Things have been moving a bit differently up North lately in Liverpool. Not in some flashy, overnight way — more like a quiet build that’s suddenly started clicking into place. The events are getting sharper, the talent’s always been there and now the scene feels like it’s levelling up without needing to shout about it. If you’ve been around recently, you’ll know exactly what I mean. From the M
tion sets with DJ Amber Rose to that surreal but properly grounded Koj hologram, there’s a real momentum right now. It feels personal, not performative.
The Mtion sets especially have stood out. DJ Amber Rose has been putting together line-ups that actually feel thought through. Artists that care. No weak links, no filler — just straight quality. Eze, for one, has been showing up time and time again. He’s from Luton but honestly feels like part of the Northern grime landscape at this point. Always sharp, always brings energy and just mad consistent. Then there’s Koj — who we’ll get back to in a bit — Haydog with that strong, focused delivery, Cheekz bringing that gritty, straight talking edge, and P1 Caps, who’s just always on point. Feels like he’s been locked into this from early and knows exactly when and how to land his bars. You can tell none of these lot are just turning up to go through the motions. They’re building something, and you can feel it in the room.
The sets take place at SVRA Radio, right in town. It’s a proper community rooted space that’s really holding things down for the scene. The setup is simple mic, decks a room full of people who get it — and it works. It’s tight, intimate and focused which makes every bar hit harder.
On top of that, there’s another freestyle platform in the mix called Involved. It’s been giving a wide range of artists a space to really show what they’re about. Most recently I had the honour of sitting in on a session with Trapson — a name that’s definitely not new to this. Big thanks to CP for the invite — it was sick to witnes this in person.
Now, that Koj hologram event. It might sound mad on paper — but in real life, it actually felt more human than most gigs. It wasn’t just a tech flex. It was deep. Put together by the team at Draw & Code using full 3D volumetric capture, the whole thing managed to feel more personal than just seeing someone on a stage. Phil Charnock from Draw & Code explained it best:
“I feel like music or film just hits you — especially when it’s used to communicate something that’s hard to put into words. That’s the power of a wordsmith or a really good lyricist — they can express things most people can’t. A Product of the Streets is a very emotional song. A lot of music doesn’t really show that kind of vulnerability, but what Koj does feels more like storytelling — it’s raw and personal.
And because this was a volumetric performance captured in full 3D, it felt even more intimate. With the right people designing the experience, it honestly felt like he was talking to you, not just performing at you. The track already carries a lot, and the visual side just made it land even harder.”
And Koj isn’t stopping there. When asked whether this kind of immersive stuff is going to play a role in his future releases, he didn’t hesitate:
“Absolutely. This is just the start of a much bigger project.
I want to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible between music and tech. Imagine being able to do gigs or full sets where I just pop up in your living room. This is the beginning of a very futuristic idea.”
That’s the thing — grime up North right now isn’t just surviving. It’s evolving. It’s finding new ways to connect, to express, and to move. Whether it’s through low-ceiling, high-energy sets in proper community spaces or boundary pushing digital shows that somehow still feel human, the culture’s making it clear that grime doesn’t need to choose between staying real and moving forward.
So if you’re in the North or even just watching from the sidelines don’t sleep. The scene’s thriving. And it’s not waiting around.
