Mike Skinner with The Streets live in London, 2023 (Adam Hampton-Matthews)
The Streets played London last night, November 16th.
Mike Skinner is out touring after the release of his first album with The Streets in nearly a decade earlier this year; The Darker The Shadow, The Brighter The Light a multi-media affair which seamlessly brought together audio and visual mediums.
“It has been seven long years working on this film and album,” Skinner has said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and after dipping my toe in with some shorts and music videos, I felt I was ready.”
I tried to go the traditional route for a bit, but it’s always served me better to follow my instincts and just get on with it myself, so I’ve directed it, acted in it, edited, sound mixed, funded, produced it all as well as written it. The album doesn’t exist without it.
“Ultimately it’s all the fruits of a decade on the DJ circuit, watching people in clubs and back rooms, testing out beats and basslines to see what connected – and putting it all together into The Darker The Shadow The Brighter The Light.”