The culture of letting your hair down and having a simply good time has long since left the clubs and music venues around the country. This is the claim South London rapper Strandz has built his latest run of shows around with the aim to rejuvenate the party and bring down the walls of self-consciousness and performative coolness. Sharing a name with his recent debut album, the Diaspora Dance Music party travelled to Manchester and Berlin before a marquee finale at Scala in London.
The name Diaspora Dance Music is born of Strandz own lived experiences, living around Germany and Nigeria as a child before spending his remaining youth in South London and graduating with high grades at the renowned BRIT School. His social consciousness and academic achievements combined allows him to create music that engages directly with the colonial past and the post-colonial realities we’re still dealing with today. Throughout his career Strandz has found strong success with singles, such as ‘Us Against The World’ reaching the top 10 in the UK charts. These allowed him to curate a signature sound, cultivated from the nostalgia of 90s RnB but with his own authentic voice shining through, never just copying from the greats before him.
The concert was hosted by Lockdown T, online comedian and great personality. His duties as host were to keep the vibes high while setting a nice and informal tone. He clearly enjoyed cracking a few jokes and eating his Nando’s chicken on stage while warming up the crowd. This was an excellent choice in the endeavour to get people active through singing, dancing and very often laughing. There were moments where T would even jump into the crowd, cameraman in tow, to conduct live interviews with the crowd, perform a short skit to lead into the next song or just to dance wildly like the rest of the audience.
The show opened in the same way as the album, with ‘Democrazy’, a summery dance track which forces you to move your body. The swinging drums and breezy melody were paired with live accompaniment from a saxophone and guitar which breathed a new life into the performance. Strandz was met with an expected roar but did not miss a beat in getting straight into the song, starting the experience as he meant to go on. His chemistry with the musicians on stage made for a glossy show, each person on stage had a real swagger to their stance and clearly a sense of party between them. His saxophonist, Ezra Skys, really stole the attention every time he contributed with soulful texture and beautifully bright sound.
The poster had advertised ‘special guests’ alongside the Strandz headline, and he did not beat around the bush with this promise. Only six songs into the bill and out came South London rap legend Giggs to perform his 2025 collab track with Strandz, ‘Time’. Wrapped up warm for the cold December night in his anonymous black puffer and scarf, Giggs’ entire demeanour embodied his nickname ‘The Landlord’. This was a real highlight of the night and the crowd clearly agreed, I can’t imagine another rapper who could get a bigger reaction.
Strandz kept the party going with more guests, which every time felt like two friends dancing and laughing at a South London motive rather than on stage to a packed-out crowd. Next to appear was one half of a UK rap mainstay duo Kreptfor ‘Made It Out’, followed by more chilled out arrivals from Pip Millett and Mnelia for their respective songs ‘Stay The Night’ and ‘Ms.Tery’. The most heartfelt guest appearance was certainly from Strandz’s own partner Lola Baird, solely to dance together and take in the moment they had created together.
There was palpable love in the room during this whole concert. Strandz and his team had put intimate care into the experience and their effort to make parties feel alive again landed well. Toward the end of the concert he even surprised the crowd by jumping into the party himself. After disappearing backstage for a swift costume change and distracting the audience with some more dramatics from Lockdown T, he launched into hit song ‘J’adore’ by springing out from the back of the crowd. This carried a sense of elation outwards of his energy and injected it straight into the entire venue.
Strandz made his love for his fans very clear. Before probably his most popular track ‘Us Against The World’, he dedicated a speech to their effort and individual solidarity matching the mentality driving the song. This love was mirrored straight back to him by the adoring fans and the warmth of concert has stuck with me ever since. The party aspect of the night depended on the crowd reaction and for a chilly winter evening in early December, they weren’t afraid to bring the heat. The concept was so successful yet so unique but it must not remain this way. London needs more of what Strandz sparked here.
All Photo credit : @acwbrocklesby
