Synthony is a unique experience for lovers of dance music. This collaboration between DJs, live vocalists, feature musicians, and a full orchestra adds a new dimension to the club bangers we all know and love.
Focusing on the well-known hits from the last 30 years of dance music, Synthony re-imagines tracks from Avicii, Darude, Fatboy Slim and more along with a 50+ piece orchestra. Led by conductor Sarah Grace Williams, the show includes a range of vocalists and DJs such as Ilan Kidron (The Potbelleez), Emily Williams, and Mobin Master, hosted by Madison Avenue’s Andy Van.
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Sound eclectic? It is. The diverse crowd epitomised how this strange mishmash of musical worlds managed to provide something for everyone. After the 2021 inaugural Synthony tour managed to see a range of sold-out shows across Australia, the second iteration clearly had a large group of Melbournites ready to party; orchestra style.
To complete the experience, a range of visuals and lasers replicated the club feel to create an outdoor dance party like no other. The energy was palpable from the first note, instantly letting everyone know this was not to be the standard orchestra experience. Seats were rendered pointless as the crowd revelled in the epic celebration of dance music.
Part party, part nostalgic journey, every track was instantly recognised by every audience member, with lofty cheers celebrating a dance relic that brought back a swathe of good memories, polished by the fullest live sound any of us had likely heard said tune in.
Synthony has enjoyed sold-out shows in New Zealand since 2017 and is now seeing the same reaction across Australia, bringing some of the icons from our dance music scene. Kidron (The Potbelleez) took care of bangers like ‘Don’t Hold Back,’ and Matty O performed some of the best lead saxophone sing-a-longs this reviewer has ever seen.
From the opening of ‘Lola’s Theme’ by The Shapeshifters, right through some Cafe Del Mar, to the closer of Daft Punk’s ‘One More Time,’ the catalogue was stacked with the best of the best. However, it wasn’t until the encore closer that the crowd lost its veritable marbles. Darude’s ‘Sandstorm’ (of course) would very likely have had the neighbours complaining about the decibel level (sucked in, don’t live next to the Bowl).
To say that Synthony was a success, ending with an overly delighted crowd, would be an understatement. Dance music will never be enjoyed quite like this; if only every club could house a 50+ piece orchestra.
Highlight: The overall energy of the show, which didn’t dip for a second.
Lowlight: Not hearing the Macarena, I though that was a dance staple?
Crowd favourite: The set-ender, ‘Sandstorm,’ and every saxophone sing-a-long.
For more info on Synthony, check out their website here.
