Months ago, when Esha Tewari first announced her New Zealand dates, Lucy Gray (Lucy Alice Gray) took to Instagram with a simple, public wish. To share that stage as an opener.
In the closing days of 2025, it came full circle. Tonight, as we count down the final days of 2025, she made it happen. It felt like a perfect Christmas gift to herself and of course–her fans.
Punctuality is rare, yet at 8:00 PM sharp, Gray arrived on stage in a gown of pure white. It immediately reminded me of her first headline show with the Halloween theme, where she wore wings and a halo. Even without the angel props tonight, the white dress still gave off those same celestial vibes.
She went straight into the music. No full band this time, just her and her guitarist Liam, who handled the backing tracks.
She opened with her latest single Pull Out Mattress. It was also the opener for her headline show, and you can see why. The song dives into the push and pull of relationships and the fear of commitment, the theme that Lucy writes best.
After the opener, Gray took a moment to introduce herself, though the bursts of cheers suggested that much of the audience needed no introduction.
She took a moment to show her love to Esha, talking about how much Esha has influenced her music and how grateful she was to be the opener tonight.
Then she moved into Soft Spoken, another track she dropped this year, before diving into a cover of Chappell Roan’s Casual. Chappell’s inspiration for Lucy is clear, you can really hear that influence in her songwriting and those big, catchy choruses. Since it’s such a hit, the whole crowd started singing along immediately, and the energy in the room just exploded.
Next up was Pretty, a track she released a couple of years back. Even though it’s one of her earlier songs, it doesn’t feel immature at all. It’s still got that simple, catchy hook that stays in your head.
Then, she played two unreleased songs back-to-back: Angel and Choke. These felt like a bit different from her older stuff, leaning into a light indie-rock vibe with much stronger emotional delivery.
This shift in style has me even more hyped for her new EP dropping next year.
After an older track, Paranoia of My Mind, she moved into her second cover of the night: Fade Into You by Mazzy Star. It was such a mellow, slow-burn moment. The whole crowd was swaying side-to-side with their hands in the air, and the vibe was just beautiful and calm.
Then came Saviourism, which she released mid-year. As the title suggests, it’s all about the idea of salvation in a toxic way. The song unpacks an unhealthy relationship where one person thinks they’re being a martyr, but in the eyes of the other person, they’re just a dog. It’s a sharp reflection on, and a total rejection of that kind of fake saviourism.
Next was Trying So Hard, which dropped about three months ago. It’s got such an easy-to-remember melody, you only need to hear it twice before you can sing along. It really highlights Lucy’s talent for writing great hooks.
This single also had a super unique limited release through Vertigo Vinyl: a pink, cross-shaped vinyl. It’s just stunning, and with pre-orders already closed, it’s going to be a collector’s favourite when it ships out in February.
The highlight for me was the ending. Lucy changed things up and held a long, powerful note on the final line, showing off her amazing vocal range. The crowd went wild. I was honestly surprised by this move, and it makes me feel like she should keep stepping out of her comfort zone. She has so much potential to experiment with different vocal styles.
Finally, we reached the closer Polar Orbit. This song is Lucy’s absolute favourite, which is why it always caps off her set. Just two days ago, on December 27th, she posted a Reel celebrating the song’s first birthday, mentioning how it changed her life forever. When an artist gives their song a birthday, you know just how much it means to them.
If you thought Lucy only wrote love songs, you’d be wrong. This track isn’t about a relationship with a person. It’s about her relationship with music and even the industry itself. It’s a song about ambition.
If the lyrics take me to California isn’t clear enough, , the Hollywood sign in her music video should tell you exactly where this 18-year-old artist is aiming. To quote her: It’s what music means to me, and it’s what I want to do, no matter how relentless the music industry can be.
At just 18, Lucy is diving in headfirst with nothing but talent and passion. The music industry might be relentless, but we all know she’s not just going to survive, she’s going to own it.
Near the end, during the bridge, there’s a massive high note that Lucy hit flawlessly. Just like with the previous song, she switched things up again by ending on a long, held note. Her breath control was rock solid. You can tell she’s been putting in some serious rehearsal time lately.
In just two days, she’ll be playing her first-ever music festival, and she’s clearly ready to go all out.
Even though she was just the opener, Lucy gave us a full 45-minute set with 11 songs. Most of the time, she went straight from one track to the next without talking, and I have so much respect for that kind of hustle.
R&V is sure one of the biggest stages in New Zealand, the place where the first sunrise of 2026 will hit, but for Lucy Gray, I know this is only the beginning. She’s a big shot on her way.
Ming Lyu
Photography by Ming Lyu
