REVIEW - NMIXX sparkle atop the Hordern Pavilion

This live review is brought to you by LUCID Live Music through a free General Admission Reserved seated ticket.

NMIXX, a K-pop girl group from JYP Entertainment consisting of members Lily, Jiwoo, Sullyoon, Bae, Kyujin, and Haewon, is finally back in Australia after 2 years, the last time being back in 2023 for Wild Kpop Music Festival as one of the three groups to perform. This will be their first solo concert in Australia, called “NMIXX Change Up : MIXX Lab in Australia” (which helps set the worldview and theme of the concert). MIXX Lab is part of their current world tour “NMIXX 2nd Fan Concert” which started back in October 2024 and paired with their album releases of “Fe3O4: Break, Fe3O4: Stick Out, and Fe3O4: Forward”.

Having just performed in fellow member Lily’s home state of Victoria, Melbourne’s Festival Hall a few days before, expectations for another great concert were high at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion. 

Let’s start at where all K-pop concerts start, the queueing experience. The weather was windy and cold, with many people in cosplay (lab coats and MV outfits) and concert attire that weren’t entirely weather appropriate, but it was all going to be worth it to flaunt your fan dedication. NSWERs (NMIXX’s fandom name) who had purchased VIP access were already in the venue having experienced soundcheck, where NMIXX performed 3 songs and interacted with the fans, many clips were already being posted on social media. Once past security, both the VIP and GAs had to the chance to mingle, people were making new friends, fan-made merch were being given away, people were trading photocards (each entrant was given a poster and free photocard), and buying food and drinks to give their bodies enough energy in anticipation for the concert to start.

And as time drew closer to the start time, people began streaming into their seats. The venue was very tall and spacious, and the stage featured multiple large LED displays at the back, with a metallic, laboratory feel being displayed. The lights dimmed as “KNOW ABOUT ME” began being played loudly, signalling the beginning of the concert, which prompted loud cheers from the audience. We were about to witness 2 and a half hours of greatness.

The concert opens with a VCR (pre-recorded video) setting up the worldview and theme, NMIXX are scientists in a research lab called MIXX Lab, and later we find out they are working on a project called NSWER Project. NMIXX enters to a dim and misty stage in their first outfit, a full white ensemble. And the instant Bae’s iconic low voice sang the first few notes in acapella, fans knew the first song was going to be Run for Roses. One of NMIXX’s surprise break out songs, especially in K-pop being a country pop genre track. Another surprise being the use of sparklers on stage to help emphasise the explosive start to the concert.

This was followed up immediately by the next song, KNOW ABOUT ME, NMIXX’s latest title song release in their album Fe3O4: Forward. A stark contrast to their first song, being a hip-hop synth pop fusion song, showing the versatility NMIXX is known for. After the two songs we get our first ment (talking section, shortened word of comment, term used in K-pop concerts) with introductions from each member, each followed by explosive cheers and the occasional barking ‘hoo hoo hoo’, which I assume is some kind of Australian cheering as I have not witnessed it in K-pop concerts of other countries except for ones in Australia.

After the short ment break, NMIXX performed BEAT BEAT a song that accurately represented fan’s fast beating hearts from the excitement of the concert. And with that track being finished, we were presented with another VCR that further developed the worldview and NSWER Project in the form of a comedy skit, entertaining the crowd as the group changed into their new outfits, a school uniform inspired set. Three songs before an outfit change was rather quick, but we soon learned there would be a total of 4 different outfits, a rarity in Australian K-pop concerts, and just how NMIXX mixes things up.

NMIXX surprised everyone with a rock rearrangement of their song Love Me Like This. They performed with mic stands to display their vocal side more than the dance side. What followed next was Young, Dumb, Stupid that samples the famous Frère Jacques melody bringing a whimsical and childish vibe to the venue. And the song ended with an adlib from Haewon saying an animal accurate version of the infamous Aussie slang “Put some prawns on the barbie Sydney”.Thank you Lily, for teaching your fellow group mate accurate Aussie lore.

