Synthony rocks the world stage
Photo:
Supplied
There is something electric in the air.
It is a feeling, a movement, a beat.
It is called Synthony.
Born in New Zealand from a one-off idea back in 2016, Synthony has gone from an ambitious fusion of classical music and electronic dance hits to a
global phenomenon
, and it is not slowing down.
"From the first meeting, I thought this could be a global brand like Cirque du Soleil - if it can
work in Auckland
, why couldn't it work in New York, London and Perth, Milan and Singapore," says Synthony boss David Higgins.
"I could see that potential. The name, in itself, is magic ... it's genius, a merger between 'synergy' and 'symphony', it's a magic one-word brand.
"The show's a magic experience. It's a breathtaking collision of electronic dance music with full live orchestra, guest vocalists, and immersive visuals.
"Synthony is definitely on track to be a loved, global brand, born out of Auckland."
Higgins is the second owner of Synthony, which he bought in 2018, a year after the first show was held at the Auckland Town Hall. That show cost less than $20,000, and about 2500 people attended.
Synthony boss David Higgins.
Photo:
Photosport
He bought it within a few months of that first business meeting with original owners, David Elmsly, a New Zealand pilot, and his then-partner Erika Amoore, a DJ, music producer and accountant.
"I paid them well," Higgins tells
The Detail
.
"An accountant could argue it was worth nothing, there was nothing trademarked, it hadn't made money and it was a punt ... so some could say it had no value but I balanced that with where I could see it going and we ended up paying what I thought was a fair price and a bit of an earn out," he says.
Higgins is owner of Duco Events, which has a history in boxing and sports gigs.
Once he added Synthony to his portfolio, he moved it from the Town Hall to Spark Arena, then Auckland Domain - where 40 thousand attended this year - and took it on the road around the country, then overseas.
It quickly struck a chord.
This bold idea to bring orchestral gravitas to dancefloor bangers became a multi-city juggernaut, with sold-out venues and top performers asking to be a part of it.
"One of the attractive things about Synthony is it's brand-driven, rather than [based around] any one person," Higgins says. "We made an internal rule that there are no egos, there is no cult personality, there will be no one person in the lights ... it's a brand.
"We treat everyone equally. Synthony is the hero, and we give opportunities to younger talent and enthusiastic talent that might not otherwise get as many opportunities, and that way we can run shows wherever we want, whenever we want.
"We book local orchestras; we find local talent ... and this gives us huge freedom to go global."
He says the key to their global success has been creating a "top-quality" Synthony YouTube channel.
"We have been investing money in filming content live and creating nice videos ... and since we have been doing that, we have had booking enquiries from around the world. In the last year, we performed on the start line of Formula One Las Vegas, for example, we opened a resort in Greece, we have performed in Mexico ... and we are in talks for shows in London and a European tour.
"There are so many opportunities.
"They call it a 'J-curve' in business terms, where something builds for a long time, then there's a tipping point and it starts to take off ... and we are hoping we are on that J-curve and that it's about to blow up, globally."
Closer to home, he is about to launch Full Metal Orchestra at Spark Arena in Auckland next month. He says it is "a breathtaking collision of symphonic power and hard rock energy," and the show is already nearly sold out.
Then it is New York, Australia, France and Calgary.
And just who will be dancing up a storm, jiggling and sweating together in the audience?
While billed as a family event, Synthony is becoming increasingly popular with aged millennials, Gen X, and boomers, females in particular, who are booking babysitters and reliving their youth.
It is about nostalgia and the power of music to connect people. It is a movement.
Check out how to listen to and fol low The Detail
here
.
You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on
or following us on
.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
Music with Ian Chapman: Molluscs unhinged!
This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions. Photo: 123RF Today Ian Chapman explores the seldom visited intersections between popular music and molluscs. Mussels, cockles and oysters abound in a selection of music drawn from local and overseas artists that ranges from sad and serious to witty and outright silly. Listeners are invited to come out of their shells and enjoy some mollusc magic. Ian Chapman is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in Music at the University of Otago.


