J APPIAH
“I have never felt so inspired or so optimistic about my art and bringing my art to the world. The time is now. Right now.”
Upcoming Performances
THAT'S THE THING ABOUT TIME
The pop-infused rock and soul that J Appiah conjures on his debut EP ‘That’s the Thing About Time’ is eclectic like its maker: a globe-trotting Hackney, England local and a second-generation Windrush child. A bed-room artist who has toured world stages, Appiah doesn’t just contain multitudes, he conveys them.
His sound is spontaneous and cathartic, while also betraying a calculating pop genius. It's addictive and familiar, hitting the body like the novel and restless urges that turbo-charged the blues into rock and R&B.
Appiah has sculpted a sound that he says “feels like home” to him, blending intimate, often confessional lyrics with vibrant psychedelic, production, soulful melodies, and an attention to rhythm that originates from his earliest memories. Equally important to Appiah is the gritty soul that has long been prevalent in East London. The grime and garage of movements were as much a part of his formative years as was his African heritage. A brew of these influences, along with an anchor of acoustic guitars, bring That’s the Thing About Time to vivid life. It’s a sound that Appiah reached organically.
“I have spent a fair amount of time experimenting with different vibes and means of expression, and I always come back to my guitar… For me, the most natural thing in the world is to feel my fingers touch the strings and let my ideas and thoughts flow.”
Appiah has been promoting his music this spring on the road with Mercury Prize winner Michael Kiwanuka. The dates include shows in Wolverhampton, London’s Eventim Apollo, Edinburgh, as well as the O2 Apollo in Manchester.
WATCH / LISTEN
J’s current single, “Look Back,” is a battle cry to “wake up and experience life.” Appiah weaves his words around a potent blend of psychedelia and raw funk to bring instrumental movement and illumination of the song’s message.
The track was made with producer Barnabas Poffley who provided its other-worldly synth sample, and draws upon J Appiah’s varied influences across electronic, indie, soul and beyond.
