Acopia invites listeners to open their hearts and sink into their feelings, ushering them into a hazy dreamworld of sultry vocals, pensive synthesis, and smouldering basslines. The Naarm/Melbourne-based trio, composed of Kate Durman, Lachlan McGeehan and Morgan Wright, have crafted a collection of slow-burn anthems that rest in a fever dream between trip-hop, shoegaze, dream pop, and downtempo. Their 2022 breakout album Chances on Naarm/Melbourne label Companion saw them arranging experiences of love and loss into a set of songs that were at once nostalgic, tender, and restrained – lush, textural music to rest a heavy head and heart in. Following up in 2023 with their self-titled album, the band has taken significant steps forward in development from Chances. While their debut carried a DIY charm, Acopia glimmers with subtle polish. Each element is placed together with exacting precision, every sonic shift feels intentional. Acopia maintains their signature sense of intimacy and charm through deliberate production choices. Found sounds and atmospherics add depth and enough texture to trace one’s ears over again and again. Rough edges remain barely perceptible, grounding the record in the personal and everyday.

Acopia’s live performances envelop audiences in gently moving washes of texture, transporting them to an emotional refuge where feelings can blossom and unfurl. The band conjures the bedroom intimacy of their records effortlessly into a live setting, casting spells in breathy whispers – softly lulling listeners to dive into the sentimentality of past memories while forming new ones, together.

THE GREAT ESCAPE SHOWCASES

Thursday May 15
Sounds Australia At Komedia
Komedia (Studio Stage)
1:40pm

Friday May 16
Official Showcase
Manchester Street Arts Club
11:10pm