Scoop
5 hours ago
- Scoop
Pukekura Park The Purr-Fect Setting For Ross The Cat Video With Help From NPDC Creative Communities Funding
A host of Taranaki tamariki bring two of Ngāmotu New Plymouth's stand-out stars to life in a new short film based on the best-selling local children's book, Ross the Cat, thanks to funding from the NPDC-managed Creative Communities Scheme. The children read the story of Ross and his favourite hang-out, Pukekura Park, highlighting the many attractions at the world-class and multiple Green Flag awarded park, which Ross roams almost every day. "Never work with children and animals – isn't that the saying? Well, following the success of my book Ross the Cat, I decided to create a real-life action version involving local children to narrate the story and of course, including the real-life Ross. The video was professionally shot to showcase the story and Pukekura Park at its best. It is a celebration of young talent in the district, a high-profile feline ambassador and the iconic Pukekura Park,' said author Helen Griffiths. "Creative Communities supported the project that combined community storytelling with children's involvement in the arts. Their enthusiasm and excitement were obvious, and the project culminated in a red-carpet premiere at the Len Lye Cinema, giving the children a taste of film star glamour – no doubt the first of many appearances for some.' The video production received $2,755 from the Creative Communities Scheme. Applications for Creative Communities funding are open until 18 August. Find out more at FAST FACTS The Creative Communities Scheme is a partnership between the government's Creative New Zealand arts agency and councils to promote community involvement, diversity and young people participating in the arts. Each year the NPDC Creative Communities Scheme distributes around $50,000 on behalf of Creative New Zealand to local artists and arts groups. Artists and arts groups can apply for up to $2,500 each round, but larger amounts can be granted for major projects. Last year the scheme helped about 40 artists and arts groups.


Scoop
6 hours ago
- Scoop
Ed Sheeran's Brand-New Concert Tour Headed For Wellington
Music megastar will bring the 'Loop Tour' to Sky Stadium on 21 January 2026 Wellington is in for a treat this summer, with music megastar Ed Sheeran heading back to his 'favourite city in the world' with his brand-new show, the 'Loop Tour' at Sky Stadium. Scheduled for Wednesday 21 January 2026, this is the second of three New Zealand shows as part of his Australia-New Zealand tour, announced by Frontier Touring and MG Live yesterday. New Zealand fans of the globally beloved musician will be the first to experience a brand-new show that brings Sheeran's eighth studio album 'Play' to the stage, alongside his well-known classics. Set to be released this September, the new album has been described as an explorative, technicolour pop album that captures the fun, chaos, and heart of an artist reinvigorated by life and travel - a significant change from his previous two. Known for his signature use of a loop pedal, Sheeran masterfully layers vocals, guitar riffs, and percussion in real time, building complex arrangements as a one-man band. In February 2023, Sky Stadium hosted 48,000 fans in what was the venue's biggest concert to date. Sheeran has also previously performed at Wellington's TSB Arena in 2013 and 2015. Warrick Dent, Chief Executive at Sky Stadium, says: "We're very excited to be one of the first stadiums in the world to host Ed Sheeran's latest show. The last time he played Sky Stadium was an incredible experience and a record breaker for us in terms of attendance, and we look forward to what will no doubt be a spectacular show as he kicks off his new tour.' Mark Oldershaw, WellingtonNZ Chief Executive, adds: 'We can't wait to welcome Ed Sheeran back to Wellington for his brand-new show. Sheeran is a world-class artist and we look forward to hosting him again in our world-class city. His music resonates with people of all ages, and his concerts create unforgettable experiences for fans and families alike. We know he is a big fan of our city, so we'll certainly be rolling out the welcome mat for his return. 'As the nation's creative heart, concerts like this bring a real buzz to Wellington, supporting local businesses and showcasing the best of what our city has to offer. We expect tickets will sell fast, given Sheeran's strong fanbase in Wellington and beyond.' Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 1pm on Tuesday 29 July, keep an eye out on the Sky Stadium event page for further details and the link to purchase via Ticketek.