Presented by: OzAsia Festival
Reviewed: 14 September 2013
Music has often been said as a window to one’s soul. The myriad of emotions we feel comes across in words and sounds for others to interpret. This form of expression has been around since the dawn of time with it being an ever evolving concept. The differing styles enable the personal views of the artist to surface with listener’s acceptance of their tunes hopefully captured. Guba is a rising artist effectively covering these qualities.
Hailing from Malaysia, Guba’s 2012 debut album caused him to be noticed. Utilising a mix of soft indie pop and alternative folk, his versatility has established a solid foundation for career longevity. As part of the OzAsia Festival, he performed for the first time in Australia at the Festival Centre’s wonderful Space Theatre; a perfect setting to hear his soulful tunes, he was backed by a four-piece band. Songs such as ‘You & Me’ and ‘Sunday Morning’ displayed his gift for writing heartfelt lyrics within an arresting musical structure. Coming across as very friendly and affable, Guba began the set with three acoustic numbers and was then joined by the band. They complemented his style extremely well and gave more emotion to his tracks.
As a surprise, he was joined by fellow young Malaysian singer Yuna, who joined him for the upbeat and charming duet ‘You’re So Fine’. Both seemed to enjoy this and it highlighted Guba’s determination not to stay within one particular genre. He also sang four songs in Malay which emphasised his gift in crafting excellent melodies. Whilst occasionally the over-amplification of the sound proved a little distracting, it didn’t detract from the audience’s enjoyment of a tight one-hour set.
It’s always exciting seeing an upcoming performer provide a great show. Guba’s music is well worth a listen and hopefully he will go far on the world stage.
Reviewed by Patrick Moore
Venue: Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
Season: 13 – 14 September 2013
Duration: 1hr 15 mins.
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