What went down at Huck’s Issue 82 launch party

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.

• Read next: Kojey Radical will never look down

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).

• Read next: Graham Sayle opens up

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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