Gig review: JayaHadADream at Metronome

I arrive at Metronome shortly after doors open at 7pm. Already, a few revellers are waiting in the foyer, drinks in hand, some of them wearing tops that read "SYMS". I overhear conversations, “Saw her at HockleyHustle a few years ago and she was incredible then”. They are, of course, talking about Jaya, stage name Jayahadadream, the very artist I am lucky enough to be seeing tonight.

While I wait among them for the first support act of the night, I take the time to read LeftLion's interview with Jaya. After watching part of her Beat the Streets set earlier this year, I was transfixed by her lyrics that have the poignancy of spoken word poetry and the energy of a racecar. I was eager to see her perform again in full. 

After reading the interview, I step into the main dancefloor and find my spot among the mixed crowd. First support, R&B singer Courtney infuses the room with old and new school energy with tracks such as Made it like that and So Fine as well as some unreleased music.

Second support act Armor performs tracks from his upcoming project, Excuse my Mess, including Hood Anxiety, Don’t Leave Me Hanging and Menu Right Now. Jaya can be seen supporting both acts from the crowd, dancing, chanting and bringing the vibes.

Winning the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition in 2024 saw her open the Woodsies stage for the prestigious festival, performing to hundreds of people. Even before this, Jaya had been pioneering new paths in the rap scene with singles and music sets. Tonight, the second night of her headline UK Tour, she is back in Nottingham, performing tracks from her debut album, Happiness from Agony.

Her set opens with State of the World, a song which demonstrates Jaya’s strength as an introspective rapper. The song settles into itself, opening with an emotive monologue from Jaya’s nan, before going on to discuss the difficulty of trying to find your place in a world that seems to be in such a state. It's a song that seems to say my place in the world is both with you and out there, and I just have to make it, a song that sings true to Jaya’s talent and the triumph she is having with it, while acknowledging the pressures and the anxieties that come with making it.

Jaya delivers her lyrics with high energy, a sound that serves to instantly hype the crowd up and get them hearing what she is trying to say. "SYMS", the acronym I had seen people wearing on tops earlier, stands for Suck Ya Mum Season, a high energy song when it comes to the chorus, especially with Jaya encouraging the crowd to chant back "Season" and "Reason". It’s fun and it brings us closer, revelling in the interaction. A similar energy is felt in Sick of the Chatter, with lines easily chanted back. The dance/electronic influence shines through on this song, hyping the crowd up as much as Jaya’s quick witted lyrics. The audience is also treated to her verse on Frisco’s song Owe Me One featuring JME and FLOWDAN. Experimenting with various production types throughout the mixtape, every style seems to land with the crowd, who reflect her energy either through dance or by belting the lyrics back.

The harmony between Jaya and the crowd demonstrates her ability to bring people together, a sign that music can take a step towards breaking down stereotypes and conquering disillusionment. This rings throughout her tracks. If it Ain't is especially moving, the crowd swaying as Jaya sings about the people we could all be, the people that are the type we all need; reliable, trustworthy, supportive.

Many of her songs are sociological, each providing a platform for Jaya’s social activism. Describing herself as once a "shy girl", her songs gave her the voice she had never felt she could have before. In previous interviews, Jaya has mentioned how she infuses her songs with "the strength and resilience of her Jamaican and Irish upbringing", using her music intentionally, celebrating her culture through sound whilst discussing the alienation and verbal attacks from other people.

Jaya normally doesn’t introduce songs - she doesn’t need to - but before rapping the next one she mentions, “This song is close to my heart lyrically because it is taken from my life and I didn't believe anyone else would resonate with it, until Giggs, Emelie Sande, Fred again said they liked it”.

She is of course talking about Nothing’s Changed. It's a song that connects through its ability to give sound to that feeling of inner bleakness, planted by external forces. It calls out attacks on identity, adding to the element of not knowing where you belong. You feel as though you're doing everything you can to build a home, but this very act is seen as one of defiance by those trying to reduce your identity to a box. As the pressure increases, your drive must push back. Jaya is doing exactly that, proven by her headline tour bringing old and new faces to the crowd.

Happiness from Agony gives this message prominence, with songs such as State of the World and At the Abbey discussing the political climate of the UK. At the Abbey is poignant both because of its lyrics and also because of its premise. Set in Jaya’s home City, Cambridge, this song shares what Jaya calls "the grittiness you don’t get to see".

Before playing her final songs Jaya looks out into the crowd, all shining their lights, filming or dancing and says, “It really does take a village to raise an artist and you guys are my village so thank you so much for being here, thank you to the team here at Metronome”.

But it’s because of her music we are here. Happiness from Agony serves as a reminder that perseverance in the face of adversity pays off, so really we should be thanking her.

As the final bars from the closing song Twiggy linger on, Jaya leaves the stage filled with support acts as well as other rappers such as Queen Millz, who perform a grime set to end the night (photos further below).

JayaHadADream performed at Metronome on 7th November 2025, with support from Armor and Courtney.

@jayahadadream