Prior to the release of Tiny Habit’s debut album, All For Something back in May, I was a total newcomer to the indie-folk trio from Boston, Massachusetts. After reviewing the album however, I started scouring the internet for tour info, regularly checking the Australia Post app for my “coke bottle clear” vinyl and pestering anyone who’ll listen to me about this band. Full disclosure – I’m hooked!
The band’s rise can be partly attributed to their viral TikTok covers, often performed in their dorm stairwell, but let me be clear: Cinya Khan, Maya Rae, and Judah Mayowa are much more than an internet fluke. You don’t just stumble into Berklee College of Music, and you certainly don’t earn praise from Sir Elton John and collaborate with Lizzie McAlpine by accident. A touch of serendipity might have sparked their journey, but it’s their artistry, songwriting, and undeniable chemistry that have taken them well beyond the confines of 16:9 newsfeeds and into airwaves and stages around the world.
On Friday night at The Triffid, 15,000 kilometers from their home base, Tiny Habits showed exactly why they deserve every bit of that emerging success. As fans battled Brisbane’s early onset summer humidity and sporadic rain, the aircraft hangar turned concert venue buzzed with anticipation.
Known for their tender fusion of layered harmonies and textured instrumentation, I was curious how the trio, now backed by a full band, would recreate the intimate, emotional resonance of their recordings live. The moment the lights flickered to life and the PA music dimmed, I could feel the excitement building—my questions about to be answered.
Opening the night was Melbourne artist Sidney who took to the stage with a warm roar of applause, quickly disarming the crowd with a playful, “I’m sorry, I’m just tuning—keep chatting amongst yourselves!” With her pristine white Fender Stratocaster now tuned and read to go, she kicked into track “She’s In Love”. Picked chords rang out as the artists reverb-soaked vocals and chorus-laden guitar echoed through the Triffid, leaving the crowd in a silent, charmed trance where they would remain for most of the set.
Originals like “Golden Boy” and “It’s Funny”—the latter wryly introduced with, ‘It’s actually not funny’—held the crowd in a slow swaying silence. A cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” flicked the switch into a crowd sing along.
Sidney closed her set with new track “Imposter”, leaving her deeply affecting song writing and powerful vocals to linger. Armed with just an electric guitar, the one-woman band setup amplified the intimacy of the moment, assisted by the artists bright, chatty stage banter. Dissolving the metal barrier between the crowd and the stage, it felt less like a traditional opener and closer to 500 people hanging out in the lounge room, setting the perfect tone for the evening ahead.
Following the intermission, the house lights dimmed to an excited cheer from the crowd. Emerging from the wings to a fluttering backing track, three silhouettes stepped into the stage glow, revealing beaming smiles and cheerful waves met by an enthusiastic welcome from the Brisbane crowd. As each member took their places before the three evenly spaced microphones at the front of the stage, the atmosphere was electric.
Opening with “Circling”, much in the way the song opens their debut album, the band found their feet in the live mix as their voices swirled into one. The low-key opener quickly proved that the band could deliver their recorded sound with remarkable precision. Although watching Khan, Rae and Mayowa build a song piece by piece together in real time is something a record simply doesn’t satisfy, and proves those harmonies are no studio trick.
Shifting into “People Always Change” the energetic pulse invited the crowd to dance, as the soaring guitar motif brought the song in. The first opportunity to let each member shine, Khan, Rae and Mayowa traded on verses and the pre-chorus before merging into one in a satisfying elevation of the chorus.
Led by Khan, popular track “Mudroom” held the room throughout its sweet and vulnerable duration, showcasing the band’s ability to layer not only their voices but the arrangement of their live band. Swelling guitars, cymbal washes and understated keyboards accentuated the often bitter sweetness in the songs. As they transitioned into “Flicker”, delicate guitars framed the song, wrapping it in a shimmering, dreamy haze. The crowd swayed in a syncopated hypnosis, only to be playfully jolted awake by Mayowa’s cheeky lyric switch from ‘broke down in Austin’ to ‘Brisbane’. Like an illusionist snapping their fingers, the moment earned a gleeful cheer and a renewed energy that rippled through the room.
At the midpoint of the set, a standout moment emerged as the trio showcased their versatility, each taking the lead on a song. Maya Rae kicked things off with “Broken”, leaning into its jazzy, lounge-inspired style. Accompanied by her cousin Ben Millman—co-writer of the song and the band’s keyboardist—Rae delivered a smooth, almost Sinatra-esque performance that was nothing short of charming.
