In the dismal drizzling weather stands a queue of fans waiting patiently despite the cold for Champion’s sold out UK debut.
As the crowd gathers inside Hackney’s charming venue Oslo, anticipation clouds the atmosphere. People murmur, with many sharing disbelief that they were able to get tickets; there is an air of exclusivity to the performance. This show is one of only four scheduled for the artist this year - and the crowd are determined to make it count.
As the lights go down, Champion bursts onto stage, the opening lines of ‘Aren’t You Excited’ echoed back to him without hesitation. He wastes no space on stage, dancing energetically to and fro, making sure everyone in the crowd could catch a glimpse of him and take in his performance. Even though he is boybandless, he conjures a stage presence that fills the room wall to wall. The song is a fitting opener, almost taunting the audience to give him everything they’ve got.
As his set progressed a member of the crowd asked a question quiet enough so only Champion could hear; “you want to ask me a question?” he said, seeming genuinely taken aback. He gave in to the impromptu q&a session, turning the microphone to the outspoken member of the audience who in turn asked what it was like to work with frequent collaborator Dijon. Champion earnestly answered, sharing that “he's somebody I can be fully myself with so it creates such a comfortable space. He’s a beauty!” Without missing a beat someone yelled “what about Henry?” referring to other collaborator Henry Kwapis - to which Champion responded “imagine if I said exactly the same thing.” For just a moment, his boisterous stage persona was broken down, offering his fans a glimpse at the person standing before them. His body language changed completely, holding on to the mic stand tightly. It was a moment of unexpected vulnerability amongst a high energy set, a moment that brought everyone in the room closer to him. Before Champion moved on to the next song he shyly exclaimed “this is so much harder than performing!"
As the show progressed the energy that Champion shared with the crowd was infectious. His crowd work never ceased throughout the show, routinely visiting each side of the stage as if to make sure no one missed a second. Suddenly he announces to the crowd that “we’re about to try something new… I need you to sing this after me. Can you do that?” After a shout of agreement from the crowd he belts the central vocal melody of the bouncing, sugary lovesong ‘Slug’. Seconds later he realises his voice is going, and decides to give up and go straight into the song - the crowd already confidently performing for him. By the time the song started his voice was back effortlessly hitting the high notes.
‘Slug’ was undeniably a crowd favourite. The song ended in a passionate ovation from the crowd that Champion was visibly stunned by, so much so that upon seeing its thunderous response he immediately performed the whole song again, with the effervescent energy turned up to 110%.
After taking a moment to tie his laces, giving his audience time to take a breath, Champion began his final song. The crowd raucous with excitement as the opening of ‘Gbiv’ begins - front to back the room moves to the echoing trap beats. “Open wide, open wide, open wide” he repeats, gesturing to the crowd to open up a mosh pit. He descends from the stage and proceeds to mosh with the crowd for the remainder of the song. A final moment of connection for Champion and his audience, he joins in on the fun - so to speak. He emerges from the sea of people sweaty and triumphant, His first solo show in the UK an undeniable success.
Matt Champion has always been an undeniable talent, but being left to his own devices in London has proved him a truly capable solo act. His presence on stage is a force to be reckoned with, one that left fans excitedly waiting for his next UK appearance the moment he left the stage.
Eylem Boz
Image: Anna Pollack
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