There are artists who arrive already formed\, and others who seem to unfold in public\, still becoming. Venna feels closer t o the latter. This November\, Venna brings that world to Melbourne.
A Grammy Award-winning South London saxophonist\, producer\, and composer\, Venna has built a language that doesn&rsquo\;t sit neatly insi de genre. It drifts between UK rap\, drill\, hip-hop\, jazz and something more open-ended. Less a fusion than a flow state\, resisting definition be cause it was never designed to be contained.
He began play ing piano at six and took up the alto saxophone at twelve\, early enough f or music to feel instinctive rather than learned. Since then\, Venna&rsquo \;s saxophone and musical sensibility have moved through a widening circle of contemporary artists. His horn work is most clearly heard on Burna Boy &rsquo\;s Alarm Clock from the Grammy Award-winning Twice As Tall\, while his broader creative presence has shaped projects alongside Wizkid\, Knuck s and longtime collaborator Yussef Dayes. Whether audible or unseen\, Venn a&rsquo\;s contribution often lives in the atmosphere of the record\, shap ing tone and feeling without asking to be foregrounded.
No w\, with his debut album MALIK\, that presence turns inward. The album mov es like a conversation with that identity. Featuring Jorja Smith\, Leon Th omas\, Smino\, MIKE\, Cari\, and Venna himself\, MALIK dissolves the edges between player\, producer\, composer and voice. Built with collaborators including Rocco Palladino\, Elijah Fox\, AoD\, J Warner\, Marco Bernardis and Yussef Dayes\, it holds a collective memory inside it.
Jazz is present\, but it is not the boundary. Neither is R&\;B\, soul\ , bossa nova or rap. Instead\, MALIK feels like something being passed thr ough Venna rather than built by him alone.
He describes hi mself as a vessel of music\, a stream of consciousness moving through him while he creates\, a life force present in the room. He speaks to a belief that something larger is at work when he makes music\, allowing him to st ay open to whatever emerges and to express himself without limitation.
There is a rarity in artists who work this way. A sense that what you are hearing is not constructed\, but received. In that space\, Ve nna&rsquo\;s music becomes less about performance and more about presence.
We acknowledge that this event will be held on Wurundjeri land of the Kulin Nation and recognise that so vereignty was never ceded. We pay our respects to their Elders\, past\, pr esent and emerging.
TICKETING INFO
Set times are subject to change.
When ticket
sales have closed on the day of the show they may still be available at th
e door.
Once purchased tickets are non- refundable &\; non-transferable
A bo oking fee applies to all advance tickets.
VENUE INFO
Photo ID is essential\, acceptable ID is a
current and valid Australian Photo Drivers Licence or Passport
The ven
ue reserves the right to refuse admission to any person.
Intoxicated pe
rsons will not be admitted.
Dangerous behaviour including Crowd Surfing
\, Stage Diving\, Moshing and Violent Dancing is not allowed and will resu
lt in your immediate removal from this venue.
Inappropriate behaviour a
t this venue will lead to your banning.
This organisation is supporte d by the Victorian Government through the Community Support Fund and Creat ive Victoria\, delivered by Music Victoria.