Mulaa Joans Melts Hearts at Hoxton Hall Headline Show

Being able to watch an artist’s growth feels like a privilege and being able to witness it in such a short space of time is even better. Selfishly, there is a part of me that used to sometimes like to keep an artist more of a secret, but getting to see Mulaa Joans perform to a sold out crowd at Hoxton Hall makes you realise these artists are just destined for the big leagues. 

The evening before I interviewed her back in January, I was able to see her perform live to a much smaller, select crowd where even then I was able to see the level of potential she had. However, seeing her on this night I not only saw the potential, but I was also able to see the beginnings of a true star being born. 

Before the show I enjoyed a few crisp, refreshing drinks at a nearby pub, taking in the blistering heat and was gearing up for an evening that I knew wouldn’t disappoint, and thankfully I wasn’t wrong. Mulaa begins her set with crowd favourite ‘Still A Little Something’ and immediately the room hangs on her every word as she glides through the melody with a level of ease and grace that is beyond her age and live experience. 

As soon as the song ends, the crowd erupts with a roaring applause that is reminiscent of a football crowd. Her audience seem to be aware that they are some of the lucky fans that are still able to watch her in an intimate setting and are taking in every moment with glee, as they know their not so little secret is on a fast-track path to much bigger venues soon.

She carries on to fire through crowd favourites, such as ‘Love Letter’, ‘Members Only’, ’18 Again’, ‘Birthday Makeup’ and ‘Phone Sex’. Throughout the entirety of the show, she manages to have the crowd in the palm of her hand, as she delivers her set with a combination of delicacy that heightens the fragility of the words, alongside a sense of strength and power that really has her audience in awe of her talent. The audience are with her every step of the way and bellow back the lyrics of her songs to her in unison with a sense of jubilation, that even has Mulaa bowled over by their level of enthusiasm.

She even treats fans to a couple of exclusive songs that are yet to be released, and the audience quickly align with her and in no time are singing back the words without missing a beat, as if she is singing pages of their own diaries to them. 

It’s this self-awareness and poise that sets her apart from many of her peers that are rising through the ranks in the industry currently. What struck me even more, is how quickly she was able to finish a heart-wrenching ballad that creates such a visceral reaction from her audience and then slips back into her everyday demeanour without a flinch, and chats with the crowd like they are her lifelong friends.

The bond she has built up so quickly with her fans is second to none, and if she carries on with this level of determination and ferocity, she is bound to become one of the brightest stars in the coming years. Soon after the set ends, the crowd begin to disperse with an excited chatter spreading through the venue, recalling their favourite moments to each other, and a flurry of racing steps take over to join the line of fans that are eagerly waiting to get signed posters and pictures with their latest musical obsession.

My only small note is that I wished the set was slightly longer, as 35 minutes did feel a bit too short, especially when you are enjoying it so much. Would have liked to see her perform songs from her debut EP £70 For Peace of Mind but that is one of the better problems to have as a working musician.