Music : Soulful House, Hip Hop, Dubstep, Jazz-Funk, Soul and Jazz
Deviation, helmed by 1Xtra’s main man Benji B, surely needs no introduction. Running since last October, the name Deviation Sessions has become synonymous with the fusion of soul, jazz, funk, hip-hop, house and broken beat that keeps clubbing evolving in the noughties. When all’s dull in the life of the night, it’s time to deviate.
This July get ready for your ears to be transformed by an audacious musical experience, as diverse DJ and spoken word poet Rich Medina, flies in fresh from NYC to bring his kaleidoscopic visions to grace Deviation sound system. Infectious doses of hip-hop, house, jazz, afro-beat and spoken word are all entwined with each other, with common elements of soul joining the dots between genres.
As the host of Little Ricky’s Rib Shack parties in APT, New York and Jump ‘N’ Funk at the prestigious Martinez Gallery in his hometown, Philly raised Medina has become a sought after DJ, drawing people into his funk flow and gaining a reputation for turning an average night into a night to remember. Releasing his debut LP ‘Connecting The Dots’ in 2006, Medina echoed the unique blend of music and influences to be found in the town that has given us the likes of Jazzy Jeff, Jill Scott and Vikter Duplaix.
Marking the start to a soulful summer, Deviation’s eclectic mix of music and guests you won’t see anywhere else continues to solidify it’s reputation as one of London’s most consistent, intimate and individual parties. With the help of some of the underground’s finest, Benji and crew give Londoners a chance to experience the Deviation sound and ethos live. A specially designed 20K soundsystem is hired in for the night to ensure the ultimate aural experience, while lighting, visuals and small touches, such as burning incense, help to make this a must hit mid-week destination.