FUNERAL - KING IV
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Date Reviewed: 27/06/2025
Come with us to the other side… where we ll drag you from where you are to where you belong
The closing lines of King IV: Funeral really are the most poignant, taking us full circle through the process of death, rebirth and stepping into your whole self, the you that you are destined to be. That was the vibe stepping into 170 Russell this very Thursday, amongst a crowd who embraced their true selves and were all part of a community that I had not yet stepped into.
I didn t know what to expect going into this show. Having just come back from Dark Mofo in Tassie, it seemed there was a synergy here, with haunting visuals, moody lighting, and themes of death backing an electro hyper-pop sound that demanded the room's attention. I worried it would be a gimmick, but boy was I wrong. King IV (pronounced IVY, not the number 4 as a few of us originally thought) is a seasoned performer, and someone who understands the importance of every component that goes into a show.
With under 1,000 monthly listeners on Spotify at this stage, It seems as if King IV has come out of nowhere, but of course that s not the case. Pre-covid she d performed to some pretty big crowds at Listen Out and Beyond The Valley, but this new project breaks the silence after three years. You can tell that this is someone who s been around for a while, her skill and sophistication on stage are evident from the get-go.
But for such a new project, many wouldn t expect such a spectacle. There aren t many if any artists who are at this level and executing performances in this way, whether that be due to financial constraints, know-how, or experience who's to say? Every element of Funeral had been carefully considered; the choreography, the accompanying visuals (directed by Sean of @shotography), the costuming, and the lighting all came together to create a multi-sensory experience. I wish more artists at this early stage would, or could, treat their performance as performance art, and really consider the entire production.
The music itself was powerful, and required great performers to perform it, lest they be overshadowed. It evoked early career Lady Gaga or 2004 Britney, with textured and layered synths and an artist who s not afraid to take a risk and get a bit weird with it. The four dancers sharing the stage with King IV were also marvellous. Their erotic contemporary movement engulfed our lead in pure energy and lust, creating shapes in a way that only enhanced the spotlight on her. That is to say, King IV's offering is club bangers that translate better live than on Spotify, as King IV is in control of every element when you re in the room with her. This feels like the way it was intended to be heard.
As King IV took us through FUNERAL, which really was the story of her rebirth into this new chapter, I found myself whisked away too, grooving wholeheartedly to Wicked Girl, getting down the to dance breakdown in Freaky and wondering, what actually IS a Psychopomp?
It was refreshing to see a local performer putting on shows with the gravitas of a stadium tour, and honestly, I want more of it. Now someone get Dark Mofo on the phone, please, I have an artist for you!