A snazzy and jazzy night spent boogying in Peckham
Emerging artist Con Cook celebrated the release of his debut EP ‘Take Time’, with a launch party on Saturday. It was held at the vibrant and creative space Peckham Arches, and 100% of all ticket sales went towards medical aid for Palestinians, writes Bella Christy.
23-year-old Con is an East London artist, making music with producer myfriendfinn. The EP sits across the genres of UK hip-hop, garage, and breaks, and will be a hit with fans of Loyle Corner, Slowthai, and The Streets, although Con is certainly carving out a uniqueness as he blends honest lyricism and distinctive production to create his own original take on chill rap.
The venue provided a warmth and intimacy that laid the groundwork for performances that were equally personal and heartfelt. The support act, Half Pipe, sang with a soft ease, silky voice, and chill persona; the crowd got behind him at once.
When Con Cook took the stage, the room buzzed, the space packed out, and the feet started grooving and moving. What a performer! He knows how to command a stage. He started the set by playing some of his older tunes, more of a jazzy rap vibe, including fan favourites such as ‘Patiently’ and my personal favourite ‘Bad Days’, an ode to the last summer of university.
The performance built up to the new EP, featuring standout moments such as the infectious lead single ‘Take Time’—impossible not to dance to—the raw and emotive ‘onthephone’, and the crowd-pleaser ‘Blackwarf Bounce’, an undeniable bop.
There was a real camaraderie between Con and his collaborators. Con and Finn were a pair to watch; their synergy was clear as they captivated the audience with their dynamic performance. The stage welcomed special guests like Mac Adams, who sings on ‘Slipped’, and Kilu, featured on ‘Bad Days’. These collaborations make evident that Con works expertly with other talented musicians; he says, ‘I’m nothing without those around me’.
It was a crowd full of fans and supporters, there was a real sense of familiarity between the artist and the audience. Tunes, having only dropped earlier that week or on the day, were being sung back loudly to Con. You could feel the love in the room.
As someone who has five Spotify playlists entitled ‘Jazzy Rap’, I think I have the authority to recommend checking out Con Cook. All you need to do is click here: https:// open.spotify.com/album/1kVL5HedHokDCMjrexayeN?si=odwWc1huRcWZ0crscfB9QQ
