Project Description

Esha Tewari

Mary’s Underground, Sydney, 23rd November, 2024

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Rising star
ESHA TEWARI
brings raw emotion to
Sydney’s Historic
MARY’S UNDERGROUND,
23rd November, 2024
(Live Review)

Review by Lakshmi Krishnan

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Esha Tewari.

In the hallowed space of Mary’s Underground – the reincarnation of Sydney’s legendary Basement venue – a new chapter in Australian music history is being written. On a night when the historic Circular Quay venue has hosted countless jazz legends and rock icons, 18-year-old Esha Tewari proved why she’s rapidly becoming one of the most compelling voices of her generation.

Hours before doors, the queue snaked through the iconic harbor district, with devoted “Tewarians” creating the kind of scene that veterans of the venue’s storied past would recognize – the electric anticipation that precedes something special. The difference? This time it was for an artist who, just months ago, was recording songs in her bedroom.

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Opening with “bad decision” from her sophomore EP “better off,” Tewari immediately demonstrated why she’s transcending the typical social media success story. The stripped-back arrangement revealed the raw power of her distinctive voice, which filled every corner of the intimate underground space with an authenticity that can’t be manufactured.

But it was during “train song” that Tewari’s true power as a performer crystallized. As her voice haunted the historic walls, the audience transformed into a choir of emotional liberation – tears streaming down faces as they sang along to every word. It was the kind of moment that veteran music journalists live for: watching an artist and audience connect on such a profound level that the boundary between performer and listener dissolves completely.

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Esha Tewari

Mary’s Underground, Sydney, 23rd November, 2024

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Her cover choices showed remarkable savvy, with Chappell Roan’s “casual” turning into an all-out singalong that had the low-ceiling venue practically shaking. When she tackled Sixpence None The Richer’s “kiss me,” she bridged the generational divide, uniting both nostalgic parents and their teens in a moment of pure pop communion.

The emotional highpoint came during “better off,” where Tewari seemed to channel every ghost that’s ever graced this historic stage. By the time she closed with “beautiful boy,” the crowd’s unified voice threatened to drown out the PA system, their passionate delivery of “Oh, beautiful boy, your head is empty / You are thoughtless, so this is pointless” serving as a testament to her songwriting’s visceral impact.

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Esha Tewari

Leadbeater Hotel, Melbourne, 8th December, 2024

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What sets Tewari apart isn’t virtuosic technique – her guitar work, while serviceable, still has room to grow. Rather, it’s her innate ability to make every person in the room feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves. In an age where artificial intelligence threatens to perfect the imperfections out of music, Tewari’s slight rough edges only make her more real, more human, more necessary.

The post-show scene, with Tewari greeting fans, signing merch, and sharing embraces, felt less like routine meet-and-greet and more like a family reunion. In the same venue where artists like Prince and Dizzy Gillespie once held court, a new kind of royalty is emerging – one whose crown is worn not through technical perfection, but through emotional truth.

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Esha Tewari

Leadbeater Hotel, Melbourne, 8th December, 2024

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While she’s still early in her journey, Tewari possesses something that can’t be taught: a voice that’s instantly recognizable and songwriting that cuts straight to the heart. In a landscape saturated with polished performers, she stands apart as something altogether more rare – an artist whose authenticity is her superpower. If this night at Mary’s Underground is any indication, we’re watching the birth of an artist who could help define her generation’s sound.

★★★★☆

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Esha Tewari.

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Esha Tewari

Mary’s Underground, Sydney, 23rd November, 2024

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AMNPLIFY – DB