Joshua Idehen brings his powerful mix of spoken word, electronic soul and dance-floor catharsis to Gorilla this spring, performing work from latest album I Know You’re Hurting, Everyone Is Hurting, Everyone Is Trying, You Have Got To Try.
The record, created with long-time collaborator Ludvig Parment, sees Idehen channel the turbulence of recent years into something communal and deeply uplifting — poetry built for movement as much as reflection.
His rise over the past year has been remarkable. After the unexpected viral success of ‘Mum Does The Washing’, Idehen and Parment found themselves embraced by new audiences, with packed festival shows (including 2025’s Manchester Psych Fest), support from major tastemakers, and appearances on stages that once felt far out of reach. The pair’s live energy — part rave, part sermon, part group therapy — has become central to their identity, with Idehen’s warm, urgent presence meeting Parment’s expansive, rhythm-forward production.
Idehen’s journey to this moment has been anything but linear. Initially drawn to film, he only discovered spoken word after hearing the raw, confessional intensity of early grime. From open mic nights to collaborations with jazz innovators like The Comet Is Coming and Sons of Kemet, he gradually carved out a space where poetry and music meet with real emotional force. Personal upheaval, time spent rebuilding in Stockholm, and the birth of his daughter have all shaped his writing — pushing him toward work that seeks light rather than dwells in despair.
The new album reflects that shift. It blends tender storytelling, choral warmth and dance music’s sense of release, carrying memories of club encounters, London dawns and the small affirmations that keep us afloat. Live, these songs take on an even bigger life: Idehen’s voice reaching outward, Parment’s beats urging the crowd closer, both guided by a belief in connection over cynicism.
At Gorilla, audiences can expect a show that moves between contemplation and celebration — a reminder that even in difficult times, sound and community can offer brief but vital moments of joy.
