Sienna Spiro's First Headline Show Live at Hoxton Hall [Show Review]
New Wave Magazine
The 19-year-old London-born singer gave a breathtaking performance last week in Hoxton to a sold-out (in under 24 hours may we add) crowd. Sienna sat down with New Wave for her first interview this past summer. Chatting on the possibilities of taking her songwriting to live crowds, relating to fans as more of close friends and ecstatic about recently performing at KoKo for an intimate room of listeners. Fast forward to November 2024, Sienna has released new tracks, grown her social following where it all began on TikTok and now boasts over one million monthly Spotify listeners.
A group of six young talented musicians graced the stage to accompany Sienna. A pianist, guitarist, bassist, and violinist created the orchestral volume necessary to bring this experience to life. Sienna’s songs are nothing short of masterpieces written by herself and it would have been insulting to execute the show in any other way.
Before giving fans any of the four singles that have blown up within months of being out into the world, Sienna began her set with an unreleased track, ‘Butterfly Effect’. Immediately setting a serene atmosphere, Sienna’s on-stage presence saw a three-tier crowd go quiet in anticipation and awe. Appreciating the talent in front of them, taking in each lyric, fans stood still and only a few pulled a phone out to record the moment that had most taken aback. You could hear a pin drop from the back of the Hoxton Hall with eyes beaming towards Sienna, her strong vocals rippled from the stage throughout the venue.
Wearing an oversized double denim set paired with her uniform gold jewellery stood as a particularly bold stylistic statement. Referring back to our interview over the summer where Sienna told me about her love for menswear, street style and incorporating elements of hip-hop style into her look, fashion is part of her musical identity. When it comes to style, Sienna isn’t afraid to express herself in the avenue of clothing. Put this together with her raspy tones, undenied confidence and ability to create music, write her lyrics and play the piano, she is unwillingly forming herself into the star that over 13 million people (on the track ‘MAYBE’) are listening to.
The East London Arts and Music alumni played with her talents to riff and run in her live versions of ‘TAXI DRIVER’, ‘MAYBE’ and ‘NEED ME’. Goosebumps were shared around the room and jaws were dropping on the high notes of ‘BACK TO BLONDE’, the newest release from Sienna which gives a (James) Bond-like feel.
Heavy in depth and range, she uses this opportunity to showcase her ability to maturely execute multiple vocal techniques. Singing on personal relationships of the past, betrayal and disappointment, the lyrics depict feelings of revenge in a self-deprecating way as she sings “Back to my old ways, back to no heart”. Switching from a head voice to one to two octaves below in between exercising impressive breath work and contrasting from major to minor notes, there are no boundaries for Sienna. Released less than a week ago, fans sang along to every word, shouting out from their lungs to ensure Sienna felt the reciprocated emotions. The support and love shown by those who have been waiting for each new release was palpable, not many first headline shows can create a mutual feeling of connection so soon. The performance included uncut lines from the artist that she intersected as well as a variation of piano chords and violins that added to make a softer unheard-of version of the songs. ‘NEED ME’ took a slower version of the original when played live with an emphasis on her incredible pianist’s performance and arpeggiated chords accompanying Sienna’s melody line. Her voice carried an angelic outro with smokey tones and soulful intentions, each track played was a credit to the musician’s ability to demand presence in her performance, communicate an emotional experience through her lyrics and also set the tone for her artistry.If you have not yet heard Sienna’s first four releases, we are sure that they will wrap you into her world and consume your playlists from the first listen. Taking full reign over Hoxton’s venue for her first headline show and infusing her fans with a euphoric performance, if there is one thing to take away from this night, it is that Sienna Spiro should be prepared because her audiences and venues are only going to get bigger and better. A Relatable Soul: Samm Henshaw Interviewed
"I love expressing myself in different ways..."
