At Jai Paul's kickoff show, an elusive pop phenomenon proves his stardom in a live arena
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. For an artist well known for over a decade, Jai Paul made this tour opener feel like the first time. His sweet falsetto earned him a deal with the major indie label XL Records, and the nonsensical genre description of “psychedelic funk.” A bright snare, a sharp kick drum, a weird pop sensibility introduces the song — Paul had managed to make the music world pay attention with just one track, a feat nearly impossible to replicate in the modern digital era. And his falsetto did recall Prince, as the critics once said, particularly on the tracks “All Night” and “So Long.” The set started an hour late and only lasted about that long, a dozen-plus tracks concluding with the one that started it all “BTSTU”, and the one that confirmed his greatness, “Str8 Outta Mumbai.” Jai Paul was incubating in his time spent hidden behind computer screens, emerging fully formed — waiting for the right moment to share his talent with his fans in this particular live medium.
Discover Related
