Arriving to the hazy basslines of James Alexander Bright
James Alexander Bright was playing his set as we rushed into the intimate venue, hazy basslines and gentle drums echoing throughout the church. Bright eased us into his set following a few more slower tracks. An abrupt change to the tempo, now acoustically energised, sparked a shift in the crowd. A collective rhythm took over the room as Bright delivered a more bass-heavy, psychedelic-infused set.
Bright has also been soaring through the music scene, including practising artistic design in making the cover art on Groove Armada's recent album "Edge of the Horizon". This turn in set reminded me of his partnership with Tom Findlay (half of Groove Armada) in 2021 dubbed 'Bright & Findlay'. You can trace the echoes of electronic edge in Bright's solo performance to Tom Findlay, as dance grooves are woven into his more recent sounds.
Trance collective Girls of the Internet take to the stage
Following this eclectic set from Bright, Girls of the Internet took to the stage, bathed by purple-hued lighting. Their blend of house, soul, and electronic tapped into early forms of UK house that developed from northern soul, sound system culture, and Chicago house in the 1980s.
The interplay between ethereal vocals from Sophie Joy and Wynter Black floating over the deeper bass produced a dynamic interplay between mood and momentum. Their music resists easy categorisation, instead operating with fluidity.
DJ Mag explains that 'Girls Of The Internet is actually built around one person, Tom Kerridge' and that this collective wanted to take house back to its inclusive roots. The collective includes people of all gender, sexuality, body types and race, bringing the original elements of house music back to the modern-day genre.
Girls Of The Internet had their crowd grooving in a trance to Joy and Black's vocal play. In front of me, a mass of people dancing their hearts out and behind, people swaying to the beat. It felt like Girls Of The Internet included us in their group collective; we became part of their message as the boundary between crowd and artist merged.
The exceptional contributions of the frontwomen Sophie Joy and Wynter Black, whose talents, in my view, are integral to the band's distinctive identity, are what truly set Girls Of The Internet apart. The blend of warmth, raw emotion, and the effortless delivery from Sophie Joy and Wynter Black transcended mere performance. They weren't just singing; they were narrating a collective experience.
