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‘It romanticised my night!’ The R&B slow jam events making Black British clubbers swoon
No pounding beats, no strobes – just sensual tracks, singalongs and nostalgic vibes. Black-club goers explain how this craze gives them a space to call their own
Photograph: Ty Hinds <tyhindsmgmt@gmail.com>For many Black people, mainstream venues in areas such as central London’s Mayfair or Soho have long been exclusionary, with subtly discriminatory or even outright racist door policies. R&B and slow jam events are, by contrast, welcoming and generally Black-run, and feature music that deeply resonates with Black audiences – there are no worries about arbitrary dress codes or being unfairly judged. SlowJamsWithA have hosted parties across London and cultivated a devoted, cross-generational following drawn to – at the event I attend – a blend of old-school R&B tracks from artists such as SWV alongside more recent talent from the US and UK, such as Odeal, JayO, Summer Walker, and Giveon.
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