Going straight into the next song O.O, a variation on their debut song that they only perform at concerts, making it a special listen for everyone. After having performed 6 songs, NSWERs got their first true ment break in the form of a Recreation Section. A section that shows why it is called a Fan Concert, where not only do we get amazing performances, but also get NMIXX’s hilarious variety skills. The Recreation Section was split into two parts, a relay drawing game (1 guesser and the others drew taking turns), and a talent show (dance cover).

The relay drawing game had words such as kangaroo, and the Sydney Opera House, ranging from easy to difficult. The guesser did not waste the opportunity while waiting, to interact with fans by reading signs and doing poses, bringing much delight to NSWERs. The funny antics and reactions gave fans many memorable moments to remember, like when each member began singing in opera style to give a hint for the Sydney Opera House drawing. The translator even joined in when translating to get all the odd sounds and singing too, to keep the crowds immersed, truly a great translator. The Recreation Section ended with NMIXX covering NCT 127’s ‘Kick It’, a very powerful and energetic song filled with intense dance moves. Contrasting their funny side with a reminder that they were indeed a strong performance group.

To end off the first half of the concert, NMIXX performed 2 more songs. The first was Love is Lonely, a dreamy track that combines acoustic guitar with EDM-style rhythms. Paired with a nebula LED display in the background to relax all of the crowd after the excitement-filled Recreation Section. Lily ended the song with an improvised Aussie accent adlib of the lyrics and a touching message to NSWERs to help ground us back from the dream-like performance, while generating laughs and awws at the same time.

The second song leading up to the midpoint of the concert was Moving On, almost like they were signalling the fans they were moving onto the next half of the concert. The song featured NMIXX’s favourite pastime of throwing things into the crowd, last time they were in Australia, they threw out t-shirts, and this time it was signed plastic balls. The members showed genuine happiness while throwing the balls and the crowd clamoured to claim one for themselves to bring home a piece of the concert.

NSWERs were challenged with a cheering activity, to help power up a battery on screen to transition into the next set of songs, and allow time for NMIXX to change yet again into another outfit. We were also presented with another VCR that showed the members in a laboratory mixing different chemicals to cause an explosion to bring out the next performance.

NMIXX appears on stage again, this time in a red, black, white and jeans outfit combo, bringing a sporty feel in the styling. The song they picked to start this second half of the concert was TANK, theri debut b-side track, a song with punk rock and hip-hop elements. The track also heavily Features Lily’s incredible vocals and unique timbre, which was the starting point to the rest of NMIXX’s amazing vocal prowess that came after their debut.

Three more songs were performed one after another, Just Did It, a pop-y feel good song that contrasts itself in the chorus with a more serious cool vibe. SICKUHH, NMIXX’s unexpected hip-hop rap track that features the famous Korean Rapper Kid Milli, further showing the diversity in NMIXX’s skill set of vocal, dance, and rap. And finally the song BOOM, a song that dictated the audience’s heartbeat with its heavy and intense 808 bass, and trap hi-hats like a ticking time bomb.

NSWERs got a little break again with another ment, where NMIXX announced the concert was nearing the end (albeit to the surprise of no K-pop concert goer, it was far from the end). The collective ‘naurrrrr’ from the audience led to one of Korea’s favourite activities lately (due to the increasing amounts of Australian K-pop idols), imitating ‘no’ but in an exaggerated Aussie accent. NMIXX followed that up with saying they will start the concert all over again to appease everyone, and performed the beginning verse of Run for Roses acapella style, further reinforcing how talented they are in singing. Giving the audience a good laugh from their antics and awe from their talent. NSWERs were asked to stand up for the last two songs, prompting many fans to move around the venue to get a closer vantage point, and others got ready to dance to the songs.

The ‘final’ two songs were DASH, a song many may claim as when NMIXX finally developed and claimed their iconic sound called MIXX POP (songs that combine multiple musical elements and genres together into one). And See that?, a song that fuses many different styles, backed up by NMIXX’s many talents in vocal, dance, and rap. The performance ended with an explosive confetti shower at the last chorus.

