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With our latest Issue 125 on stands and August promising a NHC with all the vibes, we return to Cafe Koko in Camden on Thursday 26th October for a night of live music & DJs with great food and drinks on hand.
Secure your free tickets HERE via Dice or fast scroll down to sign-up now via the form at the bottom of this article.
Running monthly, the series has returned for 2023 with fresh energy at Cafe Koko. Bringing together industry favourites for an invite-only cultural celebration. Acts including Ashnikko, J HUS, Lady Leshurr, Tom Grennan, Masego, Jarreau Vandal, Knucks, Big Zuu, Sampah The Great, Poppy Ajudha, Greentea Peng, Jammer, Skepta, Frisco, Sneakbo, Sam Tompkins & many more have all previously graced the Clash Live stage.
So far this season we have hosted performances from AntsLive, Br3nya, BZ, Zakhar, Jaydonclover, Psi.ko, Tommy Saint, Berna, G!ft, Lost Girl, FelixThe1st, Kwaku Asante, Bawo, Mnelia, Amie Blu, Twyce, Zino Vinci, Sophie Faith, Songer, Rasharn Powell, Monroe X, Bel Cobain, Kieron Boothe, Jada, MustBeJohn and more.
This is generally speaking the last chance to catch some these acts this year in such an intimate environment. As always space is extremely limited, sign up for the free ticket lottery now via the form below for your chance to attend. Thursday 26th October we will be starring the following acts alongside all our favourite new music on-rotation.
B-AHWE
Emerging Alternative South London-based singer-songwriter B-ahwe joins us this month riding the wave following her new single, ‘PercentAge’. The third release from B-ahwe’s forthcoming project, 26% MIXTAPE, out on 15th November. ‘PercentAge’ discusses a notable theme in the mixtape: age is a percentage, not a number. B-ahwe encourages us to see age as a percentage, pushing us to live life to the fullest and to open our eyes to our limitless capacity for growth.
Of Polish descent, 27-year-old B-ahwe was born and raised in Nottingham, and she uses music to journey through relatable life experiences and themes of self-worth, mental health, feminism and relationships. B-ahwe draws from a varied musical palette, with her inspirations ranging from Joy Crookes, Ojerime & Biig Piig to icons such as Erykah Badu and Sarah Vaughan. Renowned for her live performances, she recently performed at BBC Introducing: Summer By The River, Amazing Grace, The Great Escape, and Gilles Peterson’s ‘We Out Here’ festival.
Over the past year, B-ahwe has had some career highlights, including winning the Drake YolanDa Award and touring with Oscar Jerome, Curtis Harding and Nix Northwest which led to the singer performing in some iconic venues across the UK & Holland. With a sound that spans multiple genres, including Jazz, R&B, and Soul, B-ahwe is ready to share her songs with the world. She has created an authentic and distinctive sonic, using her upbringing and influences to make meaningful music that embodies escapism. ‘PercentAge’ is the rising singer’s third single of the year, an alluring song that creates anticipation for the forthcoming project.
Tune in now…
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KAWALI
What do you get when a melting pot of musical influence collides with growing up in multicultural Oxford? Kawali Mari is the answer. Brought up between Sheffield and Oxford, born to proud Somali parents, Kawali grew wildly close to his heritage despite being so far away.
He always found a strange comfort in music though, feeling closest to himself when he’s penning rhymes and figuring out flows. You could characterise his style simply by how cool it is, with velvety-smooth flows, jarringly-catchy hooks and double-helpings of charisma. He cites 50 Cent, J Hus and Mahalia as the artists that have moulded his philosophy of song-making, and suddenly everything makes a lot more sense.
“Let It Rip” marks his debut. With over 3 million TikTok views pre-release, the track sees him effortlessly sliding over noughties-style rap production with his signature slick-talking steeze.
Tune in now…
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KWOLI BLACK
Hackney-raised, alternative hip-hop rapper, Kwoli Black, joins us having recently released his single, ‘Cotch Freestyle’. A reflective and heartfelt track, with Kwoli flexing throughout and contemplating some of the highlights from the past year including supporting Kojey radical on his UK tour and recently selling out his headline show.
His introspective and unique approach to rap, showcases his versatility and ability to blend elements, shifting expectations of UK Rap. During this conversation, he speaks about his latest single, ‘Cotch Freestyle’, his inspirations and his upcoming project. Kwoli has had a fascination with words from an early age. Through reading the likes of Rudy Francisco, Reyna Biddy, and Alysia Harris, his poetic ideas transpired into his writing poems. His writing progressed into performing at spoken word shows, but it wasn’t until producer and close friend JSTRNGS heard him perform Ab-Soul’s Sapiosexual, that he was encouraged to explore Rap music. Kwoli’s musical influences include Tyler The Creator, Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, and, closer to home, the likes of; Kojey Radical and Loyle Carner.
Pushing himself musically with his peers has given him confidence in his distinct sound and evolution as an artist. Kwoli formed a close bond with Kojey during lockdown over music and gaming, resulting in a friendship that led to Kwoli supporting him on his UK tour. Like some of the best writers, he can be convincingly charming, poignant, or vulnerable, and often, he’s all three at once. Following a recent sold-out headline show, and a performance at Brits week, Kwoli announced that he is now a Converse All-Star with more to announce imminently. He is an artist on the come up and seizing every opportunity that comes his way.
Tune in now…
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MELLISSA
Ghana’s next-gen Singer, Songwriter and Producer Mellissa joins us this month buzzing from the release of her new single ‘Me & U‘. A rich fusion of sounds create the self-coined “Afro Sexy” driven by Mellissa’s angelic vocals over a Mont Jake (Nonso Amadi, Greentea Peng) production. Labelling it as “an anthem for the girls”, Mellissa hopes to empower others to find their most confident selves in a song that redefines and reclaims sexy as a feeling, rather than a physical attribute.
As a child, Mellissa engaged with music in any way she could. The sounds from her Mother’s restaurant next door to her home began was her earliest introduction to music. From the underground gems of Ghana’s Ofori Amponsah and KK Fosu to the legendary sounds of Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys, Mellissa was able to explore the melange of sounds from not only Ghana but outside her hometown too.
During her teens, the school choir allowed her to flex her slick vocals while conquering stage fright, allowing her to meet friends with whom she could share her love of music. Mellissa takes inspiration from the sounds of Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America to avoid limiting her sound and express herself most authentically. Collaborations with sister and best friend Moliy and Ajebutter22 introduced her to the world in addition to her standout contribution to Amaarae’s ‘Feel A Way’. Mellissa is rising alongside the next generation of artists to propel culture forward. With new music and a trip to London on the horizon, ‘Me & U‘ is the beginning of an exciting chapter.
Tune in now…
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EVENT DETAILS:
The event is 18+, please bring ID.
CLASH Live “Next Wave” @ Cafe Koko
Thursday 26th October 2023
Ground Floor, 74 Crowndale Rd,
London NW1 1TP
Doors: 7.00pm – 12.00am
Confirmed RSVP is essential for entry & please arrive early to avoid a queue. Sign-up for the guest list now and look out for an email from us in the coming days for all guests we can accommodate this month…