Thando 'W.Y.B.M' Single Launch - January 23, 2015

When The Couch reopened on January 8th, Gary from the City of Melbourne came in with some tickets for Thando’s single Launch. We'd previously seen Thando at The Couch last year, when she came in to perform for us all at The Hammy.

Through Welcome to Australia, Thando has shown her generousity yet again by providing the tickets to enable two recent arrivals to Australia experience the local music culture. The very day Gary came in, we found some students who had just only come to Melbourne to study at RMIT. One of those students, Lynn, had this to say about Thando’s single launch.

Friedrich Nietzsche once said ‘Without music, life would be a mistake.’ Music is composed through human beings’ emotions and thoughts, and it is an important part of life and culture. As a newbie in Melbourne, I was so appreciative to have the opportunity to experience part of the Australian music culture.

Thando and band doing sound check before the launch

The concert was the first stop of Thando’s east coast tour, which was hold in The Evelyn Hotel. When I saw the word ‘hotel’, I imagined it would be held in a real hotel with accommodation etc. But, actually, it was just a pub located in an old and historical building, and this made the coming concert even more interesting for me.

Thando outside the Evelyn with the two invited students

There were many bands and singers playing different kinds of music in the concert in the build up to Thando’s performance, each band having their own style. However, one thing they all had in common was that the audience always got into the rhythm and supported the band.

Fulton Street - one of the other performers that night.

The venue was getting more and more crowded as Thando was about to start her performance. As soon as she began singing, Thando’s strong but controlled voice took command of the venue’s atmosphere. This was not my first time being in a concert, but it was the first time I realised that with just simple equipment, a professional singer can still sound like the music playing from a stereo system.

The crowd reached its peak as Thando performed

Not only did the strength of her voice surprise me, but also her incredible stage presence really impressed me. Watching the whole band up on the stage doing what they love with confidence is the thing that truly touched me. And I think one of the important factors in this casual, enjoyable and tolerant culture is the stage it provides for those talented people to be out there shining.

Thanks so much to Thando, Welcome to Australia and The Couch for giving us this great experience.

More photos in the album.