Multi-talented artist Samm Henshaw has spent the past year building on an EP that reflects his transparency, vulnerability and seamlessly effortless talent to connect to his audience by storytelling experiences of his own and other’s. His brand new mini-album carefully titled, ‘For Someone Somewhere, Who Isn’t Us’ is a soul-baring body of work that combines his versatility in sound in this new era for the South London artist.Samm Henshaw has never been one to lead a predictable record of singles. From his impressive collaborations to the sonic switch ups within jazz, blues, pop and gospel rhythms, this project is a resurgence of Samm’s unexpected style and undeniable talent.Through personal turbulent times in 2023, moving to the States left Samm in a position to deposit his emotions into his art. Dealing with pressure and unfamilar environments, he quotes the city of stars as a “lonely place” during a time that felt uncertain. Perhaps where the first track on the mini album ‘Troubled Ones’ was drawn from. Each track exposes Samm’s challenges in its lyricism yet the key components of his musical identity remain strong. Piano keys, mixed choirs and harmonies back up his soulful voice in a softer and more emotional journey than what we have heard before.We caught up on a call in between takes for an exciting project he has been working on just days away before his travels back to the US where it would be safe to say he will be warmed by a loyal American fan base.How have things been? It looks like you’ve been busy!
Things are good, busy at the moment in the best way. I feel energised and excited for what’s coming and what we’ve been working on!Can we start off by talking about the title of this project and what it means to you?
The start of 2023 was really hard. There were a lot of things I hadn’t dealt with in regards to my life emotionally,and things like that so I decided to go to America to start working on another project and started feeling a lot of pressure that I didn’t really know what to do with. I think one of the things I was struggling was trying to find inspiration from my own stuff, and realised that creativity isn’t just about what you are going through or what you can contribute to, it’s also about collaboration and learning from other people’s stories. I’ve heard the title before somewhere but this was a different version of that sentiment. When it came to the place where the project had been when everything had been written, I knew that was the title. It’s grown into this thing now that is interesting and different. It’s been living different versions of what we’ve been trying to create.Does the response you receive from your fans in the US and UK differ with your music?
I mean, going into a different city, what people connect with in regards to music is different. Some songs might speak to someone more than another, because of their connection to that story, or that connection to a song is just completely different. It makes playing anywhere exciting. Even going into Asia, I was fortunate enough to meet a bunch of people last time we went, and just being able to talk to them and hearing why they like the music was such an incredible experience. You don’t know what the music’s doing for someone else and that’s the point of the project.How did you and Kirby bring the idea to life using characters through the music video on ‘Fade’?
Kirby has this presence and essence that is just very exquisite, one of those people who just float into a room. There was one point that I think stands out to me. It was at the end of the year in 2022 and I posted something on my story about wanting to spend more time with God and she really connected with that. Then it became less of a thing of two artists following each other and more of a natural connection and a friendship in that sense. So when I got to LA we got a session with Jonah Christian and we ended up talking about mental health and how we deal with things and holding on to things that aren’t for us. I’m really proud of that song and honoured to be on it with her.You have previously mentioned that you aim to cater your music to individuals, rather than groups of people as a way to connect with your audience. With this mini-album, how do you feel you were able to do that?
I think it was different than it was harder, because I was kind of anxious. I was just not a great place when working on it. If I’m being honest when I looked at what I was making, I was happy just to be writing anything, This project was really a sign of the times. I almost felt like I had forgotten how to write or what a good song sounds like. A lot of it was experimenting and finding who I was again.Do you feel as though your environment and people impacted the writing process in particular the physical places this time around?
Definitely, but I also think the people around me helped get me out of that place. I think mentally as well there’s got to be a willingness, to let go of some things and to be able to say, “Okay, what do I want? or just accept that you’re not in a good place and accept what it is. I think that’s also what made me stop last year but it was also the thing that made me finish the project.During the process of creating this EP, was it intentional to write more slower tempo tracks such as ‘Water’ and ‘The Cafe’ compared to your earlier releases?
For sure. It literally was just where I was at. I think there’s a lot of sounds that I’ve made that I’m not giving people yet. The reality is, I get tired of being the guy just known for one thing because I am not just one thing. I know it comes with the territory of being an artist, you’re gonna have a song that’s more popular than others, and so on and so forth but I love expressing myself in different ways.As an artist who has been in the jazz scene over the past ten years, what is your opinion on the new talent coming out of London?
I love to see people like Olivia Dean and Ezra Collective get their flowers, they’re all friends so it’s incredible to see. They are giving London the limelight it deserves and it feels British, you know, you can hear all of the influences.‘For Someone Somewhere Who Isn’t Us’ EP is out now.Clash MagazineJaz Karis' Sky High Performance in Islington for Her Debut Album 'Safe Flight' [Show Review]
Taking to Islington Assembly Hall’s stage to perform her first debut album ‘Safe Flight’, Jaz Karis went above and beyond the clouds for her headline show.
