Kiwi-Indian singer-songwriter Avish Sharma's concert in Auckland had been long-awaited by both the artist and his devoted fans.
His first solo performance, which took place on September 23, was a culmination of dreams and aspirations as Avish embarked on a journey to showcase his talent and connect with Aucklanders.
The inspiration for this extraordinary event at The Dorothy Winstone Centre came from the heart of Auckland itself. He recalled, "Every time I’ve featured in an Auckland concert, the feedback has always been that there should be a solo show. I felt like I was finally ready to deliver."
Despite Auckland's unpredictable weather challenges, a dedicated crowd gathered for the evening, proving the city's unwavering love for music.
He covered a range of genres from pop to rock, folk to Hindustani classical, and indie music, keeping the audience engaged and entertained. Avish mesmerised the audience with a captivating mashup of ‘Teri Deewani’ by Kailash Kher and ‘Bheegi Bheegi Si Hain Raatein’ by Pritam and James from the movie ‘Life in a Metro’."
The moment was so enchanting that Avish described it as "a dream where the crowd pulled out their phone lights, creating a surreal atmosphere". Additionally, he had the privilege of performing his original songs ‘Phir Dikhi Tu’ and ‘Jaana’ for the first time, a personal milestone that left him feeling elated and fulfilled.
However, what truly surprised Avish was the unexpected emotional journey of the evening. He confessed, "I didn't quite foresee the occasion being something that would impact me, but it did. I had to battle those emotions on stage but was vocal about it. I think it helped form a strong bond with the audience."
He informs that this connection with the audience was further reinforced when he received heartfelt post-show messages, such as one fan's words: "There were moments where he made us smile, dance with joy and made our eyes teary!!! Complete package."
Recalling her event experience, another attendee, Shweta S Bajpai, said, "I attended the show with my husband, nine-year-old son and a teenage special needs son. All of us loved the show right from the beginning.
“My older son, who is also nonverbal, signed up and asked me to take him to meet Avish after the show, which I did. It made my son so happy! I loved every moment.
I look forward to the next 'Avish Sharma - Live in Auckland’."