The Noise Gate got down to Antwerp Mansion for a raucous showcase, featuring some of Soulection’s premiere talents and the Hit & Run crew.
For those that haven’t got across to it yet, Antwerp Mansion has its own charm with a mass of graffiti covering the old Victorian building inside and out. With decor that could only be an inspirational hub to artists of all walks of life during the day, the space turns into something a little more cryptic at night. Where else would be fitting to witness the rawness?
The line-up for the night was a tempting one to say the least. Starting the show was Hit & Run’s head honcho Rich Reason, always the provider he got the night off to a great start, getting things going nicely for the next hype: not only a long awaited and much needed world debut, but an honorary moment for Manchester to host Tom Misch, another tick of the box for the rich history of the city’s music scene. If you haven’t heard of this guy, come on what are you doing, get involved! One of the brilliantly talented artists to come from the peak of Soundcloud, he showed us his very own sound, albeit maybe puzzling one guy in the crowd.
Next up Jay Prince rocked the crowd, oozing with confidence, a mellow flow and dope beats… it surely couldn’t get any better? Well… it did! There was one person that completely stole the show! Hannah Faith putting it in her own words is a selector… and a choice one at that, effortlessly hopping from one drop to the next with a gracious air, she had the crowd bouncing something special, cutting up the breaks of old school R&B and hip hop with newer edits, remixes and jams, with food for the soul and beats so crazy you’d think they had ADHD, everyone loved it.
Now the more and more I think about it, and naysayers will probably go in on me for this, but the sounds that could be heard last night, especially Hannah Faith, bore great similarities (in a good way) to the start of hip hop, when legends like Afrika Bambaataa and Kool Herc were mixing just the breaks of older jazz/funk records and singles like The Rolling Stones’ Honky Tonk Women, they created not only a new sound… but a movement.
So whatever it’s early days, all things start somewhere, but what is being done here is completely new, unique and different… it’s a movement in its own right and what’s growing from all of it is exciting to be a part of! The night was full of good vibes and of course Sivey finished things off good and proper, no animosity, just everyone having a ball.
If you haven’t been to Antwerp Mansion yet, with its array of different events and Hit & Run hosting at regular haunts all over Manchester, we recommend you check them both out – along with the whole Soulection crew too of course!
Peace.
