Liverpool musician KOJ will perform at his flagship live event TRiBE on 25th June at 24 Kitchen Street, as a celebration of the release of his new single \u2018Punk Panther\u2019.<\/h4>\nKOJ, who played the \u2018Introducing Stage\u2019 at BBC Radio 1\u2019s Big Weekend last summer, said in an interview with The Guide:<\/h4>\n
\u201cThe expectation of me has gone up (since Radio 1\u2019s Big Weekend) both from my listener base and from my internal team. I\u2019ve been making a lot of music. I\u2019ve been defining my sound more, really focusing on the art itself and how I\u2019m going to package the art as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just one foot in front of the other, my single is coming out on 25th June, and that\u2019s gonna be the sign post for the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve taken music that\u2019s inspired me from when I was a kid, stuff that my dad put me on to. I think the content is very anti-establishment, you know what I mean? very defiant.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s been great about TRiBE recently is that there\u2019s been more and more new faces and I love the idea of new people coming and linking up with the core group that we\u2019ve had coming to every single one of them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe great thing about Liverpool and its listener base, as well as the talent in Liverpool because people have got good taste and they know good music and they know a star when they see one and I think what we do really well with TRiBE is we showcase talent in its purest forms, but we package it in a way where it\u2019s palatable and cohesive for listeners of an eclectic variety of genres.\u201d<\/p>\n TRiBE is designed to celebrate community, collaboration and contemporary Black creativity across the North West.<\/p>\n As part of Liverpool Music Month, TRiBE sits inside a wider city-wide celebration of sound and culture.<\/p>\n This edition of TRiBE will also feature Manchester\u2019s ONEDA and Liverpool\u2019s Finite Experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI started to work on a body of work that would capture sort of where I\u2019m at and my frustrations with what I\u2019m seeing around me.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople aren\u2019t speaking about what we\u2019re seeing and the things we\u2019re living through.<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to redefine my sound and speak on some of these things and ultimately tell people where I\u2019m at now.<\/p>\n \u201cSo this track that\u2019s coming out is going to be a representation of how I\u2019ve grown and changed and what to expect going forward really.\u201d<\/p>\n KOJ from South Liverpool, also visited Austin, Texas to play the South by Southwest festival in March.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a beast to be able to see the Americans be able to take it past the language barrier, it was a nice experience.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was surprising for me was that people weren\u2019t really surprised at all (by my accent) . It was more so just a direct appreciation for what we\u2019d come to do. I was shocked by the lack of shock really.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a really nice moment of validation because it\u2019s one thing pegging away and having compliments from people in and around you, but to have that worldwide recognition in a way, that was a big eye-opener.<\/p>\n \u201cThere aren\u2019t many wins when you\u2019re an underground artist. There\u2019s a lot of grinding and graft, and enjoying your craft and being grateful to have the privilege to be able to express yourself and perform and have people listen to you.<\/p>\n \u201cTo go to the States and perform in the hip-hop capital of the world, that was massive for me.\u201d<\/p>\nSpeaking on the upcoming release of his new single \u2018Punk Panther\u2019 KOJ said:<\/h4>\n
![\"KOJ](\"https:\/\/theguideliverpool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SnapInsta.to_618597690_18197841082333853_4629359157494434317_n.jpg\")
Telling us about that experience, KOJ said:<\/h4>\n
Tickets for TRiBE on 25th June can be purchased here<\/a>.<\/h3>\n
Get the latest music news across Liverpool here<\/a>.<\/h4>\n
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