Having started making music as a teenager, inspired by Disclosure and Aluna George, Kenya Grace now has her taste of success with “Strangers.” She is one of only two women who have written, performed, and produced a single on her own—the other being Kate Bush. Tonight, Kenya plays the first of two shows in Manchester.
Support came from Charlotte Plank to a heavy mix of students in an already bustling venue. The crowd was in the mood to party, and Plank wouldn’t disappoint. With some classic dance beats on the well-known track “Raves Out,” a live DJ in tow, and vibing off the already lively audience, the night is warming up nicely for Kenya Grace to headline. Charlotte then took the show to another level by asking, “Does anyone like Rudimental?” before launching head first into a rendition of “Dancing is Healing.” It was a solid set that got the crowd going and ready for the much-needed bar break and the imminent arrival of chart-topper Kenya Grace.
Kenya entered on stage to “The After Taste,” gaining an enthusiastic response from a jam-packed venue. The lights dimmed as she began her first song, “After-party Lover.” Addressing the hyped-up crowd afterward, “This is my first time playing Manny,” to electrifying applause from the audience. She continued, “This is a song about social media and how fake it is.” Grace began the 2023 single, “Paris,” without hesitation. Featuring a thumping sample of “Hollaback Girl” to start the song, dreamy vocals and pounding bass fill the venue to get the crowd moving. As mentioned, the song focuses heavily on social media’s negative and false impact. “Take me to Paris/ We’ll stay in a palace/ pretend we’re in love just to Instagram it/ we’ll go on a date to post what we’re havin’.” The lyrics ring out to a plethora of phones videoing the moment.
Perhaps the most eye-catching moment of the night thus far, aside from Kenya’s bounding enthusiasm behind the decks, were the visualizers displayed behind her. They featured an identical bitmoji of Grace, with her trademark jet black hair, drudging amongst the broken heart emojis displayed on a loop. Breaks in the set were filled with floor-shaking drum and bass beats and Bit-Moji-raving visualizers while Grace took a well-deserved sip of water.
Continuing to bounce vigorously behind the decks combined with blinding strobe lights, Kenya began fan-favorite “Only in Her Mind,” saying, “This is one of my favorites!” The crowd blew up, and the atmosphere turned a notch when the song’s catchy hooks took hold.
The night’s surprises, however, were exceptional samples of Daniel Beddingfield’s “Gotta Get Thru This” from 2002 and Britney Spears’s “Toxic” from 2003, whipping the crowd into a nostalgic frenzy.
Smash hit “Strangers” was the last track to be played tonight. Grace was drowned out by the vocal levels of the crowd singing every word until the very end. It was an electrifying performance by the young record producer and Brit Award nominee.