#fazerdaze

Fazerdaze is at the very top of my list of bands led by talented compelling women. Amelia Rahayu Murray is from New Zealand and she is nothing short of spectacular.

Omega Radio for December 16, 2017; #151.

Slowdive “Star Roving”

Fazerdaze “Lucky Girl (Little Uneasy)"

Hundredth “Hole (Visual)”

Bike Thiefs “Destination Wedding”

Gingerlys “Turtledoves”

Ariel Pink “Feels Like Heaven”

Girlpool “1…2…3…”

Deerhoof “Singalong Junk”

Lee Ranaldo “Circular (Right As Rain)”

Diet Cig “Tummy Ache”

Courtneys, The “Silver Velvet”

Daddy Issues “I’m Not”

Priests “No Big Bang”

Current Affairs “Eyes”

Dame “Lines”

Breakfast Muff “R U A Feminist”

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard “Mr. Beat”

Cende “Don’t Want To”

Idles “Mother”

Naomi Punk “Cardboard”

Protomartyr “A Private Understanding”

Pissed Jeans “Bar Is Low, The”

Institute “Powerstation”

Japandroids “No Known Drink Or Drug”

Sorority Noise “No Halo”

Tasty “La-Dee-Dah”

Taiwan Housing Project “Veblen Death Mask”

Metz “Mr. Plague”

RMBLR “Name Game”

Suspirians “Nocturne”

Downtown Boys “Somos Chulas (No Somos Pendejas)”

Wolf Alice “Yuk Foo”

War Brides “Thyme”

Unstoppable Death Machines “City Lights”

Tunic “Eye Contact”

Unsane “Aberration”

Fazerdaze

Cherry Pie

Words and Photos: Peter Quincy Ng

What’s it like to catch Fazerdaze on tour? Well, for one, it was a bit over 7 years ago when Fazerdaze's frontwoman Amelia Murray last visited Toronto on November 11, 2017, so I suppose it would exciting for a fan like me to say the least! However, I would also contrast excitement with a decidedly shorter half-hour set, as Murray's roles were largely delegated for support, opening for Western Australia's POND, and their more dedicated fans given their extensive discography and profile as an offshoot of Tame Impala.

Fazerdaze played at the Danforth Music Hall, a mid-size venue that gives a theater-like setting, offering seats for those who like cozy dates and panoramic views and no-nonsense security staff which would shake the last clump of lint from your back pocket before letting you in. Given the disparate costs of touring as an independent artist from New Zealand/Aotearoa, Amelia performed a no-frills set with just her on guitar and drum pads/sequencer and her plucky tourmate Dave Rowlands mirroring with synths.

Though playing songs largely from her recently released album "Soft Power", Amelia opened up with the grungy charge of "Break!" the title track from her previous EP. Pairing to the tête-à-tête of conversational self-talk, the track drifted along to its mellow grooves sardonically routing with Amelia's notions of emotional meltdown. Following was her only other track from her previous EP "Winter", slowing the pace with the wry melancholy of her soothing vocals and gentle scale of her light guitar riffs.

Suitably, "Soft Power" played soon succeeded her EP tracks, the title track from her latest full-length release. Frosty vocals and distant guitars drift into the foggy mist of smoke machines and harsh pastels from the stage's spotlights. Perhaps her most convincing track followed promptly and invited Murray's most invigorated performance of her short set. Though Amelia notably without a drummer instead opted for drum pads/sequencers, and it's this lo-fi and mild electronic aesthetic which really sold Fazerdaze's energy throughout the show. Though Amelia regrettably stood perpendicular to the audience while performing, we got to see the reserved singer dance and swing her hips about a tad more, as she loosed to crisper lighting and beat-driven melodies. Amelia yielded a subtle sensuality with the gentle romance of its bluesy synth keys and smoky vocals that were juxtaposed to the robotic electroclash of her stern dictation.

Fazerdaze's "A Thousand Years"

It's not an exaggeration to say Amelia is more of a reserved performer, but it would be unfair to go without mentioning the simple joy she carries on her face that comes with her quiet enthusiasm. Murray thanked the audience remarking how exciting it was to play in a larger venue with POND and directed her bandmate to explain how great it is to be visiting all the way from New Zealand, who culturally is often shadowed by their larger neighbor Australia. They continued with the restrained psychedelica of "Purple" with its gentle cascade of drum snares, followed by Fazerdaze's marquee "Cherry Pie". "Cherry Pie" contrasted with a brighter and more choral tone, with Amelia shouting and exclaiming her lament on her youth slowly fading away. As a fun farewell, Fazerdaze closed with "Bigger" a misty dream-pop sound that closes with the arc of wide-reaching synths. Overall, it was a fun concert, and despite its short duration and limitations; enjoyable. To be brutally honest, I came to see Fazerdaze, not completely aware of her latest LP, and at the risk of insulting more enthusiastic POND fans, I left early, fully satiated and smiling from my Fazerdaze experience.

FAZERDAZE's Toronto Setlist BREAK! WINTER SOFT POWER A THOUSAND YEARS PURPLE CHERRY PIE BIGGER

You can check out Fazerdaze's latest video for "So Easy" with its burnished grain and DIY aesthetic below: