Posted by Our good friends at iconic London venue, KOKO, today announced a new global content series: KOKO TPC with the mission “to take the most important sounds and attitudes from London and the UK to cities around the world, supporting cross-globe and cross-genre breakthrough artist collaborations” with CLASH in-tow as official media partner across the series.
Part one kicked off last December with the brilliant Kojey Radical and Rachel Chinouriri travelling out for the inaugural show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in the centre of Brooklyn, for a free-to-RSVP showcase. In doing this they fused with the local talents of WEMI, all brought together with host and presenter RoXXXan, and KOKO resident DJ collective WA Radio.
The event brought together a blend of industry faces, local Brooklynites & fans alike; all digging deeper into the current U.K. sound bridging the gap. Joined by a strong contingent of the pair’s New York fanbase, the room was buzzing about experiencing the early stages of the continental shift that these two future superstars are on; with fans belting out every word from the front row.
Following about an hour of hype-up sets from WA, WEMI and RoXXXan, Rachel took to the stage and the whole room took a few steps forward. Serenading a rapt room with fan favourites; ‘Better off Without’, ‘All I Ever Asked‘ and ‘So My Darling’. The whole crowd was entranced from the first to last note.
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Following another high-intensity DJ set from WA, Kojey took to stage drink in hand, to give a high-energy (at times shirtless) performance. Giving the audience most of Reasons to Smile which emphatically has exactly that effect on any audience in a live environment.
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Downstairs in the Music Hall, with the ceiling shaking from the bass as WA Radio were keeping the crowd entertained between acts, digital art from Kojey’s debut album project Reasons to Smile rotated on giant digital screens leaning up against the walls.
We’re not sure whether this was deliberate or someone forgot the stands, but it was admittedly effective none-the-less, adding to the juxtaposition of an unusual night in a beautifully rugged, dive-bar venue. Elsewhere a group of local twenty-somethings are getting their picture printed onto the foam of a pint of Guinness – quite the feat. There are shenanigans afoot everywhere to be seen.
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The series is being supported by the good folks at Guinness and Marshall Headphones, and is reportedly the first of a series of field trips across the US and beyond. The month of May will see KOKO popping up in Los Angeles with three as yet undisclosed artists, with additional 2023 shows soon to be announced in New Orleans in September and then, wait for it, Pittsburgh (???) in December.
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Photography:
Jade Danielle Smith
Ki Pharaoh
Mackelly Civil
Rachel Chinouriri