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MUKI’s set at Bodriggy on January 22 felt less like a formal EP showcase and more like a communal exhale, a room full of people gathering around an artist stepping confidently into his own world. The Naarm/Melbourne-based artist (born in Dubai with Indian roots) played through his new EP in full, and from the opening moments it was clear this was music shaped by patience, intention, and lived experience.
Tracks like “My Sweet Anxiety” and “Music of the Trees” set the emotional tone early, balancing vulnerability with warmth. There’s an ease to MUKI’s delivery that never feels forced; he allows space for the songs to breathe, trusting the room to meet him there. “Gasoline,” the project’s namesake and a standout of the night, carried a quiet intensity, restrained but powerful, and landed with particular weight live, its textures unfolding naturally in the intimate Bodriggy setting.
“Morning Music” closed the loop on the EP’s arc, offering a sense of lightness and calm that contrasted beautifully with the heavier emotional moments earlier in the set. Throughout the night, MUKI’s connection to the crowd felt genuine and unguarded. At one point, he handed out his trademark white sunglasses to audience members, a small but telling gesture that blurred the line between performer and friend, stage and floor.
What made the night especially memorable was the atmosphere in the room. Bodriggy was filled with friends supporting friends, familiar faces, shared smiles, and a collective pride in watching someone take this step forward. There was no sense of spectacle for spectacle’s sake; instead, the show thrived on sincerity, shared history, and mutual respect.
MUKI’s EP launch wasn’t about proving anything, it was about presence. At Bodriggy, he showed that his debut under the MUKI moniker isn’t just a starting point, but the result of years of quiet work finally finding its moment.
Words and images by Monique Pizzica
