‘Shows can take you from loving a song to loving the person behind it’: Lyric, Borderline and Charli Lucas on what makes a good live show

by Check Check | Monday Sep 01, 2025 | Features

Charli Lucas, Photograph supplied

Gold Coast pop singer Lyric, Aotearoa guitar pop band Borderline and Sydney bedroom pop artist Charli Lucas are all showcasing at BIGSOUND 2025. They’ll perform at the ONES TO WATCH showcase at The Outpost from 5-7pm on Thursday 4 September.

Ahead of the event, Lyric, Borderline and Lucas told us about their favourite live acts – including Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Stella Donnelly and Charli XCX – how to overcome nerves, and why a good live show revolves around connection.

Find more details about BIGSOUND here.

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Favourite live acts

Lyric: Taylor Swift is one of my favourite live acts. I’ve learnt so much about telling a story onstage through her and how important it is to be raw and vulnerable for the fans and let them into how you felt when you first wrote the songs.

Borderline: Coldplay is a big one. They always put on such a great show and you can really tell they’re enjoying what they’re doing, which is so infectious to be around. I remember seeing them when I was a kid and it was and still is the greatest concert I’ve ever been to.

Charli Lucas: Remi Wolf is one for sure. When I saw her live it was such an experience, the way she elevated her sound with the live band and brought the vibe of the audience up with her humour and presence. Charli XCX is another one. She knows exactly how to draw people in and make you feel like you’re part of something bigger.

Lyric: Another person I’ve learned so much from is Billie Eilish. Every time I’ve seen her live, I’ve been blown away by how commanding she is, and how well-crafted her setlists are – they have massive moments as well as intimate, beautiful moments too.

Charli Lucas: I saw Stella Donnelly live and honestly fell in love with her as a person. She’s such a natural storyteller and in between songs you really feel like you’re getting to know her. That’s the part I find so powerful. Shows can take you from loving a song to actually loving the person behind it, and I think audiences always know when that connection is real.

What makes a good gig

Lyric: I think what makes a good gig is when it feels like a show, almost like a theatre performance. I always want to make sure the audience goes on a journey from start to end, and that there’s a variation of big, bold songs, as well as quiet, intimate ones.

Borderline: A good show is about the energy between us and the audience. If they can leave the show having been impacted or inspired or just felt like they connected with us and the music, then we’ve done our job.

Charli Lucas: My main goal with every gig is always connection. If even a couple of people walk away feeling like they experienced something real, then that’s enough. What makes a gig good is when the energy flows both ways. The crowd gives you something, you give it back, and it doesn’t feel like a performance anymore. It feels like everyone in the room is part of the same moment, and that’s the best part of playing live.

Overcoming nerves

Lyric: I don’t get that nervous when I’m playing my own headline shows. My fans are just so welcoming and generous, and so I always know I’m gonna feel super comfortable at my own shows and that they’re gonna bring the energy.

I definitely do get nervous for some other things though, like playing at a big awards show or a massive festival slot, and the best thing for me when that happens is to just be with my band. When I’m with my friends, it helps me calm down massively.

Borderline: We love playing shows so much and have been doing so all our lives, so if there are any nerves at this point, they just translate into excitement and make our shows more fun.

Charli Lucas: It’s so normal to get nervous, but I’ve realised nerves and excitement come from the same place; it’s just how you look at it. I try to flip that nervous energy into excitement, and once the first song starts, it always settles in.

Something that helps me is taking a moment before I go on to just sit with myself, no phone or distractions. It’s nice to have a moment to check in and ground myself. And I’m lucky because my band are my best friends, so once we’re up there it turns into fun.

Not taking music too seriously

Lyric: It can be very easy to get caught up in the business side of everything and to focus too much on achieving the next big thing that you don’t really appreciate what’s happening right now. I definitely have to remind myself from time to time that a year ago I would’ve been absolutely over the moon to be in this position, playing this much music in such cool places with my best friends, and to just have fun with it and enjoy myself.

Borderline: I think the lead up to a tour or show is always very serious – a long to-do list of things to tick off, things to finish organising, parts to learn and hours and hours of rehearsal. But when it comes to the actual show, if all of those things are done, it leaves a lot of space to relax and just have fun.

Charli Lucas: It’s easy to get caught up overthinking every little thing, especially when I obviously care so much. But at the end of the day, it’s just music. People aren’t coming to see me stress, they’re coming to sing and dance and feel something. The shows that stick with me are the ones where I’ve just let go, had fun, stopped nitpicking and actually remembered why I love doing this.