All encompassing musician, Nyxen is having one hell of a year! From touring with Crooked Colours, releasing music and fronting a mammoth ‘Insomnia’ headline tour, the Sydney based act has been making moves. I headed along to her sold out home town show at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory on Saturday, August 17. Supporting Nyxen was RnB rising superstar, Kymie and Brissy pop queen Austen.

Opening the evening was Kymie with her swooning vocals and sassy persona. Pulling the best of the 90’s, Kymie’s take on RnB was resurgence of the pre-millennium sounds. The dreamlike flow and sensual sonic blossomed throughout her set, laying the foundations for Austen and Nyxen to build upon.

There’s no secret I’m an Austen super fan, with countless articles on this site reinforcing that sentiment. The pop queen’s self-assured and powerful pop pieces are an anthem for self care and confidence. This message connected with the crowd as Oxford Art Factory’s terraced layout reached capacity. Austen worked the stage with cuts from her forthcoming EP, resulting in fans singing along and forming an impromptu Austen tribute band. The additions of her tenacious originals such as ‘Money’, and ‘Anthem’ elevated the set to a new level. Austen’s dynamic performance set the stage for Nyxen’s electric ensemble.

As the lights dimmed, the tour crew scrambled to the stage to prepare for Nyxen’s arrival. The promise of musical indulgence heightened. Before too long, Nyxen dawned the stage with a plethora of instruments. Her trademark bass guitar reverberated through the sound system, amping the audience into a euphonic trance. A luminous lighting display emanated, complimenting the set’s vivacious character. A star studded cast of guests also joined Nyxen on stage; including Coda Conduct with their bubbly spirit. The balance between analogue and electronica is a fine tuned affair for Nyxen, as she performed fan favourites, ‘Running’, ‘Chains’, ‘In The City’ among others. The tour’s title track ‘Insomnia’ did not disappoint, with the live rendition capturing the essence of the studio recording while remaining crisp for a live setting.

Nyxen, Austen and Kymie are all forces to be reckoned with as they continue to bolster their stances in the scene. Be sure to see each of these acts if they’re in town or experience the FOMO.