This past Sunday, Mura Masa descended upon The Hoxton to treat fans to his eclectic blend of hip-hop-infused electronic music. It was my first time hitting The Hoxton on Sunday and wasn’t sure what to expect. Arriving just after 9:30, the venue was already starting to fill in. As Michl took the stage, everyone huddled in tight for an intimate set. His downtempo performance centred around live vocals and synths. He encompassed a James Blake-esq vibe that illicited strong reactions from the crowd. As he played his final note he practically ran off the stage without a word. It was an interesting exit to say the least.
With anticipation building between the set changeover, the excitement was well heard when Mura Masa took the stage and opened things up with ‘Love$ick’. Without Rocky in the building, Bonzai came bursting onto the stage spitting his verse with intensity and conviction. I wondered how the vocals for Mura Masa’s songs would be handled and this approach could’t have been better. As Bonzai left the stage it allowed the focus to shift back to Mura Masa. As the Middle Eastern sample drifted in on ‘Lotus Eater’ things got heavy with an all out assault on the drums. This wasn’t you average DJ set, Mura Masa’s show has him moving between drums and synthesizers recreating the music live. I must say, seeing him play live made me truly realize how stellar the drums throughout his work are.
A few songs later, Bonzai made her return to the stage for ‘Low’ proving that she can cover any rapper she chooses. Further proving her vocal talents came ‘What If I Go’ and ‘Love For That’. Two of the most impressive tracks of the year, were exceptional to hear live. The combination of strong, emotive vocals, with the powerful production swept over the venue boosting seratonin levels to extreme heights. After hearing these tracks it became clear that this wasn’t just a Mura Masa set, this was a Mura Masa & Bonzai set. They’re a dynamic duo that build off each other, each bringing something special to take the show to the next level. Masa is the one man band and Bonzai is the emcee. In between tracks and breaks Bonzai rocked the mic with ease, getting the crowd super amped with collectives claps, wild dance moves and an unrelenting energy. All while Mura Masa killed it behind her, freaking his keys and slamming the drums with precision. Masa did take a moment to hop in the mic himself to let us know he was going to “play a new one”. The track hit with epic waves of bass while packing in his signature originality.
As the night drew to a close the lights dimmed and the speakers grew silent. A silence which was quickly defeated by loud cheers from pleased fans. They closed the night out with ‘Firefly’ and it felt like there was magic in the air. There were smiles around, a collective grooving and even a few people in the back shuffling with an inspiring enthusiasm. Mura Masa has become one of the most highly lauded producers out and his live show, with the help on Bonzai, delivers just what the fans want.
