More about: Greentea Peng

We're not sure you would call the madness that Greentea Peng delivered in Brixton last Friday night a gig. Maybe more of an overcrowded, sweaty house party that reunited her friends, family and followers. 

The sold-out event at Hootananny in Brixton on 8 November celebrated the drop of her second EP Rising, the follow-up from her 2018 debut Sensi. 

When walking to the venue, you could hear the afrobeats, smell the flourishing BBQ and see the mass of pre-drink bottles lining the wall of the long queue, which circled around the corner of the Brixton hotspot. 

Described in the Hootananny handout as a "rising star psychedelic soul songstress" it's no surprise the occasion was full of energy yet, simultaneously, chill. (NB: we have now realised Greentea Peng will never be lowkey.)

At just gone 11pm, Greentea Peng emerged on stage with her six-piece band to a room of over 600 people and announced: "old friends, new friends, we’re gonna party tonight”.

Her ethereal soul drifted around the stage, one hand gently lifted her beaded and down-feather gown from the floor to allow her feet to dance freely. The other grasped her retro microphone with her eyes closed to deliver the lyrics.

Greentea Peng’s sound is a beautiful synergy between old and new, indulging and experimenting in re-working tradition; conga drums mixed with electronic synth isn’t a combination you watch live frequently. Not to mention being played on stage by musicians from a spectrum of generations too.

This juxtaposition created a transporting experience for the audience during big hit 'Mr. Sun (miss da sun)', produced by repeat collaborator Earbud. It had a re-wind that almost distracted you from the sticky atmosphere you were really in - think strobes with lots of chirping birds over lo-fi xylophone.

She played the E.P. tracks as if she’d been waiting her whole life for this chance to share them, including a well-received performance of new single 'Inna City'.

Greentea Peng shook her head in disbelief each time she began a song and thanked the audience for turning up every time she finished. It's these qualities that made it clear she will still have a humble and grounded perspective, even during the exciting time that stretches out ahead of her.

More about: Greentea Peng