Live Review: Japanese Wallpaper, E^ST

As the Oxford Art Factory began to fill, EAST graced the stage with her quirky dance moves and undeniable charm. She continued to captivate with her tune Let Down as she sang, "all I want to do is get down, why is everything such a let down". The crowd seemed to really enjoy her set and were especially ecstatic when she finished with her hit tune The Alley, which expressed a kind of lyrical and melodic maturity that is quite rare. EAST, with her punchy electronic beats and unique transitions, proved the perfect interlude into Japanese Wallpaper.

Japanese Wallpaper emerged from the shadows with a full band to begin his live set. The band seemed to juxtapose his very electronic-based aura that has shown throughout his releases, although this change created a greater focus from the crowd and a more full texture to the sound. Although at times he seemed unsettled and awkward on stage, he managed to make his multi-faceted musicianship seem effortless. His new track Cocoon really glimmered as the female vocals transcended over the electronic frequencies and repeated melodic runs. This combined with Japanese Wallpaper's hypnotic and brooding monotone really pieced together a stand-out tune. He then ploughed through many new tracks, one of which was called Caving In. In comparison to his previous releases, the chorus and the bulk of the track really seemed to sit further on the bench of pop. The beat was contagious and lyrics catchy, perhaps solidifying a new direction for him.

His tune Breathe In encouraged soft swaying and romantic bursts, as the crowd got lost in his hypnotic melodies as well as the soothing female counterpart. This track was deeply enhanced live as the acoustic instruments created this blossoming build-up, rich and magical. They then played another hit, Forces, which encouraged a singalong from the crowd, despite the difference in the usual vocal line it was still pretty stunning. Between Friends was the track that finished off the night; Japanese Wallpaper's strong vocals here really drove the tune into further expertise before their humble exit.