The artist has come a long way from the beginning of her career and represents South London’s talent most impressively. From working with RnB stars and living between LA & London, the international star has proven her talent travels further than South of the river. This is the pinnacle subject of Jaz’s album and the stage set for her show in North London presented nothing less. The stage was covered in clouds with a set design featuring a screen behind the band which played home videos of Jaz with family and friends. A beautiful opening for the star to open up to her fans in the audience with performances of each new song from the album. The intimate setting was structured similarly to a Tiny Desk Concert with a band and backup singers accompanying the singer. All dressed in white shirts, it gave a uniform feel of cabin crew adding to the ‘Safe Flight’ memo. Jaz poised with elegance and grace as she entered the stage after a stunning warm-up from support act Ayanna. Almost eight years since Jaz’s EP ‘Into the Wilderness’ was released, Karis has proved her talent and maturity with the direction she has taken since her first singles and now she has truly come full circle with last week’s show. Taking the crowd back to underground jazz venues, old school rhythm and blues, the performances felt like a whirl back in time to live music venues minus backing tracks and digitalised instrumentation. Jaz combined her written tracks with covers and blessed fans with her earlier songs including hit 'Petty Lover'. Witnessing interactions with adoring fans in the front rows, Jaz created a space that felt like a safe haven. Her wispy notes and riffs were mesmerising as her saxophone player followed her league performing impressive scalic melodies and freestyles. Everything down to the lighting of the show helped to form a harmonious atmosphere with the sounds of the band. Lights beamed like vessels of sunlight peering towards Jaz on stage as she went through the tracks from ‘SUNSET BLVD’ to ‘TEQUILA’ before an interlude began into ‘SUNRISE’.The popular track ‘NICE GIRLS’ welcomed a surprise appearance from the track’s guest feature, Mahalia. The chemistry between both RnB singers was something fans felt lucky to see. Two of London’s great talents joined on stage to bring the soft yet vulnerable lyrics to life among a crowd infatuated with the pair. Mahalia was one of three surprise guests, Tiny Man and Reekado Banks also joined Jaz at her Friday night show. No doubt these acts brought live energy to the show and mixed up the RnB show into something with variety in rap, hip hop and soul. Hi-hats, symbols and bassists moved the audience as Jaz injected passion and heartfelt lyrics from her songs into the performance. Her stage presence, control and charisma were a testament to the Brit School alumni’s undeniable star quality but also a reputable mention for anyone who craves the real soul and a powerful RnB show experience. Aime Leon dore fw24: layered up in timeless style
The timeless New York brand, renowned for its seamless blend of streetwear and sophistication, has once again surpassed all expectations with its Fall/Winter 2024 collection. Drawing inspiration from the bustling energy of both the US and UK fashion capitals, this season’s offerings are a testament to the brand's ability to continuously evolve while staying true to its roots.The silhouettes are classically tailored showing off the brand’s DNA and elevated layering. Known to combine comfortability and sportswear, the drop ranges from Gortex jackets to wool blazers. Preparing customers and friends of the community for a cold winter in its hometowns of New York & London, the brand offers a new black leather jacket, multiple caps and beanies, not to forget the stand-out skull print piece. Evident as always, the craftsmanship and attention to detail come through in this collection with many of the designs reflecting beige and cream tone styling contrasted with dark monochromatic cohesive looks. Accessorising strengthens the lookbook styles Aime Leon Dore has dropped using gloves, scarves, tote bags and loafers to complete the premium quality branding. Sophistication is a key variable in the ALD attire and the Fall Winter 2024 collection did not lack.As always, the brand remains a beacon of style for the fashion-forward, setting trends that resonate across the globe, and the collections of many other brands, while maintaining a strong connection to its iconic heritage. This season’s lineup is not just a reflection of the current fashion landscape but a statement on where streetwear may be headed next. The colder seasons can’t come quick enough if we get to look this good.Dave & Central Cee Solidify Their Dominance In UK Rap With 'Split Decision' [Review]
Dave and Central Cee marked the beginning of summer with their industry breaking 4-track EP, Split Decision and music video for Sprinter, with over 60 million streams already.
Dave and Central Lee took a lesss conventional route to promote this project with an unexpected appearance on Balamii show, 'Victory Lap.' The dynamic duo is all set to captivate the audience with their unique blend of music and artistry.Their collaboration with the esteemed popular culture brand, Corteiz RTW, brings an additional layer of cultural impact and flair to the release. Alongside some up and coming talent in the city, Dave and Central Lee are sure to make heads turn with verses from the new project and sparked curiosity among fans in the underground and mainstream alike.
