LIVE FROM THE PIT: Native James and Kite Thief

NATIVE JAMES is a solo project that seem to be on countless playlists, line ups, and one’s not to miss lists. Melding together British Grime and Metal to create something quite spectacular, NATIVE JAMES is taking the music circuit by storm, and my goodness is this a storm like no other. Having only been on the music scene in this live band form for just over a year, it’s incredible to see the artist and his live musicians to make such noise.

Hot off the tracks of the second release, NATIVE JAMES has embarked on a UK tour to showcase his EP Confessions Of A Sinner. Packing out shows in an intimate barrierless room the energy felt alive. The blended audience of both rap and metal fans can usually feel somewhat unusual, however this gig was to be something quite special. It felt like a bubbling atmosphere where audiences would experience a show of such uniqueness you almost had to be there to understand just how brilliant it was.

KITE THIEF stormed the stage supporting NATIVE JAMES and had the crowd jumping within seconds. Loud, unapologetic and full of fire, their set was impossible to ignore. The band’s energy never once dipped, feeding off the room and giving it straight back. Every chorus hit like a punch, with the audience shouting right along, new fans were created instantly in that room. The female vocals stood out in particular, powerful and clear above the grit of the guitars. It was a confident, high-energy performance that proved KITE THIEF know exactly how to own a stage. They interacted with fans of their set immediately afterwards at the merch table adding a small town charm and humbleness to their electric performance.

Right after the energetic set, NATIVE JAMES exploded onto the stage with the song Fallen. With guttural screams, head banging and rap filled verses, this was the textbook example of just how to blend two genres together. The live band allows the metal riffs to shine through whilst the vocalist has vocals that just lend to this hybrid of clean screams and sharp raps, that would leave any veteran vocalist wishing they had this much stage presence. The artist hails himself as a blend of anarchy, black culture, and metal music and this couldn't have been more accurate throughout the show as mosh pits are incited and statements are made throughout. Every breakdown felt like a rumble of thunder and every slick verse came with such precision you couldn't help but wonder how he had only been playing live with the band for such a short time.

Throwing back to his initial singles, the songs Mugen Train and Hammer showcased that the talent didn’t develop slowly over time, it was there from the beginning. And it’s only getting better as he went from strength to strength with songs off his new EP such as GTFU and Do What You Want. The former allowing NATIVE JAMES to get the crowd jumping and the latter getting the crowd chanting as the bass line pumped through your chest. 

Between songs, the vocalist and the band interacted with the crowd like old friends; cracking jokes and bringing the audience into such camaraderie that left the whole venue moving around together. The moment the last song came to an end, you could feel that this show wasn't quite over, despite what the setlist said, with the audience demanding an encore. With so few songs to his name, the vocalist allowed the audience to pick what song was repeated, which resulted in the venue coming alive one last time. 

NATIVE JAMES is an artist that needs to be on everyone's radar. With announcements for shows and festivals such as Download 2026, the only way is up for this genre defying project. Add him to your Spotify list, check him out at a show, just don't skip him as NATIVE JAMES is causing a disruption to the scene and you don't want to miss out. 

Words: Laura Davies, Lauren Wenham

Photos: Lauren Wenham