Gig Review: Ninajirachi at Strange Brew Bristol
Credit: Aria Zarzycki
There was a tense energy in the air last Saturday outside of Bristol’s Strange Brew. A steady moving line of individuals dressed in graphic tees and unnecessary sunglasses shifted from left to right with their phones in their hands. It was just announced that the two support acts for Ritual Union’s sold out afterparty ‘Afterglow’ (Kavari and Laces) had pulled out of performing, and we were in the queue for the very show. It was freezing out at 11PM, despite the promise of Spring around the corner, and I was running off two buzzballs and the warmth of a sheer bolero, but this tense energy was bundled so tightly with excitement and anticipation that the lines blurred. The energy was big, whatever it was.
Credit: Passive Kneeling
Strange Brew initially seemed an interesting choice to me for Ninajirachi’s first ever UK tour (moodily lit and adorned with precarious looking props), but any doubts I had were immediately thrown out the steamed-up window. The vacant decks were backlit by retro Pokemon gameplay projected onto the wall as the stream of entrants bought tongue in cheek merch (a t-shirt that says in big letters “I LOVE MY COMPUTER”? Yes please) and ordered pint upon pint. Any sort of anxious anticipation I felt from the lack of support gradually drifted away, aided by the warm glow of big lamps and a fantastic pre-show playlist. Like an excited, tipsy moth, I was drawn into the spectacle of the lights and colours. By the time Nina took to the stage, I knew we were in for a treat, the vibes were already immaculate, but I had no idea how heated things were about to get.
When it comes to electronic music being performed live, there’s a lot of talk that distills into the “but what do DJs actually do?” argument. I have to admit, I’ve sometimes shared this somewhat cynical viewpoint, but usually this is off the back of a disappointing set. And this was not a disappointing set. Ninajirachi brought a cultivated vibe that turned warm, cosy Strange Brew into a living, breathing, jumping, screaming organism. Opening her set with the scratchy, glitchy hit ‘London Song’, the room instantly erupted into a wave of bodies moving with a fresh hit of energy. Straight away, half a pint was down my front and I found myself in the middle of a mosh pit, for the first time in years. I didn’t expect to be moshing to EDM at the age of twenty five, but I have never felt more young, wild, and free than when I was screaming in response to Nina’s question of “Who here is a girl!?”.
Staying in the thick of the crowd for an hour and a half, I found every song delectable to jump to. Every song played from her monumental 2025 album ‘I Love My Computer’ resonated with the young crowd, and every back catalogue hit was met with the same level of euphoria. Arguably her biggest hit ‘Fuck My Computer’ was followed immediately by the Frost Children remix of the same song, and if this was a different artist maybe I’d have something snide to say here (think 2hollis playing ‘Jeans’ seven times back to back), but I genuinely wouldn’t want it any other way. I was so locked in that I imagine it’s how people at Burning Man feel after experiencing ego death in front of a big mechanical spider or something.
I first discovered the Australian DJ and producer through a close friend; he sent me her album and said something along the lines of ‘this is your vibe’. After listening to ‘I Love My Computer’ once, I listened constantly, unable to dip into anything else, and to see her live is the same continuous burst of fast-moving sparkling danciness but times a hundred. It’s so empowering to see such a talented, young female producer making impactful, rapid waves worldwide and I’m sure she’ll be headlining many more stages in the future. Two days on, and my feet still hurt, I’m still finding glitter around my eyes, and I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I love my computer! Girl EDM forever!
Written by Katie Coxall
Opinion