Next, Cinya Khan took centre stage for “Malleable”, extracting every ounce of emotion from the song. Her velvet vocals softened the songs painful affirmations, a striking contrast between the song’s lyrical content and its sweetly delivered arrangement. Finally, Judah Mayowa stepped forward with a cheeky, “Guess it must be my turn!” and launched into “Planting Flowers”. The understated folk gem was delivered with a vulnerability and resolve that brought this segment of the set to a quietly brilliant conclusion.
The mood shifted as the trio warned the audience things were about to get ‘real sad’. Leading into a stunning version of Wishes, the trio performed shoulder to shoulder huddled at centre stage. To balance the melancholy, the band mixed in two excellent surprise covers including Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know” and Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide”.
Adding to the surprises, the trio invited Sidney to join them for “For Sale Sign”, their newest track in collaboration with Lizzie McAlpine that had just been released. The live debut was a treat, seamlessly blending their voices and giving Sidney more time to shine.
Before launching into “Some Thing (I’ve Learned)”, the band treated the audience to an endearingly chaotic mix of banter and introductions. Maya Rae reflected on how surreal it felt to be performing in Australia, admitting that her younger self could never have imagined it. Judah Mayowa, in his characteristically self-deprecating style, thanked the audience and introduced the band, joking, ‘I know you didn’t come here to hear me talk.’
Meanwhile, Cinya Khan apologized for a mistake she’d made during the opening number, confessing she was still dwelling on it. Before starting the song, she quipped, “Are you ready?” to the crowd, then clarified with a laugh, ‘I was talking to me.’ These moments of candid interaction brought a charm and authenticity to the evening, serving as a reminder that the band is still growing, figuring things out.
The set surged forward with an upbeat rendition of “I Don’t Have the Heart”, embracing the pop elements of their indie-pop-folk sound. Despite Mayowa’s wry comment that “We don’t have any more songs after this!” the band returned in response to the crowd’s enthusiastic encore chants of ‘one more song!’ Closing the night with “Tiny Things”, a soft and introspective finale, the trio left the audience in a state of contentment and quiet awe, with just enough longing for more.
Walking out of The Triffid alongside a sea of well-satisfied fans, one thought lingered in my mind: Tiny Habits are a band of extraordinary musicians, holding a bag of cheques for dues long paid and ready to be cashed. With an assembly line of undeniable song writing, lifted to extraordinary heights by the group’s inimitable vocal chemistry, it’s overwhelming how good this band is. Their live sound is a near 1:1 recreation of their album, improved significantly by the visual of each member losing themselves in the song and the energy of the airwaves compressing around you. The trio’s voices also blend so seamlessly that the clarity and execution almost shouldn’t be achievable in a modest venue like The Triffid. And yet, they made it happen.
The groups genuine friendship radiates from the stage too, and extends to their bandmates who often seemed lost in the songs and sing along with closed eyes and wide smiles. Transforming the stage into a space of pure, shared joy the performance connected with the audience and brought us right in.
Where so many pop-leaning shows are polished to the point of sterility and sanded down until there is no danger in the performance, Tiny Habits reignited my love for a simpler type of show. There’s no artifice here—no heavy backing tracks, backup dancers, or pyrotechnics. It’s just three musicians, their band, and their raw talent in absolute command of their craft. Their seamless harmonies, visible emotion, and utterly captivating setlist turned small imperfections into endearing quirks that only added to the charm.
Their stage presence feels like an element still evolving, but it works more in their favour than as an indictment against them. Authentic and relatable, the on stage chatter is grounded, funny and slightly awkward. The modest interactions and often mic shy meekness are in such contrast with the bands monstrous musicianship and performance confidence that the lack of ego is like whiplash. Witnessing a band still surprised and grateful to be under the bright lights reminds me these are still somewhat humble beginnings.
Tiny Habits are in the adolescent phase of “making it”, and there’s an exciting sense of growth potential to these shows. Like catching an early wave, there’s a sense of success coming in with the tide. Destined for bigger stages, seeing them in such an intimate setting feels like quite the privilege. And for that, I’ll make it a habit of nabbing a ticket whenever, and wherever I can.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Tiny Habits’ Just A Little Down Under continues on Tuesday night at Melbourne’s The Croxton Bandroom, with support from Sidney and Vinnie Brigante. Get Tickets HERE
