The walls of Camden Underworld feel almost alive. Heat rises from the 500 bodies that are packed under low ceilings, the air humid with anticipation. Beneath a north London pub, bass thuds through concrete like a second pulse. On stage, Alt Blk Era – sisters Nyrobi and Chaya Beckett-Messam – unleash a set that fuses metal, punk, hip-hop and drum’n’bass. The latter wears black, from boots to eyeliner, while Nyrobi is all in white, topped with a storm of wigged hair. The mosh pit surges and heaves, a whirl of limbs and ecstatic shouts. The smells of beer and sweet sweat mix with the tang of the dry ice machine.
The pair began writing songs during lockdown, swapping ideas in their bedrooms and sharing online, before stepping on to bigger stages with a confidence that’s far beyond their years. They’ve since gone from local gigs to a packed Glastonbury set, won a Mobo (music of black origin) award for best alternative music act, and built a devoted following of fans who turn up, rain or shine. Their sound – fierce yet playful – isn’t the kind that fits neatly into a record label marketing plan, and they know it.
“We have always pushed boundaries and never wanted to compromise our brand, music or message to fit in with other people’s ideas,”says Nyrobi. Alt Blk Era were one of the lucky recipients of funding that allowed them to grow organically and outside of the mainstream record labels. “Applying to the foundation gave us this independence to grow on our own terms, particularly when the system feels so broken. We saw it as a chance to get support from people who understand the value of originality, especially for artists like us who don’t fit neatly into one box.”