The West & South East London-born artists bounce off of each other's vulnerability on the track, ‘Our 25th Birthday’ (possibly a trilogy from Dave’s previous songs, ‘My 19th Birthday’ and ‘My 24th Birthday’). With birthdays one day apart, they keep lines personal with vulnerable lyricisms. It’s a contrast from the rest of the EP with its slower tempo and Kamal’s acapella melodies on the chorus, giving listeners a moment to consume the storytelling by the artists. “We’re 25, living like this was our second life”, Dave & Cench reflect on the days before fame and success . This felt like a deeper transition from the more boastful first track, ‘Trojan Horse’ produced by Santan Dave, as both ride the beat with back to back rhymes of their come up, relationship antics and luxury lifestyles since their rise. The number one music video for Sprinter features location shots fromMonaco but also Soho & Shoreditch, highlighting some of London’s landmarks frequently mentioned in both rapper’s tracks, the city both have taken over this week. You can spot familiar faces including Clint of streetwear brand Corteiz and artist, Slawn’s new Beau Beau’s Cafe. Their individual flows blend to create a crazy upbeat drill mix as they spit “She don’t listen to UK rap, if it ain’t Dave or Cench” confident they are the faces of the genre in the UK. The Sprinter visuals show a red Ferrari F40 surfing over a yacht in Monaco if that helps paint the picture of their success in the industry… It’s hard to disagree with their names owning tracks like Location and as the wordsmith of “How can I be homophobic? My b*tch is gay”. The laid back beat opens a stage for Central Cee & Dave to hit bars like “sprinter, two gal in the van, inter, two man in Milan” & “twisting my words I think she’s dyslexic, give me my space, I’m intergalactic”. Central Cee keeps fans eager for more referencing his ‘toxic relationship’ and the controversy over his tracksuit appearance at the British Fashion Awards last year, “At the BFA, I knew they’d hate the dress code I’m in” while Dave evolves his signature punchlines, “Young black Brit in Italian kit, I feel like Tammy in Roma”. It’s safe to say these two have complimented each other’s styles and both carry a natural talent for breaking records in the UK and keeping fans on their toes for more anticipated hits.The EP is one to listen to start to finish, and then repeat.The adidas Originals '1000 Stories' Campaign Comes in Threes
adidas Originals inherits culture, community & cool in the campaign showcasing three of its legendary silhouettes.The lifestyle brand brings heritage and culture to its forefront with the adidas Originals ‘1000 Stories’ campaign targeting youth culture through three classic silhouettes. Recognising their recent campaign street art displayed on buildings throughout the UK, faces such as Kano & Sam Fender, adidas Originals continue to implement community values. The campaign captures the Trefoil logo on the Gazelle, Samba & Spezial silhouettes, pushing forward the legacy of football culture, people and subcultures, into local spaces.Imagery shot by Vincent Haycock highlights the various ways the styles can be worn in multitudes of contexts and spaces. Accompanying the photographs is a film also directed by Vincent which sums up the adidas Originals wearer from then, and now. The brand describes it as “a single-take film captures a protagonist as they make their way through a street – along the way”.The looks are stylistically cohesive, noticing beige tones paired with the blue Samba’s & blue Spezial’s, alternatively, the models can be seen coordinating red pieces to match red Gazelle’s. Spoilt for choice in terms of styling techniques, the campaign offers the audience a mixed range of sporty and casual looks to inspire the people and personalities the brand pays homage to. The campaign emphasises the brand’s commitment to represent inclusivity by recognising each kind of consumer and the value sports holds as a pillar of its success. In keeping with adidas Originals culture, the campaign features Carlisle Atkins, a member of the brand’s Skate Team. If we have learned anything from this campaign, it’s that the silhouettes were, are and will forever be a classic to have in your wardrobe.Fans of the silhouette are invited by adidas Originals to share your looks by using #Samba #Gazelle and #Spezial.Bakar Illuminates London Crowd For His Halo Tour Show at Hammersmith Apollo
Winter kicks off in West London with Bakar warming up the crowd at the Apollo Hammersmith venue on Tuesday night. The London-born artist performed his new album ‘Halo’ to over 8,000 people, a testament to his core home fanbase.
