Words by Kesh Fernandez.

16-year-old singer-songwriter Heidi Barker delivered an intimate and powerful performance showcasing her debut EP The First Rain on Sunday night at Air Raid Records. Demonstrating remarkable songwriting depth and musical versatility, Barker's evolving musical style was truly highlighted during the launch.

Look Me in the Eyes stood out as a particularly poignant track - her first-ever written song that transformed a challenging experience into a powerful musical narrative. Accompanied by several family members, the live arrangement's full-bodied sound established it as a crowd favourite. Several tracks revealed deeply personal stories such as Rearview Mirror, a reflective piece about a family trip, capturing the essence of letting go and embracing the moment and The First Rain which explored her move from Tasmania to Darwin, infused with local Northern Territory energy.

Behind Bars had a distinctive piano-driven track featuring a glockenspiel which further showcased Barker’s musical versatility moving from a hopeful folk-inspired sound to raw, heartfelt indie pieces reminiscent in her closing title, Wait for me. Barker's performance demonstrated her multi-instrumental talents and storytelling prowess, establishing herself as a rising artist to watch. 

Her opener, Mia Grosser was nothing short of impressive, captivating the audience with her storytelling, depth and quips in between songs - her songs Like That and Sad Boy particularly stood out to me for their production potential and the intricate, emotional landscapes that she created with each lyric. Grosser’s authenticity and repertoire deserves high praise as her stage presence would be remembered well beyond the evening.