Ubiquitous Canberra trio SAFIA have added further dates to their extensive and tremendously popular national tour, which kicks off with a maiden Splendour in the Grass performance later this month. The announcement comes on the back of sold out performances in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as a glowing response to their latest offering, Embracing Me.
Despite being consistently labelled a boring politicians’ paradise, Canberra has produced a number of world-class electronic acts in recent years. SAFIA are the latest and, in my mind, the most engaging of these acts, joining the likes of Peking Duk and The Aston Shuffle amid the cream of Australia’s EDM crop.
Structurally, Embracing Me traces the steps of Listen to Soul, Listen to Blues and You Are the One, but by no means are SAFIA packaging tunes from a factory line. Rather, they’ve simply found a blueprint that works: Ben Woolner‘s earnest, fluttering vocals – steady and isolated at first – blended with crisp production and mesmerising hooks. Basically, after several tender, soulful moments with Ben, it’s dancing time.
The significant demand for tickets to SAFIA’s shows are a testament to the band’s talent, industry and musical intelligence. They know what they do well, and they continue to do it – time and time again.
Tickets for SAFIA’s Embracing Me tour are available here.