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What went down at Huck’s Issue 82 launch party

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Three men posing together indoors - one in plaid jacket, one in dark tracksuit with sunglasses and dreadlocks, one in brown jumper.
Dani d’Ingeo

Gems & mems — With an insightful Q&A featuring High Vis’ Graham Sayle and cover star Kojey Radical, along with headsy bass music from Manami and grooves from DJ.FINAL3.INDD, it was an evening to celebrate music, print and community.

This week, we celebrated the launch of Huck 82: The Music Issue the best way we know how: with a big old bash in Shoreditch. The Photobook Café was heaving as Huck’s friends, contributors, readers and team packed in to raise a pint to independent media, IRL.

Drinks and fresh copies of the mag flowed. Guests spilled out onto Leonard Street, as we kicked off the night with a set from Huck’s own designer Sam – aka DJFinal3.indd – setting the tone on the decks.

Downstairs, a Q&A with cover star Kojey Radical and High Vis frontman Graham Sayle got into action. Hosted by Huck’s editor Josh Jones, the pair dug into imposter syndrome within the music industry, creative burnout and being vulnerable in their lyrics.

Display case with two shelves of comic books in protective sleeves, orange and dark red backgrounds, green price labels below.
Bearded man in glasses holds Huck magazine and beer bottle in bookshop with shelves of books and hanging plants behind him.
DJ in black t-shirt mixing music at turntables, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, holding pint glass, exposed ductwork overhead.
Four people standing in record shop with vinyl albums on shelves behind them, holding drinks and smiling at camera.
Interior of bookshop with shelves of books, magazines in window display, exposed metallic ductwork on ceiling, warm lighting, and person browsing.
Woman in blue coat interviewing younger woman in white hoodie with microphone outside restaurant at night.
Three women socialising with drinks in dimly lit venue beneath large screen displaying film scene with man holding weapon.
Woman wearing face mask at desk with lamp facing man in purple striped jumper, both seated at black table in white room.
Woman with long blonde hair holding white t-shirt reading "Reading this is an act of resistance" in restaurant interior.
Two people celebrating with raised arms, wearing white "RESOLVED" t-shirts and caps, standing on a street at night with buildings behind.
Black man wearing glasses and beanie smiling, wearing dark jacket with white stripes, yellow drink with straw nearby, blurred figures behind
Man with dreadlocks and sunglasses smiling at Q&A event, seated at table with others, projection screen shows "Q&A with Kojey Radical & Graham Sayle"
Woman using DJ mixing console with blue LED lights in bookshop surrounded by bookshelves and magazines.
Two women at newsstand counter with magazines displayed on shelves behind them, books visible on upper right shelving.
Woman sitting at table in bookshop surrounded by bookshelves, with blurred figures in foreground.
Three men seated on stage during panel discussion, projection screen behind showing event title, audience member visible in foreground.

Photos by Ella Glossop

“I feel like I’ll try and get to the end of every album and the aim is to feel empty, like I have nothing left to say,” said Kojey. ​“Everyone assumes I’ve done the therapy thing and worked out my demons. But I haven’t – I feel like I’d make shorter albums if I went to therapy!”

“It feels cathartic to sing about those things,” added Graham. ​“At least you’re doing something with that energy rather than just holding it inside.”

Meanwhile, Drip by Lum brought a flash of sparkle to the basement with live tooth gemming (yes, Kojey also left the party one gem richer).

White fluffy dog on wooden floor beneath desk with magazines, glass bottle, and recording equipment in dimly lit room.
Person in white baseball cap with orange eye logo, touching cap brim, wearing black leather jacket and white shirt with gold necklace.
Group of young people sitting at table in pub with drinks, orange walls with posters, dark ceiling beams visible above.
Three people sitting at pub table with drinks. Woman with long dreadlocks in centre wearing grey top. Green "HUCK 82" posters on wall behind.
Blonde woman in white top reading magazine at wooden table, dark shelving with magazines and plants behind, glass and bag visible.
Dental professional in face mask and glasses examining patient wearing black t-shirt reading "YOU COULD BE WATCHING YOUR VIDEOS AND I'M DEAD" at tooth gem station.
Record shop interior with customers browsing. Large lime green "THE MUSIC ISSUE" sign on wall, orange sections visible. Industrial ceiling with pendant lamp.
Person in red shirt holding magazine and drink, with someone in striped shirt visible in background.
Woman wearing headphones and brown hoodie operating Pioneer DJ controller in bookshop with shelves and magazines visible behind her.
Two men standing together indoors - one wearing dark tracksuit with white stripes and sunglasses, other in brown jumper.
Group of young people gathered in cramped white-walled room with exposed ceiling beams, some sitting, others standing, holding drinks.
Group of people socialising at indoor gathering, man in brown jumper talking to man in green cap and checked shirt, white walls visible.
Two men seated on stools during presentation, one in dark tracksuit speaking into microphone, audience members visible in foreground.
Bright yellow promotional posters on wall advertising Huck magazine issue 82 with bold black text. Person's foot in red trainers visible at bottom.
Two women holding drinks beneath large "LAUNCH PARTY" sign, with green promotional posters visible on right side.
White baseball cap with orange circular logo, glass with amber liquid, magazine, and yellow sticky notes on wooden table surface.
Group of people in dimly lit pub with hanging lanterns. Woman in black leather jacket holds beer glass, surrounded by men in casual clothing.
Woman with long dark hair reading magazine at night, wearing brown jacket. Person in striped top visible in background.
Man in dark t-shirt with "Reading this is an act of resistance" text, standing near magazines and posters on wall behind him.
Three young men in casual clothing inside a record shop with magazine racks and shelving visible in background.

Photos by Dani d’Ingeo.

To round off the evening, Tokyo-born, London-based selector Manami took to the decks. Known for her fluid shifts between techno, dubstep and off-beat UK bass, Manami has become a fixture of the underground. As she told Huck in her recent interview, the rise of East and Southeast Asian creatives in the UK club scene has been powerful to witness: ​“I’ve absolutely loved seeing more Asian people, particularly women, come to the front at my shows. They often say they don’t see many East Asian DJs, women or gender minorities – so how nice it is to come out and see me play.”

Over the night, a few lucky guests got to preview some of Huck’s upcoming merch. ​“Reading this is a radical act,” reads the Sean Adams quote from his Q&A in the new issue. And in an age when our attention is constantly up for grabs by big online platforms, sitting down with a print magazine – and celebrating it together in real life – still feels pretty radical.

Ella Glossop is Huck’s social editor. Follow her on Bluesky.

Buy your copy of Huck 82 here.

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