Last month, I was lucky enough to be invited to the Mada Music Sessions to watch Leo Napier and a host of other new artists perform at the Groucho Club. Located in London’s cosmopolitan Soho area, the Groucho Club provided the perfect sophisticated backdrop and ambience for this event. Lending itself beautifully to the soulful sounds to come.
I was first introduced to the sound of Leo Napier via his highly successful collaboration with Gramatik on their track ‘Native Son’. I have been in love with his distinctive raspy vocals ever since.
Performing a selection of hits alongside Lauren Faith, Mali Koa and Sasha Brown, it was easy to see why Napier has acquired a well-earned reputation as one of the most exciting new Neo-Soul artists in the industry right now.
His latest single ‘Before I go away’, released on 16th June, is the latest offering from his recent album ‘Mind Up’. The EP is a collection of urban tales with hard-hitting electronic rhythms and Leo’s signature brand of dark humour. Not only is this album beautifully crafted, but is also unique in the fact that the tracks are being released gradually (one every 6 weeks). Napier stated that he “wanted every track to shine like a single” and this method is appearing to have the desired effect.
Napier’s performance was sincere and engaging and he had an excellent command of the audience. As a proud resident of Ladbroke Grove, his authentic love of London shone through and was incredibly endearing. Napier prides himself on the idea of interconnectedness, describing his shows as “a symbiotic relationship between the performer, the listener and the city itself”. This performance was a clear indication of that philosophy and I have no doubt that this is just the beginning for this superbly talented artist.
W| By Aisha Alexander Via #MusicMatters
