The Spirit of Creative Collaboration
At Roundhouse Rising Presents
Solaariss (left) with Safiyyah (right)
Last week, we attended our first Roundhouse Rising Presents show, and we were blown away. In affiliation with Roundhouse Rising Festival, Roundhouse Rising Presents is a series of music gigs showcasing the freshest new artists. Roundhouse Rising shows are not bound by genre – previous artists on the Rising stage have played post-punk, grime, krautrock, and pretty much everything in between. It’s an open and welcoming space of discovery, where new music lovers are invited to the chance to find the freshest emerging talents in London.
The April edition of Roundhouse Rising offered a night of RnB, jazz, and hip hop from headliners Safiyyah and Solaariss, with support from State is Flow, iSAAC K! and ThaMinority. Held in the intimate 200-capacity Studio Theatre, there’s great energy in the room, and a collective, collaborative spirit among the artists is clear from the get-go. Hosted by the dynamic Razor (@ReallyRazor), this night is a reminder to be grateful for shared spaces like these: post-lockdown, we can once again come together and feel the vibrant energy of communality.
Brownsilla
Dakari and EM x M3
The night was kicked off by ThaMinority, a music group and entertainment community co-founded in the summer of 2015 by Dakari & EM x M3. Over time, the group has grown with new members and an expanding list of collaborators, and the evolution of ThaMinority continues to this day. They split their set to showcase their talents, and Brownsilla opened the show, before Dakari & EM returned to the stage. The rappers’ impressive flow is exciting to witness, and cheers from the crowd bolster the good vibes in the room.
A few songs later, they’re joined by the next act, iSAAC K!, to play ‘On Our Side’ – the trio’s first live performance of their song inspired by the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. iSAAK K! is a writer, performer and producer, whose music is influenced by Michael Jackson, Fela Kuti and Frank Ocean. His unique sound is matched by his lyrics: one song is about a physicist falling in love with matter, he tells us, offering an intimate story alongside each song he sings.
iSAAC K! performing with TheMinority
iSAAC K!
Next up is State is Flow, a newly formed collective of independent London-based musicians. Thinking we’d found our new favourite band, we later found out we were lucky enough to see this exclusive live showcase, which was their debut as a collective! Exuding warm energy, the love between the musicians was palpable, and as they all hugged each other after their set, it was hard not to be taken into the State is Flow movement.
State is Flow members Lolé Vietro (left), Toby Corton (centre), and Bessi (right)
Headlining the show were Safiyyah and Solaariss: two impressive artists, sharing a set and rounding off the night with this all-important spirit of creative collaboration. Safiyyah is a 23-year-old songstress of Portuguese and Moroccan descent, born and raised in West London. Using music to venture through themes of nostalgia, self-worth, and relationships, Safiyyah’s voice is beautiful and velvety, and the beats get the crowd moving – one unreleased song about daydreaming of being in Lisbon exudes summer energy, and she graces the audience with sunny positivity.
Safiyyah at Roundhouse Rising Presents
The collaboration with Solaariss took the set to a whole new level. Developed in the melting pot of South London’s music scene, Solaariss is a talented multi-instrumentalist, who took to the stage with his saxophone and his smooth, laid-back vocals. His musical influences are clear in his sound: afrobeat rhythms, classical music, and the bustling London jazz scene. Both great artists in their own right, it was a treat to see them perform together. These headliners are ones to watch – expect big vibes and great energy.
Solaariss (left), Safiyaah (right)
Solaariss (left), Safiyaah (right)
When we spoke with EM x M3 and Dakari, gratitude and excitement was the prevailing message: they told us to expect big things, with a lot of collaborations upcoming. This exactly reflects the energy of Roundhouse Rising showcases: when you see these talented artists, you really do feel like big things are upcoming, and we can’t wait to see what these artists do next.
Dakari (left), EM x M3 (right)
Roundhouse Rising shows are the place to find your next favourite artist, before they become everyone else’s favourite artist. You’ll hear brand new and unreleased tracks alongside an energetic and supportive audience full of genuine music enthusiasts, and next time we hope to see you there!
The next Roundhouse Rising Presents showcase is on May 5th. Get your tickets here.
