Jadasea Wraps Up Unreal Headline Tour with Help from Niontay [Show Review]

I am certain that anybody involved in the UK Underground scene is aware of Jadasea by now. Hailing from SE15, Jada started his career over ten years ago alongside none other than Archy Marshall aka King Krule, forming the Sub Luna City collective. Providing a refreshing jazz adjacent lofi hip-hop alternative to what was around at the time. Some time spent in the States introduced Jada to the likes of MIKE, Anysia Kym and Wiki, which, in turn, got him signed to the 10K label.

Jadasea has stayed true to his sound and earned his first headline tour. A seven-stop trip concluding in his hometown. Despite only being away for two weeks, this felt like a homecoming show. I got the impression that every single person in attendance had their own personal connection to Jada. A man of the people would be an understatement.

Opening the show was 10K label mate Niontay, who took to the stage in a nondescript yet equally amusing shirt with ‘2007’ printed on the front. Just like his shirt, Niontay is a mystery to me; he is a walking juxtaposition in the best way possible. Any previous connotations I had surrounding the genres and rapping styles that Nionay inhabits go straight out the window. 

Niontay seems to have adopted this sleepy flow from the likes of MIKE or Earl Sweatshirt and taken it one step further to the point he will occasionally trip over his own toes and interrupt himself. Unlike MIKE or Earl, Niontay’s beat selection is more comparable to 454, pitched up soul samples with harsh trap drums and laser effects. These contrasting styles have no business sounding as good as they do. 

Over the last five years, Jadasea has consistently produced music with quality and quantity at the forefront of the operation. Jada kicked off this legendary run back in 2019 with the release of Half-Life, an EP entirely produced by Edgar the Beatmaker (King Krule), followed by Old Earth, A visual collaboration album with MIKE just a year later. My personal favourite, Pressure Sensitive with Anysia Kym, proves Jada’s versatility as he spits over breakbeat style production. Jada’s most recent project, Too Many Tears, is his most cohesive yet and stole the spotlight during this show.

Jadasea in 2024, photo by Reuben Bastienne-Lewis

Given the accolades under his belt it feels criminal that only now Jadasea has been given the opportunity to headline a tour, but I digress. He is one of the very few artists that pours their entire heart and soul into both writing and performing. Jada opts to spill his sorrows over hypnotic soulful, Dilla-esque loops that give you no choice but to close your eyes and just let it soak in.

Occasionally joined on stage by Niontay for “Holding on,” one of Jada’s more uplifting tracks as well as some unreleased tracks. Jesse James Solomon was also in attendance and took to the stage to perform “Egghead” from the 2022 album, LOOKALIVE!.

An excellent showcase from London’s best-kept secret.