Over the last few years, twin brothers Cosmo and Patrick Linley have won over the nation as Cosmo’s Midnight, progressing into mainstays of the local music scene and spearheading Australia’s electronic sound. After selling out their Brissie, Melbourne and Hobart headline shows, the boys returned to Sydney — four years after playing as the opening support act at the Enmore, they sold-out their hometown slot too, this time as headliners at the venue.
It’s an impressive feat, off the back of an extremely successful national headline tour last year in support of their debut LP ‘What Comes Next’, and killer sets across the Laneway circuit in February this year. What’s clear, is that Australia simply can’t get enough of the powerful pair, and their production prowess is still only just ramping up.
He may only be 18, but Arno Faraji is already proving an unstoppable force in Aussie hip hop. Since taking out the triple j Unearthed top prize in 2017, the Zimbabwe-born, Perth-based wordsmith has been scoring goals, touring with the likes of Rejjie Snow, Smino and Tkay Maidza, and teaming up with other emerging local artists like Sydney’s Milan Ring and Kwame. The latter appeared on stage with Faraji; comfortably positioned behind the decks, he doused kerosene to a straight-up fire set. From Faraji’s wavy single “things change” to his exquisite new cut “Scalin’”, the crowd was treated to genre-pushing bars and were ready for the ride, attentive in downtempo moments, but ready and willing to mosh on command.
I’ve first started following Martha Brown in 2010, when she was making music in indie-pop trio Otouto. As Brown’s first solo venture, Banoffee has been a fascinating project to watch evolve over the last decade. Her brand of off-kilter electronic pop has seen the Melburnian relocate to LA, play headline shows in the States, collaborate with artists like SOPHIE, join Charli XCX’s live band and tour with the American pop star as she hit the road with Taylor Swift on the colossal ‘Reputation’ tour.
Offering up tracks from her ‘Do I Make You Nervous?’ EP, Banoffee’s stage presence was undeniable — her presence was magnetic, as her silhouette bounced in front a ’90s font backdrop of her name emblazoned in fluorescent green on a screen. The packed-out venue was sure paying attention, but struggled to find their feet with her lopsided beats and quirky sonic nuances, particularly off the back of Faraji’s straight, hard-hitting beats. Nonetheless, she managed to fill the space with reverberating pulses from her sample pad, and ricocheting vocals, giving the audience the chance to step out of their comfort zone to great effect.
You could feel the room erupt when Cosmos Midnight took the stage, dazzled by the symmetry of the brothers on either side and the kaleidoscopic visual background, bending beneath their sounds for an all-consuming audiovisual experience. Joined by local pop purveyor and frequent collaborator Asta, the duo mix cuts from their well-loved EP with funky faves from their album. “Walk With Me” elicited a booming chorus from the crowd, while their latest single, “C.U.D.I (Can U Dig It)?” commanded a gargantuan cheer, ensued by unbridled getting-down across the floor.
Asta was a welcomed addition to the outfit, and added a layer of electricity with her soaring vocals and infectious energy. The trio’s Like A Version take on Moloko‘s “Sing It Back” had everyone in a time-warp revelry, with live guitar and percussion throughout the set further bridging the boys’ retro influence with their contemporary approach. Between Cosmos and Asta, the level of talent on stage was colossal and, without missing a beat, they steered the audience through their diverse palette of influences and stories, translated through a mix of sharp synths, cool RnB grooves, and badass basslines.
Bolstered by two equally talented support acts, Cosmos Midnight delivered another evening that’s sure to be the talk of town, right up until their next one rolls round (Splendour isn’t long off now…).
Photos by Sophie Hill.