On Saturday 29th July we headed down to vibrant venue Tilt, in the heart of Birmingham and witnessed organic talent take the stage. The venue is decorated with a collection of old-school pinball machines and further focusses on all things unique by sporting a variety of craft indie drinks at the bar. This sense of individuality and support for all things independent is no different when it comes to hosting a space for young independent talent to showcase their musical endeavours.
The headliners of the evening consisted of a trilogy of young artists: Ranger, Off-Topic, and Serena Jasmine; some of whom were making their debut live performance. It was inspiring to see just how much work each performer was putting in prior their sets and despite their tight schedule, each performer gave Upbeat their time to conduct a one-to-one interview.
First, we met with Serena Jasmine next to the stage which was decorated with an array of lighting which added to the intimate and inviting atmosphere. Serena - who had previously played a live show at The Chameleon Arts Café in Nottingham the week before - was “excited” to perform in Birmingham with a “new crowd and a different vibe to the room.” Speaking to Upbeat, Serena explained that her sound isn’t defined to a particular genre and instead incorporates “chilled beats, alternative soul and alternative jazz” into her music, formally creating a collective musical experience for all audience members. Serena Jasmine discusses her introduction to music from a young age. Her parents would listen to different genres when Serena grew up, from “classical” to “hip-hop” allowing Serena to experience different sounds and beats to inspire her own music. Serena explained to us that she is looking to soon drop her own songs ‘The Game’ and ‘Rerooting’ amongst others, onto streaming services in the coming months so be sure to follow Serena on Social media and Spotify!
It was also exciting to talk to rapper and singer Off-Topic ahead of the night as this was going to be their debut live performance. Speaking to Upbeat, Off-Topic was “nervous but looking forward” for the show and explains the importance of his music as lyrically is special not only to him, however can be relatable and understood by listeners. Off-Topic says how his music is “alternative hip-hop” and “very based on [his] personal experiences, very lyrical and metaphorical in its delivery”. Playing instruments as a child, Off-Topic always had music as a part of their life but soon “fell out of love” with playing for a few years during school. Importantly, Off-Topic rekindled his love for music when it was there as a mode of “therapy” during stressful times at school. Not only this, performances of Off-Topic’s own poems at a poetry night led to him being told by the host that he should his creativity should be “taken it seriously” to which has now landed him where we are today at Tilt, ahead of a debut performance. Off-Topic’s music journey can be supported by following his social media for latest projects and performances.
Our final interview of the evening before we enjoyed the show was talking to Ranger. Speaking to Upbeat a few minutes to tell us how he has enjoyed “mainly playing with rock bands in Birmingham… Anomaly and Home Schooling”. Tonight however, Ranger is performing as a solo artist and explains that he will perform debut album “Volcanic Edge” as well as a “collage” of previous demos and EPs. Ranger discusses the fact there is a mission to bring people closer together with live music and “trying to create an atmosphere that [he] hasn’t really seen since post-lockdown” and seeks in “bringing a crowd together.” Given that Ranger has successfully experimented with other projects that attribute to multiple genres, it will be no question that this show will showcase more of his talents with new jazz and funky guitar sounds.
The show hit what each artist and Upbeat anticipated it to be; experimental and unique sounds, tremendous atmosphere and a memorable night of dancing. Each performer brought something unique yet were symbiotic in elements such as rapping and intricate beats. Everyone worked together to bring a cohesive set and atmosphere to the stage and what made this most impressive is the fact the set was formulated by everyone. Original lyrics, music production and customisation of the stage all from scratch.
It was truly a delight to see these young emerging artists shine on the Tilt stage and you can catch more live performances from each artist by keeping up to date on their social media pages which will be tagged below. Keep your eyes peeled for more from Serena Jasmine, Off-Topic and Ranger as this is just the beginning of their journey!
~ Keep Singing!
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