Miss BlanksOn what might well be the hottest day of 2018, a small congregation of revellers descend on The Gasometer Hotel to witness the heat rise for Miss Blanks.
With DJ Matka warming up the decks, the punters shuffle in, ready to get sweaty and turn the whole room into a dancefloor. Filling the room with a kick of heavy beats and perfectly mixed bangers, the producer uses her time on stage to underline exactly how raucous tonight is going to be.
Taking over with an energy all her own, Jesswar hits the mic and spits bars like a seasoned veteran. Flawlessly timed and enunciated, the 22-year-old has more passion and expertise than most of the mainstream hip hop acts around. While shaping the image of an enigmatic rap raconteur, Jesswar maintains a totally affable and friendly persona between songs. Engaging with the audience and inviting them to come in and feel the love, the musician gives herself wholly and receives the affection back in droves. Ending on her superhit Savage, Jesswar works the stage with effortless poise and control of her craft.
With the crowd sweating and swelling for more, Miss Blanks finally takes to the stage under a thunderous applause. With Matka back behind the decks, Blanks launches into her unique and powerful brand of assertive and positive hip hop.
With the audience in the palm of her hand, Blanks kicks into Worldwide Pussy and thrusts the vibe of the room into overdrive. Tables and light fixtures shake with metronomic precision as Blanks’ punters twerk and stomp to the beat. Freq U keeps the energy climbing, and Skinny Bitches sees the first sing-along of the night. Blanks is clearly humbled, but keeps it to herself with a swift and unprompted "you’re welcome".
Her followers are devout, affectionate and totally unapologetic.
Considering the short time that she has been on the scene, it is not just the number of Blanks fans that is surprising. Her followers are devout, affectionate and totally unapologetic. Screaming their love to the singer after every song in her set is a clear indicator, and Blanks is undoubtedly grateful for it. Those here to witness it are lost in the sheer intensity of it all, barely looking away or even getting their phones out to capture the moment. It is love laden with respect – something that Blanks herself preaches on the regular.
Clap Clap makes the room go wild and reach a peak of Blanks humour and vigour. Just when it looks like the room couldn’t love her anymore, they explode into cheers at the simple declaration: "Fuck Kirin J Callinan!"
