It’s quite ironic that teenagers Phineas Waweru and Joshua Somerkun (aka A1 x J1) met online, when you consider how unbelievably IRL their friendship is now. After meeting on a video chat app during lockdown and bonding over their shared passion for music, the duo began recording freestyles together and posting them across the internet. Next thing you know, they exploded.

Last year’s debut single, “Latest Trends” was a vibrant and energetic slice of melodic rap that cemented their arrival on the scene, and rose to #2 in the UK charts. Since then, they’ve dropped four more bangers and collaborated with some of the biggest names in rap. The world has fallen in love with these two largely because they’ve injected a positive and feel-good energy into the UK scene, one that has garnered them sell out audiences at live shows and festivals.

Now, A1 x J1 are one of the numerous acts collaborating with New Era on 2022’s campaign, ‘Now Playing’. The driving idea behind the project is to explore how artists around Europe tap into their playful side and unleash their creative spirit. For A1 x J1, this happens at their live shows. The gigs are when the fans get a chance to pay some positivity back to the duo. A1 x J1 performances have become renowned for being joyful and high energy parties, with their lyrics booming out from the thousands that come, and mosh pits forming during every big tune.

A wave of support has carried the duo to where they are today, and they aren’t shy about giving back. Early in their career, A1 x J1 were given some invaluable co-signs by big names, and it helped establish them on the scene. Now, they want to do the same for other young artists. As part of their collab with New Era, the duo chose a young and upcoming artist (the London rapper, Cain) to invite to their studio and work on a track together (which you can hear on the video below). On top of that, New Era will be donating funds to their chosen charity: Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF), who focus on creatively empowering young people in hard-to-reach areas.

Perhaps, one day, some of these kids will end up performing on the same stages that have carried A1 x J1 from small shows with friends to playing at Wembley for 10,000. For now, we had a chat with the duo about the magic of performing live and how they prepare themselves to get up there.

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