2. Buckle In Baby
3. Bliss
4. Sugar
5. Who Am I Now
6. So We Remain
7. Icicles On My Eyelashes
8. Art Or Ego
9. Absolutely
10. A World Without You
11. Other Than Nothing
12. The Ground
13. Cherry Tree
14. If You Want My Love
15. Falling Autumn
16. Meteors
17. Tender

Hina setlist:

1. Tihore Mai
2. Made This Way
3. Undertow
4. Dead Weight
5. Solitude
6. Tararua
7. Love Me Not
8. Hollywood Graves