American rap and pop sensation Doja Cat launched the Australian segment of her Ma Vie World Tour with a spectacularly chaotic performance at Perth's RAC Arena on Saturday night, delivering a ninety-minute spectacle that left fans exhilarated.
A Fiery Opening and Bold Statement
The 30-year-old artist, born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, took the stage just before 9pm to a roaring crowd of enthusiastic young fans. Bursting into song on a vibrant block stage, she made a powerful entrance in an 80s-inspired ensemble featuring big blonde hair, a leopard print bodysuit, and purple leggings.
The concert was a dramatic affair from start to finish, featuring flaming pyrotechnics, mini fireworks, and unexpected antics. In a direct response to online criticism about her lack of costume changes, Doja Cat took a fan's poster from the mosh pit that read "F***k costume changes," scrunched it into a ball, and briefly chewed on it. This bold act followed her earlier retorts to fans, where she stated, "I make music for people who enjoy music. I'm not a broadway act" and "I'm not your f**king costume monkey."
High-Energy Performance and Fan Favourites
The energy intensified during her performance of Wet Vagina, featuring a literal fire show and plenty of twerking that delighted her devoted Kittens fanbase. She powered through an extensive setlist of crowd-pleasers including:
- Kiss Me More
- Woman
- Get Into It (Yuh)
- Juicy
- Say So
- Agora Hills
The atmosphere reached fever pitch during Ain't Shit, Boss Bitch, and Paint The Town Red – the latter having topped Triple J's Hottest 100 countdown in 2023. Most concertgoers likely woke with sore throats on Sunday morning after singing along enthusiastically throughout the night.
Vocal Rest and Eccentric Moments
Doja Cat herself wasn't immune to vocal strain, posting a TikTok video on Sunday morning announcing she was on vocal rest while thanking Perth fans for an "amazing" show. "I wanted to say thank you for last night. It was f**king amazing, very cool and when you support me it feels really good," she shared in the video message.
This communication came after limited crowd interaction during the actual performance, where she primarily hyped the audience by shouting "Perth!" several times throughout the show. Her eccentric personality shone through during Demons, when she began ripping off her extremely long neon nails on stage.
Not every moment was high-intensity, as Doja Cat showcased her vocal versatility during stripped-back performances of Stranger, Take Me Dancing, and her closing track Jealous Type. The concert also highlighted her talented live band featuring drums, keyboard, saxophone, and trumpet, along with two backup dancers and vocalists who added significant theatrical flair to the production.
While some might have wished for more direct engagement with the audience, most attendees appeared completely captivated by Doja Cat's star power and unique performance style, making her first Perth arena show an unforgettable experience for her Australian Kittens.