The fans all returned to their seats in the dimly lit venue, waiting for the inevitable encore staple in the majority of K-pop concerts, but little did we know what was to come, a total of 5 additional songs (where the usual encore only entails 2 or 3 songs). Before the encore, everyone was treated to the members giving their thanks and ending messages via a VCR styled in the way of research logs (to remain in the worldview they had set up). One critique of the expected encore would be that even though there was an attempt at an encore chant, it was not long lasting and was broken across the venue, since it became a K-pop concert staple to have encores regardless of cheers and demands.

The members came back out for their first encore song Kiss, but not on stage and instead they were escorted around the venue visiting the audience seats directly with security and staff. The girls wandered around the venue passing roses to lucky fans. They continued wandering around the venue while performing the song Passionfruit, and ended the performance up on stage again. NMIXX had donned their fourth and final outfit of the night, a sky blue top matched with a white skirt and trinkets. 

At every NMIXX concert, the girls would perform a song from the country they were at, and for Australia, they picked 5 Seconds of Summer’s ‘She Looks So Perfect’. The venue filled with the iconic ‘Heys’, singing along with NMIXX. After that touching performance, it was time for a group photo with the audience (another K-pop concert staple), but it was NSWERs turn to surprise NMIXX. A fan-made video was played for NMIXX as they turned around to face the photographer and LED display, filled with encouraging and emotional messages from fans. And the venue filled with fans waving their lightsticks and phone flashlights side to side, while singing NMIXX’s Moving On, bringing the atmosphere into an emotional high.

With the group photo taken, we got another ment where Lily got to fulfil her Swiftie dream by re-enacting the iconic moment in the Blank Space performance Taylor Swift did for her Sydney concert, ‘Ding Ding, Syd-ney’. NMIXX gave their farewell messages with each member getting a cheer at the end. Australian NSWERs were also promised that NMIXX would return to Australia and perform again, and with the track record of other JYP groups, it would surely come true.

As the concert was drawing to its final two songs, NSWERs were tasked with doing a specific dance action for the song Break the Wall with their lightsticks, to hit the air like we were breaking a wall. NMIXX were very attentive in making sure the audience did it, and were delighted at the participation. The NSWERs in the VIP section were also treated to a storm of confetti, which prompted laughter from the members.

And for the final song to end the night, HOME, which contained the perfectly fitting lyrics of “don’t wanna go home”, representing the thoughts of all the fans in the audience. The song was performed in a fun, light-hearted way, no assigned choreograph and instead let the members play around with each other and interact with the audience, which gave many fans great clips to view again in the future to remember the concert by. And of course, the VIP section got hit with one final confetti barrage.

But the concert wasn’t over just yet, NMIXX pulled one final prank, by fake leaving and having the fans cheer to bring them back to perform HOME one more time. Although this time, something wasn’t quite right with the track, it would play fast and slow at different times. Which gave a rather funny performance, as the members would be in slow-mo and then move very quickly. The reasoning was that the cheers weren’t loud enough for the concert director, NMIXX explained. And fans would need to convince the concert director with stronger cheers to get the correct version of the song to end the night. This prank went on for a few more times before NSWERs finally for the proper ending.

And with yet another surprise to top everything off, as NMIXX was truly leaving the stage with their final goodbyes, the members started the iconic Australian cheer, “Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi”. A tradition that has been slowly fading away from Australian K-pop concerts, and I was not expecting to encounter that night. With that, the night of great performances and wild antics was over, but not for all NSWERs, the fans who had bought VIP tickets had one last interaction with NMIXX in their Hi-Bye Perk. They had the chance to be close up and say goodbyes to the members.

Everyone slowly streamed out of the venue, back into the cold night, but high and warm from the energetic and explosive performances. People were finding their ways home, or chatting with the new friends they made, a great ending to a great night.

The concert went for a total of 2 and a half hours, filled with many great songs from NMIXX’s expansive discography and activities that helped display their many faceted talents in vocal, dance, rap, and entertainment. We hope to see them again soon in Australia, and maybe in more cities too.