Lumia Live presents: Kwabs

Microsoft Mobile Device’s Lumia Live Sessions came to a close in the heart of Oldham, Manchester with an outstandingly intimate performance from Ghanaian born, singer-songwriter Kwabs. In true Lumia Live style, the location of the gig was somewhat different to the norm, taking place within the old Chadderton swimming baths.

The huge white open space created a unique and eye catching all-round setting, bound to echo an array of soothing sounds throughout the historic building. Crack spoke to Kwabs and took in his thoughts on the performance to come.

It’s your first time in Manchester, what do you expect the crowd to be like?

I have no idea! All I know is that as I go up north, people tend to be more up for it. But I have no real expectations other than just to have a good time.

So you’re currently working on your first album, when is it coming out?

Early next year.

What can we expect from this project, will it be the same kind of sound as your EP’s in the past or perhaps something new?

A lot of it will be new, what I can say for certain is that it will include a combination of different things I’ve explored over the past two EPs, in terms of in a musical character. There will be some new stuff as well in the mix but my mission is always to have an element of musical interest in there, something that just gives it distinctive character. That’s something that I feel will be the thread and at the heart of it, that and my voice.

Do you have a name for the album yet?

No not yet. There are ideas but I’m not certain yet.

Who have you been working with on the album?

I’ve been working with a lovely man called Cass Loew, been back in the studio with Al Shux, as well as someone who people may not know so much about – a man called Royce Wood Junior, all really exciting partnerships for me. Plus, another song from SOHN as well.

So for one of our readers who may not have heard of you before, how would you describe your musical sound?

I think its music that matters to people, soul food music but with a twist. Always something that makes you go what’s this?

When you perform, you like to move and dance, especially doing the African Azonto dance, which is completely different to your style of music. How do you feel that fusion and show that within your performance?

There are so many different expressions of emotion and art. There is music, melody, lyrics, sounds and movement is such an important part, for me it’s how I express myself on stage. And often it’s how I express myself in the studio – even if it’s just to get the feel of a certain beat or rhythm. You can move to even the slowest of tunes. There is an inherent grove inside of everything and if you can find that, then you can get other people to feel that as well. That’s kind of what I am trying to get across… I feel this, maybe you can feel it too – get people to latch on.

So you’ve performed for royalty in the past. Can you tell us a bit about that?

That was part of a program called Goldie’s Band: By Royal Appointment, which I did in my mid-to-late teens (2010), whilst I was still at music college and trying out lots of different things. The opportunity came up to be part of this project where a group of young musicians from the UK, got together and made music. The bonus being that we got to perform at Buckingham Palace, which was fun. For me the main thing was the people I met during that time. The fireworks and theatrics of being in the palace was one thing but for me it was about the coming together of people from all different walks of life, making music and ultimately connecting through that art form – that was the core of it for me.

What inspires you to write a song?

It’s personal experience and how I am feeling in that moment when I’m inspired. That can be influenced by my mood or the temperament of someone I’m working with, maybe I’m trying to draw something from a producer or co-writer. Other times it’s just a word or a phrase that connects with me. It can be something so tiny and so strange but it just sort of makes you go.

Do you know much about the Nokia Lumia Live Series?

I’ve been aware of it for a while, it was only when I went to go and see it that I was taken by the vibe and how unusual the settings were and how picturesque some of the places were. It seems to bring such an intimacy and a mix of people together to listen to music. It’s all done by competitions and it’s such a good platform for young artists, to make a little mark in the beginnings of their career.

What do you hope to bring to the audience today?

I want today to feel personal, not every gig gets to feel personal but these are a select group of people who have won the opportunity to be here and I want to make it real special for them. So I’m gonna bring my soul to it and just be as honest and truthful as possible.

Although yet to perform in the city, it seems that Kwabs had already captivated his Mancunian audience. A long queue spiralling around the outside of the baths was populated with local, soul-hungry fans. As you entered the baths, the décor of the building was extraordinary – historically resonant with a hint of modern day, supplemented by Lumia Live canvases in memoir of prior gigs such as Ella Eyre at Dingles Fairground, Devon and Lianne La Havas at a Liverpool Skate Park.

The outer areas of the baths were filling up quickly, but before Kwabs was due to take his spot Sinead Hartnett filled the cavernous space with her vocal stylings. Sinead was breezy and approachable, intermingling humour through an exquisite performance comprising a medley of her own songs and covers.

The crowd was prepped for the main act and as we waited, vocals from above filled the venue – Kwabs was strolling across the balcony of the baths. In full performance, he made his way down into his designated spot at the deep end, where his band were waiting. He performed a selection of tracks taken from his two previously released EPs Wrong Or Right and Pray For Love, before departing briefly then returning to encore with new single Walk.

The Lumia Live sessions are a run of intimate gigs, hosting swelling British talents in strange and obscure venues. Lovingly created in partnership with French bloggers and videographers La Blogothèque, footage is then reinvented into spectacular music videos.

Find out more about the final Lumia Live session of 2014 here, and see a live video from the event below.