Offie Mag

Words by Louis Rowland

Welcome to Reviews with Lou, a regular journal from Offie Mag’s first-ever intern, Louis Rowland. Known as Wachuwan when producing music or spinning tracks with Offie Mag DJs, Intern Lou can be found on our socials with a mic in hand — or right here on the blog, documenting the nights out, last-minute gigs, and everything in between.

He’s been spotted at a Booty House night at Colour Factory, Scenic Route at Ormside Project and Rough Trade East.

This time out, he’s been at Brixton Jamm.

Footwork Friday in Brixton. Does it really get any better than this?

Footwork may be rooted in Chicago, but tonight it found a second home in South London.

A typically busy Friday started at Coal Drops Yard. Barbie was playing on a big screen as the sun crept behind the skyline. Children were running around in the fountains, some of them so thirsty they were drinking straight from the jets. Behaviour my parents definitely wouldn’t have let me get away with.

I met up with a couple of stragglers who’d made the trek up from Brighton. A few pints in The Dolphin later, and we were queuing outside The Standard.

The plan was for a double bill. London rapper Jianbo was celebrating the release of his album Anything For The Family — definitely worth a listen — but by the time we got there, it was one-in, one-out, and the queue wasn’t budging.

Regretfully, we threw in the towel and made our way to the party we'd been looking forward to since it was announced. NYC-based DJ SWISHA was back in town to get the people moving and the feet werking. Supported by Kieran Dotwav (DOTWAVNOTWAVE), Seb (Tropical Waste), Tsunamy, and Moveltraxx founder BIG DOPE P at Brixton Jamm, the energy was suitably electric as the pounding kicks of East Coast dance filled the floor.

It was my second time seeing SWISHA, and once again, he didn’t disappoint. Still, his job as headliner felt easier thanks to the energy the support acts had already built up before he even plugged in his USB.

He was as good as expected. A lot of edits were played, which seems to be the cheat code for getting the crowd onside right now. And honestly, that’s fine by me — especially when they’re coming from DJs who clearly love and respect the music they’re playing. Everyone on the lineup, including those I missed while dodging a literal storm, clearly has love for their craft. Maybe scenes wouldn’t feel like they’re "dying" if more DJs approached things the same way.

I wouldn’t do them justice trying to describe what was played. Just buy a ticket if you see their names on a lineup, check their SoundClouds and Bandcamps, or catch their sets on YouTube. Yes, there was footwork, juke, Jersey and more, but I was too busy having the time of my life to keep track.

I can happily say I danced all night at the DJ SWISHA show.

Words by Louis Rowland