Conjuring #4 @ Club Cheek: Tony Njoku Leads a Masterful Collaborative Performance
Conjuring #4 @ Club Cheek: Tony Njoku Leads a Masterful Collaborative Performance EVENT REVIEW Words By Hannah Ugboma Photos by Eli Callingham 27 June 2026 Conjuring is a live series curated by Tony Njoku, a London based musician, whose work comprises a fusion of electronic, ambient and classical. His most recent album, All our Knives Are Always Sharp was released in 2025 and described as an ‘Afrofuturist statement of determined self-actualization’ by Pitchfork. Alongside his other projects, for the past few months he has organised the series at Club Cheek in Brixton. At Conjuring, one can expect an evening of live improvised ambient and experimental music. Njoku brings together friends and contemporaries working within similar spheres for an evening of unique sonic exploration. Each performance is instructed by a different theme and focus: death, drones, fire etc, and every installment is performed by a unique set of musicians. The fourth installment of the series, which I attended, built upon the ‘drone’ motif. The music is entirely improvised; the musicians agree on a key before the music starts. For this evening, there were 5 performers. Tony Njoku, on synthesizer, keys, Bass Synth controlled by MIDI organ foot pedals, and an effects unit. He was joined by sound artist, multi-instrumentalist and composer Damsel Elysium, on viola and vocals. Their work spans video, sound and performance art, and explores paradoxes, improvisation and ritual. Abi Asisa is a producer and cellist, whose work includes jazz, classical and improvisational; she is also a member of the ‘Life is Beautiful’ collective. afromerm is an Oram award winning composer, and utilises Juniper, her self built motion reflective instrument (similar to a theramin) and more to create soundscapes. Classically trained flautist Lara Aisha uses her improvisational influences from classical contemporary music, and a duo project that combines the flute with modular synthesizers. The room was subdued and dark, covered in a mostly red light, with people spread around the stage and up on a balcony to watch from above. The stage was deep, like a corridor, and covered in pedals and instruments and wires and microphones. Njoku introduced the theme at the beginning, how the series has progressed and the philosophy behind it; we were told to expect lots of drones. This notice was appreciated, as the first half of the evening began with a heavy synthesizer drone, slow and steady, enriched by sudden movements from the cello and viola, each of which was modified by various effect pedals, creating a harsher sound, blending noise and drone. The audience quickly became more focused. The elements of harshness decreased, and other elements emerged. The vocals provided by afromerm and Elysium were transportative and immense, some of the richest I’ve heard in a long time. The instruments referenced back to each other frequently, quick whispers from the viola answered by flute, referential and familiar. Sharp vocal flecks and breathwork added a clear spark, cutting through the drone, dashed and dotted across the piece, aided by the excellent sound system within Club Cheek. The vocals continued to shimmer through the drone, until a new drone began, this one pulsating, thrumming through the room. It rose with the steady beat of a triangle, and the sound moved like a pulsar. The rhythm of the triangle grounded the drone, as a new sustained element. Throughout, the viola, flute and cello continued to layer over the drone as the drone shifted, until they dropped, allowing synth and keys through. At this point, the piano sounded crunchy and organic; a drum machine had started up, moving both the room and the piece to a more urgent state, yet the set ended with a quiet fizz, perfectly controlled by Njoku, absolute silence in the room, and one was left feeling at ease. The second half of the evening also contained drones, but on a slightly different level. The string instruments led the section with a more acoustic feel, pedals off, minimalistic repetition courtesy of Asisa. This was one of my favourite musical motifs of the evening. Her steady repetition on the cello provided the new drone for this new half, accompanied by the rattle of coconut shells and sounds from Juniper – electronic hums and whines, expertly controlled by afromerm. The vocals provided an added richness – not necessarily words but being used perfectly as instruments. As motifs looped and looped, layers and layers of dissonance and noise was heightened, and the once quiet, reliant drone became a siren. The pitch and stakes within the room seem to have increased. We reach the eye of the storm, pause, a string of notes on the piano, at ease, before the storm returns. The sounds in the room become almost cacophonous, building and building, until our evening has to come to an end. One may not have realised the entire set was improvised – the music was that polished and accomplished. Conjuring felt like a very special event, the chance to see some of the most exciting experimental musicians in London working freely for a one off event. Njoku himself said the programme has been extremely emotional for him, emotions which could be felt throughout the performance as an audience member. The sound system in Club Cheek is ideal, covering a wide sonic array and dimensions, enriching the sounds the musicians created. It never felt too loud or too quiet, providing a perfectly balanced sound. The energy from the audience was but focused, as people stood but also sat, nodding and in tune with the music, all in total silence so best to listen. The evening was a celebration of live improvisational and experimental music in London, in a purposeful environment with an audience that is wholly engaged. Conjuring will return in September. Expect new musicians, new ideas and new sounds. You can listen to each Conjuring evening on Resonance FM {{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.singularReviewCountLabel }} {{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.pluralReviewCountLabel }} {{ options.labels.newReviewButton }} {{ userData.canReview.message }} You Might Also Like Recent Posts
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