As a long-time Doja Cat fan, I’ve been WAITING for this one. 

Last night it was the ‘Agora Hills’ singer’s first-ever concert in New Zealand at Auckland’s Spark Arena, which also marked the start of her Tour Ma Vie World Tour (lucky us!).

I’ve loved Doja’s music since her 2018 ‘Amala’ days, so it’s a little embarrassing to admit I hadn’t given her latest ‘Vie’ album a proper listen until a few hours leading up to the show (before you ask, yes, I’m the Type B friend).

After streaming the whole album that afternoon, I knew we’d be in for a great night, and as soon as she entered the stage in a shoulder-padded hot pink leotard sporting a blonde shaggy bob with bangs, my predictions were confirmed. 

From the get-go, opening with ‘Cards’, she brought high energy to every song.

As for the setlist, the songs she sang were the perfect mix of old and new. Hits from her ‘Hot Pink’, ‘Planet Her’, and ‘Scarlet’ albums were featured, as well as a couple of her older singles, 'Juicy’ and ‘Tia Tamera’, also making the cut.

I was secretly hoping she’d come out and sing ‘MOOO!’ as part of her encore, or even more of her pre-2019 stuff (seeing as it was her first concert in NZ), but that can all be forgiven as the night was all about ‘Vie’. 

And those ‘Vie’ songs did not come to play.

Despite not knowing heaps of those new tracks, her performances hit the spot, and as I wrote in my notes app last night, it was as if “80s synth-pop met rap in the form of a baddie”.

Not exactly sure what I meant when I wrote that, but I think we all get the idea. 

I wasn’t around in the 80s, but I feel that’s maybe the closest I’ll get to an 80s club experience - complete with live band, disco floor visuals, and Doja getting down in that hot pink leotard.

Side note: she looked AMAZING. My notes here simply stated “body is tea” and “knees strong af”. 

Massive shoutout should be given to the band and their involvement, too.

The trio on the trumpet, trombone, and saxophone really did their thing, and we got to hear great solos from the electric guitarist and drummer on the extended outro of ‘Need to Know’. 

Also impressive was Doja’s ability to go from hitting a high note and then straight into her signature fast-paced rapping style AND keep dancing through it all.

You just couldn’t help but get up and dance, which was a given for those with standing tickets, but most people in the seats got up to dance too - myself included (a rare occurrence for me). 

Both my friend and I agreed that Doja had an energy and confidence that filled the whole stadium, and when any high note, rap flow or dance move was delivered, the whole crowd lost it. 

Special mention for the splits she hit in her ‘Streets’ performance, which everyone went absolutely crazy for!

From the Vie album, standout performances for me included ‘AAAHH MEN!’ and ‘Gorgeous’, and from her older tracks, ‘Say So’ and ‘Tia Tamera’ were great surprises. But, to be honest, I enjoyed every single song. 

A compilation of clips from the night.

I’m not one for comparisons, but she kind of gave off a Tina Turner fierceness in her own Doja Cat sort of way.

There’s one word I can think of to describe the whole night, one I’m not sure I can say here (hint: it starts with c, ends with y), so I’ll just say the whole thing ate and left no crumbs.

Translation: she looked great, gave us amazing performances, had a talented band backing her up, and plenty of visuals and pyrotechnics to set the mood.

What more could you ask for! The best Tuesday night ever.

Full setlist below:

Act I

1. Cards

2. Kiss Me More

3. Get Into It (Yuh)

4. Gorgeous

5. Take Me Dancing (Live debut)

6. Woman

7. Acts of Service (Live debut)

8. Agora Hills

9. Make It Up

10. All Mine

11. Ain’t Shit

12. Paint the Town Red

13. Silly! Fun! (Live debut)

14. Juicy

15. Need to Know (Extended outro)

Act II

16. Streets

17. Wet Vagina

18. WYM Freestyle

19. Demons

20. Tia Tamera

21. AAAHH MEN!

22. I'm a Man (The Spencer Davis Group cover)

23. Boss Bitch

24. One More Time (Live debut)

25. Say So

26. Stranger (Live debut)

27. Jealous Type