Bakar opened up in a silhouette shadow on stage within a halo-shaped ring representing the latest 11-track project. Fans exceeded expectations with their delivery of energy and support despite it being the second night of shows in the city. His dressed down ‘merch look’ was reminiscent of the young rebel spirit that was prominent among fans in the crowd. Bakar's on-stage presence was visibly infectious and impressive, from teens to couples dancing from the first song the whole way through the set.
The setlist began with “OneInOneOut” commanding the audience to listen as he remained seated on a stool facing the wing of the stage. His raw distinctive vocals shone through each song, in front of a minimal backdrop the lights changed from blue to purple creating an electrified performance through lighting production. The spotlight effects emphasised Bakar’s metaphorical halo reference. They gave space for the wavering flashlights lighting the floor to the balcony as he sang “Hate the Sun” creating an unmatched euphoric experience. Bakar demonstrated the significant depth he holds within his artistry to mix genres that form his sound. I found myself lost in melodies of indie rock, post-punk, garage and rap delivery that showcased his versatility. He delivered raw emotion and charisma on stage that translated what felt like a live session of studio recordings we were lucky enough to experience in person. The synergy between Bakar and his fans was incomparable, each note was echoed by the crowd and no lyric was missed. “Selling Biscuits” was a chance to hear acapella vocals from Bakar and the fans’ call and response to the repeated lyrics. Bakar’s natural dynamic flow and performance style developed from energetic and almost ‘festival-like’ to a more down-to-earth atmosphere as he sat at the front of the stage during “Small Town Girl”. His direct interactions with front-row fans broke up the set and reminded them of why Bakar is one of the most authentic leading artists in music bridging the gap between ‘him’ and ‘them’ as he displayed what he values most, the fans. JAE5 & Lojay Discuss The 'Loveless' EP, Working With Libianca & Future Amapiano Collaboration [Interview]
Grammy Award winning phenomenon JAE5, the producer that blessed us with ‘Dimension’, ‘Propeller’, ‘I Wish’ links up with Afrobeat star Lojay to bring us the new 4 track EP titled, 'Loveless'.
I sat down with two of the stars taking over the South African sound to discuss their project and collaboration featuring Libianca, Tyler ICU and Sha Sha. Think melodic love letters, meets dance anthems intertwined with soulful sounds that bring a new meaning to vulnerable lyricism in music with no limits to genres. NW: Can you talk a bit about how the track “Dishonest” was born and how you both feel about bringing soul to Amapiano as a genre through this song?
Lojay: When it comes to making music, I don’t think we’re necessarily keen on the genre. Most of the songs we actually recorded acapella first and from there we just pushed it into whatever direction we wanted it to go. For the most part we just focus on creating good music, for this particular song we found that the Amapiano direction worked. We had Tyler ICU and Sha Sha come in and take it to another realm.NW: Previously working with Libianca on “Tonight”, what did the collaboration process look like on this new track “I wish”?JAE5: The song was actually done, Lojay had finished it, we weren’t looking for any features. I played a version that had Lojay’s second verse muted because I hadn’t mixed it and then Libianca started doing her melodies and I think that was the point where it felt like ohh this could be interesting. It was just a matter of going back to Lojay and saying “I think she would suit this can we try it out?", and in the end the sound really worked.NW: Each song expresses different facets of love, we can hear elements of relationship struggles and regret through its lyricism. I think a lot of people will resonate with the experiences heard throughout the songs. Does the producing and writing process of the EP heal these experiences as it does for us as listeners?
Lojay: In terms of writing the music, I think for the most part it was therapeutic for me. When I record, I like to use it as an avenue to let my feelings out, and I did that a lot with this project. With the project in general, I personally focused on being as honest as possible on every song and let myself be vulnerable. JAE5: Lojay directs the topics we talk about. When I heard the “I Wish” track, what I was hearing was completely different to what Lojay was talking about. I heard the songs in a very different light to what they might be intended. There were different parts that were definitely therapeutic especially for “I Wish”, the direction of the video, the making of the tracks and even just the end result was therapeutic.Lojay: That’s part of the magic, it’s our two different perspectives.NW: “Water Mami” already feels like the summer anthem for this year. Jae5, do you feel representation for Afrobeats in East London especially has been recognised considering the talent that has come from here within grime, hiphop and garage over the years?
