Rapper J.Chambers’ new song ‘Sirens’ examines media negativity and the challenges that young people of colour experience as they attempt to move up the social ladder.
Coming from a Jamaican family, there’s a nod to his heritage in his music. J.Chambers draws influences from reggae and UK rap, to pull together a thought-provoking soundscape. In doing so, his music often delves deep into themes of cultural identity and racial equality.
‘Sirens’ is no exception.
The idea for the track plays a on story from Greek mythology. The sirens were said to be a distracting force that would lead ships off course and into destruction.
J uses this metaphor to symbolise the dangers that young black people face as they navigate through life – with those dangers referring to perceived threats of police brutality and internalised media negativity.
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J.Chambers
Speaking about the release, J said: “Sirens is a song about liberation and freedom, realising that our freedom can only come from focus. But also, sirens is about the distractions and obstacles we have to overcome to get there. It has a dual meaning and is probably one of my personal favourites from the upcoming LP.”
The song, featuring Dutch reggae collective Dei.3avu, is taken from J’s upcoming LP Escape The Kingdom which drops on 26 February. The LP forms an autobiographical piece that provides an insight into the challenges of growing up Black and British.
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Originally from Blackley in North Manchester, he’s been known to refer to himself as “the token black kid”, because of the largely white-British working-class area.
Credit: Kenny Brown
But fast forward to 2021 and he’s driving change and conversation around race in the community.
Now a leader of Manchester’s BLM movement, J has found a space to express his passionate yet political side – and he’s a force to be reckoned with.
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Political nuances are articulated through much of his work. Previous tracks such as Kill The Noise alongside Jahkiri, makes particular references to Grenfell, the Tories and conspiracies. J is not afraid to say what a lot of people are thinking.
Escape the Kingdom out 26 February
Not only is J a musician, but a spoken word poet too – and you can also hear this in his rhythmic style.
In honour of Black History Month back in October, J was invited onto Blue Peter to perform a specially written poem.
Speaking about hate, change and freedom, the powerful tribute was a celebration of identity and showed young people why using your voice matters so much.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CF1uo4ohfz7/
Despite a history of activism and a back-catalogue brimming with successful tracks and performances alongside big names (including an unexpected visit from Kendrick Lamar nonetheless), J manages to remain modest and humble. But regardless of that, his music and poetry speak volumes.
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Listen to Sirens here and stay up to date with J.Chambers on his socials:
One giant house party – Ne-Yo and Akon at Co-op Live, Manchester
Hollie Wells
‘So Sick’ of seeing pilates and matcha; when all you need is a messy naughties night out? Iconic duo Ne-Yo and Akon can, apparently, take you there.
Imagine the best house party of the 2010s with 20,000 of your favourite guests on perfect form, and you know what Co-op Live has been like for the last two nights for R&B royalty Ne-Yo and Akon.
Hosting a collaborative catalogue of bangers from both the stars, the atmosphere was buzzing with nostalgia and a readiness to have the ‘Time of Our Lives.’
Not only were we treated to two icons, they shared the stage with amazingly talented dancers, performing on the ground and in the sky, and perfectly embodying the showmanship of Ne-Yo and AKON and amplifying the party atmosphere.
It feels like there are endless group numbers, and if that wasn’t enough, these dancers start hanging on aerial silks from the rafters of Co-op Live by one foot and dropping into the splits on Ne-Yo’s lap. Casual.
This is a night for screaming timeless heartbreak anthems like ‘Angel’ and ‘Lonely’, throwing some ‘Dangerous’ dance moves, and throwing your arms around your best pal while copious amounts of confetti fall over you.
Not only did we get the classics, the packed audience of party people were presented with a dance-battle style compilation of tunes that the singer-songwriters were involved with.
And of course, they had a plethora of perfect numbers, including Rhianna’s ‘Hate that I Love You’, Gwen Stefani’s ‘The Sweet Escape’ and Beyoncé’s ‘Irreplaceable.’ A triad of divas, and these songs never get old.
With a running time of two hours and forty minutes, it is clear that these two are not short on hits.
Needing an interval at a gig is a flex and I would confidently say this Manchester crowd would have parted all night long, particularly the three lucky ladies who were called on stage to two-step with Ne-Yo. The office wont believe that on Monday.
If you’re craving a time-hop to 2010 and a setlist with zero flops, you’re in safe hands with Ne-Yo and Akon.
Rare picture of David Bowie’s legendary one-off gig in Stockport unearthed
Danny Jones
A rare picture taken from the night of the late, great David Bowie’s legendary one-off gig in Stockport has been unearthed by a local whilst digging through his loft.
Imagine having that kind of history just squirrelled away in an attic…
As revealed by Stockport Music Story, after being supplied with the image by David Maynard, the snap was shared more than half a century on from the much-mythologised moment in Greater Manchester music history.
In fact, it was put on display and posted on social media quite literally 56 years to the day since Bowie played his only Stopfordian set on 27 April, 1970.
Maynard himself is featured in the newly discovered photograph (second from the left) and was one of the select and lucky few who were in the room for that very special show.
Organised by a group of teens on behalf of the Stockport Schools’ Students’ Union, the performance took place at the long-gone Poco a Poco music venue and club over in Heaton Chapel.
The storied space hosted many big names over the years – Gerry Marsden, Freddie Starr, Hank Marvin and more – but sadly closed in May of 1987 following a fire.
It went on to become the popular Hinds Head pub, which still serves punters to this day, but once had the honour of hosting a true artistic great and British icon.
For anyone wondering, this is indeed the same night on which David Robert Jones (yes, that’s Bowie‘s full birth name) missed his train home and had to sleep on the railway platform.
Here’s a BBC segment covering the tale back on its 55th anniversary in April 2025.
It may be a small and somewhat curious claim to fame, but native love the legend of it all nonetheless.
As for the other individuals pictured alongside him, Stockport Music Story (SMS) said: “The names of the people we know are David Maynard (2nd left), Roz Wood (3rd left), David Bowie, Bill Frost (2nd right), Stewart Rigby (right).”
They go on to add: “It would be amazing to find out who the other people in the photograph are and what they remember from that night.” We sincerely hope they do.
You can now see the plaque up close and personal at Stockport Station for yourselves and as for SMS’s growing archive of the region’s creative culture, you can find out tonnes more about other pieces of SK heritage right HERE.
Hannah Starkie -
12th February 2021 
