ACT 1: EUROPE (Episode 001 - LONDON)
This is going to be a deep dive into every city that we toured staring with LUNDUN with some minisodes to tie it all together!
BIG LUNDUN TINGS YA GET ME?
London doesn’t owe us a thing.
We originally set out to attend the inaugural SXSW London to do press coverage for Such Is Life University. As it goes, things don’t always unfold the way you plan, and sometimes that ends up being exactly what you needed.
If you told us it was going to go how it went, we wouldn’t have believed you.
Along the way, we met so many incredible people. We connected with creatives from the States, local go-getters and crossed paths with the founders of Bohemia Records, the first Saudi record label dedicated to independent artists. Mansour and his team are doing it right. They even invited us to a private event showcasing Saudi Hip Hop and R&B artists, which opened our eyes to a whole new creative ecosystem. Safe to say, we may need to drop into Riyadh ASAP.
Since we were already planning on being out there, we decided to book a show. Our dear friend, the GOAT, Jim Sharp made it happen, and we found ourselves performing at the legendary Chip Shop in Brixton. A true rite of passage for hip hop and soul artists. That night gave us a real glimpse into what community looks like on another level. Brixton is so culturally rich, deeply vibrant, and alive in a way that can only be felt once you are there. We cannot wait to return and truly explore and connect with the people.
We also heard the best Caribbean food in the area is there, so you already know we are spinning the block IMMEDIATELY.
We spent time in Shoreditch, where SXSW was centered and completely overloaded our senses in a melting pot of art and culture we did not expect.
By day three of the trip, you could not tell any of us we were not locals.
The London community embraced us like family. Even our AirBnB neighbors went out of their way to welcome us, to the point where we were invited to his brother’s birthday party. It is rare to feel that level of familiarity in a place you have never been but London did exactly that. It now holds a very special place in our hearts and we’re already counting down the days until we’re back home.
“This was my first time being and performing outside of the US so I didn’t know what to expect going into our upcoming shows. But after years of connecting with great people from across the pond, it felt like a familiar place once we got there. Shoutout to my homies Jim Sharp and Larry Achiampong for making us feel at home as soon as we landed. The energy was amazing and the love flowed in abundance. Performing at the legendary Chip Shop was an experience I’ll never forget. London Town owes me nothing!”
- Lafayette Stokely
This stop on the journey reinforced everything Proof of Concept stands for. With community and audacity, everything is possible. What began as an idea continues to reveal itself through the people, the moments, and the unexpected turns along the way.
We hope you enjoy the minisodes over the next few weeks as we continue to share Act 1: Europe.
EPISODE 001: LONDON
Much love, always.
The SIL U / Proof of Concept Team