Tom Misch live at KOKO Camden: Celebrating his new album, Full Circle
With a multi-genre influence blending jazz, electronica, soul and hip hop, Tom Misch sold out two nights at KOKO, Camden.
I first came across Tom years ago through the rapper Loyle Carner. The first time I heard him sing, I was mesmerised — an angelic, melodic voice that never fails to move me. The singer had taken a break from live music in recent years but felt ready to step back this year with carefully curated, intentionally intimate shows.
Tom Misch first entered the music scene in 2012, sharing homemade mixes and samples on SoundCloud, which quickly built him a devoted following. His 2018 debut album, Geography, was written, recorded, and mixed entirely in his bedroom and surpassed one million streams. So, it was amazing to see him come full circle tonight (no pun intended).
Tom took to the stage at 9pm sharp, electric guitar in hand, opening the show alongside his all-male band with Echo from the Flames, which transitioned seamlessly into Red Moon. The song opened strongly with Alex Bofanti on bass, before piano and drums quietly added depth, and Tom's voice drew you in completely. During the song I looked around the room, taking in the energy. People were in awe, bobbing their heads to the beat, smiling and singing the words back to Tom. You could really feel the magic in that moment.
He then took us back to 2016 with I Wish and Movie from his 2018 album Geography. Whilst he sang, a beautiful visual of the song's video played in black and white. It was nice to go down memory lane with him, taking it back to those candlelight bedroom days that* Geography was so defined by.
Midway through the set he brought out New Zealand-Australian singer-songwriter Jordan Rakei, and they sang their song Wake Up This Day Together. Tom then sang Nightrider from his 2020 album What Kinda Music, accompanied by another beautiful video visual that the crowd went mad for. He then returned to Geography with the brilliant It Runs Through Me ft. De La Soul.
Other songs from the new album included Oldman and Goldie — hearing them live, I fully understood why Full Circle has been described as "warm, intimate songs that find the singer/producer in a reflective mood." But it was also where we really got to see the warmth of Tom's character through action, stopping the set twice when audience members fainted to make sure they were okay. Towards the end of the show, when a fan tried to brush it off and insist they were fine, Tom simply started the song over again — the crowd then started cheering and clapping, a small but special moment.
One of the highlights of the night was when he brought out surprise guest British hip-hop artist Loyle Carner, and together they sang Damselfly — you could feel the joy in the room. However, the standout moment for me was when Tom said, "can I play one more song for you?" He then sang Sisters and Me. As the visual played, it made me think of my own sisters and the love I have for them. I caught a beautiful moment in the crowd where two brothers put their arms around each other, embracing in the song. Like Tom, I'm the youngest of three. And in that moment, he reminded me of exactly what matters most — the love of my sisters.
I left the show with a full heart. There's something so beautiful about art that stays with you and makes you think.
Full Circle is out now via all streaming platforms.
Words by Kanika Phillip
Photos by Dom Le Brun
