Notion x Jelani Blackman x Havana Club

With the release of Jelani Blackman’s new EP “Average Joe” we knew we had to do something special to celebrate. Along with some of Blackman’s biggest fans, the night involved an electric atmosphere, something that was only natural during the intimate performance in collaboration with Notion, Havana Club, Amazon Music and Metropolis Studio.

There was a certain energy before Blackman took to the stage, one of excitement for what was in store for the night. The fans were warm and energetic – before Blackman even began to converse about his creative process and what inspires him. There was a sense of enchantment listening to Jelani discuss the EP’s main themes and his views surrounding making music. It felt like being around family, where everyone was a part of the conversation as we enjoyed Havana Club cocktails and listened closely.

Blackman’s “Average Joe” gives us an insight into his development as a musician, each song is impossible not to move to and this showed at Metropolis Studios on Monday. Jelani recalls personal experiences that inspired him with the lyrics and themes surrounding the EP, noting that it was the people around him that helped him the most with the making of his new release.

Whether Jelani chatted with us or performed, there is an exhilaration from listening to him. You can’t help but have your eyes and ears drawn to his charisma and energy. When he began to sing, the room lit up and cheered throughout performances like “Brixton” and “Cheers”.

After a well-deserved round of applause and a couple of Havana Club infused drinks, the chairs were quickly swept aside and Jelani got the crowd up on their feet, bopping along as he belted out some of his latest tracks from “Average Joe”.

Garnering support from the likes of Amazon Music and renowned studios like Metropolis with his immense talent, there’s no hiding that Jelani Blackman is here to stay.