Offie Mag

It was a mild spring evening in the Big Smoke. Thirsty Thursday was in full swing in London Bridge—judging by the number of gilet-clad losers spilling out of various watering holes trying to split the G. But myself and fellow Offie Mag DJ Brickcellphone were on a different quest: a pilgrimage to Bermondsey’s Ormside Projects.

Nestled in a South London industrial estate, just a stone’s throw from The Den, Ormside Projects is a hub for arts and music. This year alone, it’s hosted the likes of Woesum, Jawnino, and Voice Actor. But tonight, the space was taken over by London-based label Scenic Route, whose mantra is “the road less traveled.” I like that. If you take the time to veer off the beaten path, you’re usually rewarded with a few hidden gems.

Niall Ashley opened with a dense, cathartic blend of pop, jazz, trap, and the LA beat scene. Then Mike Midnight followed with hypnotic ambient downtempo—his set a seamless, head-nodding trip held together by real neck-snapper drums.

Brbko came next. His track ‘BRAK VS BRAK,’ released earlier this year, was a standout—grime fused with a mix of underground rap styles, before he wrapped up with a New Orleans Bounce-inspired banger that blew my damn mind.

To close out a superb night, we were blessed with a set from Anysia Kym—on her birthday, apparently—rocking a retro Aston Villa shirt and bringing her tracks to life via sampler. Jungle breaks, exquisite vocals, everything we’ve come to expect from one of 10k Global’s brightest stars.

It was a lovely night. The music was great. The bar had cans of Stella—like they knew I was coming—and everyone there was clearly having a good time. I highly recommend checking out all the artists who played, and if you ever find yourself in Bermondsey, give Ormside a go.

Words by Louis Rowland.