Bella Rafflyn at The Tuning Fork
Saturday 3 August, 2024
Full feature by Hazel de Heer
Photography by Maanika Narsai
A line of eager fans were already queued outside when I arrived at The Tuning Fork. Snippets of conversation travelled through the cold evening air as I locked up my bike and joined the queue. Everyone was keenly awaiting NZ artist Bella Rafflyn’s debut performance, and I was no exception. Having previously experienced a great performance from the band Coast Arcade, of which Bella is the lead singer, I was excited to hear more of her music. I was also eager to see openers Emerson and George Barney Roberts, two young indie artists whose music I hadn’t heard before. The line began to move and soon enough I was inside. More and more people filtered into the venue. Maroon carpet covered the entire floor and deep red velvet curtains blocked out any outside light. Groups gathered near the stage, eager to get a spot at the front, while others lined up at the minibar to get food and drinks before the show started. I grabbed a spot for myself close to the front. It wasn’t long now.
The audience’s chatter fell to silence as the stage lights dimmed to a purple haze. Dreamy indie tunes faded out as singer-songwriter Emerson got on stage, accompanied by Liam on guitar and Elliot on drums. Emerson performed seven original songs, but not before engaging the audience by introducing the band and talking about the artists to come. It was a great way to bring a comfortable and supportive energy to the room. Their first song, Never-ending, was reminiscent of classic indie pop. Emerson's clear vocals and confidence projected across the room and the concluding of the song aroused cheers from the audience. Their second song, Only Girl, featured muted rhythm guitar that transitioned nicely to a loud open chorus. Emerson’s songwriting, whether intentional or not, was filled with lyrics the teen audience members could relate to. I love how this was an all-ages show, it created a friendly environment for young fans and aspiring musicians to see and connect to these inspirational musicians live.
I enjoyed the band's third original for the evening, Residue, with its low eerie bass, haunting backing vocals, and dissonant guitar notes. Emerson slowed the pace with their fourth and fifth songs (Journey, and Useless). Emerson’s band performed both originals at Rockquest, a competition for intermediate and high-school bands across Aotearoa. They recently made it through to the national finals, and seeing them perform tonight, I can see why! The audience began waving their hands in the air to the melancholic and despairing tunes and singing along to the questioning chorus: “How can I be useless if you just use me?” Emerson finished with two dancey songs. Aftertaste, which achieved a dreamy pop sound with the use of sparkly synths, slow yet heavy drums, and a guitar solo that garnered much applause. The last song Bored was especially cool as we were the first to hear it performed, the single comes out on August 9th!
The next performance was from indie artist George Barney Roberts, joined by Tom on guitar and Harry on drums. George had released his music project Isobel only the day before. The first song had a very summer-break-up feel to it, encapsulated by the groovy drum beat and wavy electric guitar. George’s music was unique yet nostalgic, reminding me at times of the 2000s emo and indie rock era. Especially the songs Damage and Punch Drunk, brand new originals that mix gritty with angelic. Dirty guitar and upbeat drums underneath lyrics singing of strong emotions and unhappy events.
The next two songs, Isobel and Killer, were both part of George’s newly released album Isobel. I thoroughly enjoyed Killer, an indie song with added punk and rock flavour. Driven by powerful crunchy guitar chords in the catchy chorus and a bright repeating riff throughout the verse. I have since added it to my Spotify playlist. The last song, Lights Out, had us jumping and stomping our feet, matching the beat of the kick while we sang along with George’s amazing vocals. I enjoyed George’s music and hope to hear new music he releases in the future.
Huge applause burst from the people around me as the long-awaited Bella Rafflyn walked on stage with her mint green electric guitar. Alongside Bella were bassist Leo Spykerman, guitarist JP, and drummer Doug Bagg. They began their set by playing some of Bella’s original songs. Bella's smooth vocals, catchy guitar riffs, and personal as well as funny lyrics made for a captivating and unique performance. I loved the way Bella blended aspects of grunge, rock, pop, and indie across her music.
Before her next song, Bella gave the audience a bit of a backstory, telling the audience that she wrote the song when she was seventeen about how much it sucks to be seventeen. This appealed to the crowd - I could hear scattered laughter of approval and understanding. Bella also related to older teens and young adults with a despairing acoustic song she wrote while at university about her experience finding out that wasn’t the path for her.
Bella and her band played two well-received covers: Sk8er Boi by Avril Lavigne and Habits (Stay High) by Tove Lo. Although the two songs have quite a different sound originally, Bella’s band did a great job of adding their own unique flavour to their covers, and both songs were great choices for the mood of the show. The crowd cried out in despair as Bella announced they were ending the night with their heaviest song yet: Corduroy Boy. I recognised the song and joined the crowd singing any lyrics I knew. Sadly, the song came to an end. The crowd screamed for one last song as the band left the stage. It seemed the show was over for a moment - then Bella Rafflyn returned for one last song!
It was a memorable evening at The Tuning Fork, showcasing original music and covers from talented young NZ artists. If you like indie music, or just listening to upcoming local artists, I would recommend keeping an eye out for any future gigs by Bella Rafflyn, George Barney Roberts, and Emerson! The all-ages show was a great way to celebrate these musicians' impressive achievements and the effort they’ve put into their musical projects, while also making it accessible for young music fans to attend. Thank you to everyone involved for making this incredible event possible.
Listen to Bella Rafflyn's latest single 'Overdrive' here.
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