JAE5: I honestly don’t know. When I’ve grown up in East London, I’ve always gone to the African parties, so for me it’s always been there, it’s always been represented in the same way as grime, maybe even more but it’s dependent on surroundings. It’s obviously grown a lot from when I was younger to now. But there’s always been a good representation of Afrobeats in London. NW: Production wise does leaning towards a more electronic feel especially expressed on ‘Dishonest’ mean that the genre is heading towards this direction and how do you feel this will transform rave culture?JAE5: Dishonest might have maybe 20 or so versions of that track. It started a lot slower, it was like a disco-type track. Over time, sped it up, slowed it down, pitched it up and down, and it ended up getting sent to South Africa. Tyla ICU did a lot of manipulation on the drums, so it’s been very interesting to see where the song has ended up. Genre wise I don’t even understand what it is, it’s a mix of a lot of things.NW: Both of you have an impressive collaboration list under your belts, are there upcoming artists within the afrobeats, amapiano or hiphop genres you would love to work with that weren’t on this EP?
Lojay; If we’re talking about amapiano I really enjoy Musa Keys, I think he’s an amazing artist and performer. I’m looking forward to putting out music with Tyla too, it’s a very interesting song too. JAE5: I agree with the names Lojay said. There’s this one guy Kabza de Small I have shazam’d 5 or 6 songs and it’s the same name that keeps popping up, I didn’t know it was him and every song I have liked over the last few months it’s been him. Lojay: He and Musa are some of the most influential producers when it comes to the rise of amapiano from South Africa. That’s an amazing producer right there!JAE5:I want to work with a lot of amapiano artists, African artists in general! The space that I'm in, it feels most comfortable to work with artists like Lojay, people who have fun with melodies. The country isn’t a barrier, Lojay did a song, we could have got an Indian artist, an African artist, and it would still work. I want to work with artists that aren’t stuck genre wise, they are just happy to do music.NW: Lojay, can you tell us anything about your upcoming album you have been teasing for 2024?
Lojay: I’m very excited about the album, I’ve been working on it for a while now. At the moment it’s at a stage of finalising and perfecting, but it’s my best piece of work so far. It’s been a joy to establish this new world and this new character.
JAE5: I’m very excited to hear it as well! I’ve heard a one or two snippets and Lojay’s gone, “maybe…”. I’m like, “these are your maybe’s?”, I’m itching to hear the confirmed ones!
Kamal's Debut North West London Show Featuring Special Guest
Kamal opened his show to a full crowd at Islington Academy Hall on Thursday 8th June as the debut to his mixtape ‘so here you are, drawing’. The venue was filled with a mixed audience eager to see the performer on stage after support act Dexter in the Newsagent charmed them with her nonchalant charisma and humour in between songs.
From the balcony to the ground floor of the hall could hear an ovation for Kamal once he graced the stage in front of the place he calls home in North West London.
His effortless performance of ‘white wine’ had everyone singing word for word and swaying to the acoustic beats. Fans were locked in to Kamal’s performance, with his effortless way of mesmerising listeners with those soft Billie Eilish-like vocals. Production was simple but exactly what you would expect from the artist who solely focuses on music and less of the theatrics. Dark moody lighting with red and blue background hughes gave space for the disco ball on the ceiling to transport fans into Kamal’s sphere. Disconnected from the loud city outside, Kamal had the ability to bring what felt like a bedroom or tiny desk set to over 800 people.
Inviting fans into an intimate solo experience, he stripped it down to the piano and his vocals. The spotlight shone bright where he was tucked to the side of the stage, something we can only imagine is reminiscent of his younger days when his parents introduced him to music with a piano at home. What felt like a full circle moment for the 20 year old musician, he brought out a special guest who supported his skills on the keys from early days.
A previous collaboration on Dave’s ‘Mercury’ brought Kamal to work with the rapper and again on the new track ‘Our 25th Birthday’. Just a few bars after singing the angelic tones on the chorus, Dave discretely emerged onto the stage in a signature hooded uniform. Waves of excitement were felt rippling through the audience, just four days after the single dropped, fans were the first to hear the song live. Dave told the story of how he pursued Kamal’s sample for the track after hearing the piano chords and went on to shout his support for the artist. Adolescents and teens poured each lyric of the song onto the floor while Kamal swiftly transitioned into the closing tracks of the show.
It’s inevitable that Kamal has an effect on his audience like no other, his composure and talent on stage match that of a natural superstar. His magnetic energy and candid lyricism composes a young musician beyond his years vulnerable enough to deliver feelings of anxiety, isolation and heartbreak through his music.