Aminé brought the last leg of his aptly titled Tour de Dance to Sydney’s Metro Theatre last Saturday, and dance he did. In the midst of a 40-degree heatwave, Aminé brought the heat to a new level with an effervescent energy that made the Metro come alive.
The artist had me hooked from the start as the house lights dimmed and the theatre was lit by a Keith Haring–esque illustrated sequence of visuals that captured the vibrancy of the rapper’s music. A strong first look at the level of energy the artist would bring. The phrase “Nothing beats an Aminé holiday” lit the screen as he took the stage making the first of many references to the pursuit of a never-ending summer, the core motif of his latest album, 13 Months of Sunshine and a vibe that the artist delivered with every track.
Opening the show with Arc de Triomphe, the second single from the album, the dance-heavy production of this summer anthem matched the fire of Aminé’s energy and got the crowd jumping.
The artists stage presence and charisma is incredibly undeniable, as he promises to make the audience feel sexy and confident throughout the show. “When I say you’re beautiful, you say ‘I know,’” he cheered, hyping up the crowd as they chanted back at him.
A major highlight of the night for me was New Flower! A self-reflective track that features Leon Thomas, chronicling Aminé’s life pre-virality and his journey chasing his dream. The bridge is a key turning point of the song, and its meaning was amplified by Aminé’s vibrant stage presence:
“And when the sun hits your skin
I hope you know you belong where you been
And we’ll grow, that’s for sure, but in the end
We’ll be back in the ground once again”
Hearing these words echoed with adoration by his fans was a beautiful celebration of how far the artist has come and if I wasn’t sold already by his warmth and electricity he really had me with his sincerity.
Underneath Aminè’s charm and free spirited performance there is a level of heart and passion that really moves you. The title track of his album, 13MOS really heroes this, a tribute to his Ethiopian heritage and the short thirteenth month, Pagume. Aminé’s performance of the track was ignited with a sense of passion and energy overlayed with a rhythmic dance beat that really makes you want to move.
The show closed with a stellar run of his biggest hits, ending with Reel It In, Spice Girl, and the viral Caroline – the perfect culmination of a 60-minute show filled with nonstop dancing and major summer energy. If I wasn’t a fan of Aminè before, i certainly am now.
