All aboard the soul train: Inside BOY SODA’s “SOULSTAR”, live at Mt Evelyn Hotel
BOY SODA’s headline Melbourne show was a full-bodied celebration of community, connection, and artistry, delivered with copious amounts of star potential. From the moment he stepped on stage at The Evelyn Hotel, he carried himself with the composure of someone who knows they’re exactly where they’re meant to be.
The night felt like a living, breathing extension of his debut album SOULSTAR, deeply human, emotionally expansive, and grounded in the collective joy of music-making. Backed by an impressive full band, including producer Finbar Stuart on keys, BOY SODA oozed cool, calm, and collected energy.
It felt less like a performance and more like a shared moment between friends and collaborators. Each song was a bridge between the man, his art, and the people who’ve grown alongside him. The band deserves their own standing ovation — completely in sync, feeding off one another with unspoken chemistry. Together, they delivered BOY SODA’s intricate sonic world with effortless precision. You could sense they’d been through something together in the making of this project.
Highlights included “Blink Twice,” with the crowd singing nearly every word back to him, and his soulful triple j Like A Version of “I Write Sins Not Tragedies.” “Good Morning” (a personal favourite) unfolded like a Sunday jam session between BOY SODA and his band, while “Never Be The Same” hit on a deeper level — an emotional release that, as he shared, “felt lighter” to sing.
Opening the night was Tiana Khasi, who delivered a divine blend of R&B and soul. Performing mostly unreleased songs bound to cause a stir once they drop, her set was pure velvet. “Sooki La La,” co-written with BOY SODA himself, stood out as a highlight, her backup singers blending so seamlessly it felt like we were floating on a cloud the entire set.
SOULSTAR isn’t just an album, it’s a moment. And on stage at The Evelyn, BOY SODA proved he’s not just part of the scene, he’s helping define it.
