Filled with a huge array of talent who have been elevated by a supportive fan base, Cross the Tracks was a standout event of the summer so far. With buzzing performances from Masesgo, Nxworries, Devon Gilfillian, Ezra Collective, Kelis, Bina & many more exciting musical voices, the vibes were there in full force. The standout set for me was Masesgo, one of those rare artists who is able to effortlessly infuse genres to embody a new cultural narrative. Masego looks to artist’s such as André 3000 and Cab Calloway to influence his unique intersectionality of cross-cultural experiences, which he then develops into a sound he calls ‘TrapHouseJazz’. His set mixed immersive music arrangements from songs like ‘Mystery Lady', and his well known track ‘Tadow’ that amplified his musical journey.

The energy and support from the crowd did not fail. They did a brilliant job of celebrating every artist and welcoming the different sounds that were performed and experimented with. It was a beautiful experience knowing that we all came together to listen to our favourite artists perform and in that moment, our focus was to presently tune in.

Cross the Tracks represents a mixture of communities from the soul music tribe, neo soul, traphousejazz and new emerging artists coming together and sharing a variety of music. Merging these different communities and sharing their sounds through listening or creating was an intimate and memorable experience. It also represented friendship. Experiencing this incredible place with your familiars but also with such friendly strangers made it all the more special. Whether you come by yourself or with a friend, you’ll end up connecting with someone who shares the same love of these expansive genres as you.

I think the artists at Cross the Tracks were able to create such a specific energy with their sounds and performances because they are artists who stay true to who they are in terms of their art, music and values. They create a sense of authenticity that resonates with audiences.

- Elizabeth Adeleke