Toby Corton’s Queer Inspired Soundscape: East Croydon artist performs in futuretense free gig series
Photo Credits: Toby Corton, taken by Marc Abe.
On a Thursday evening in early October, the tastefully modernised foyer of Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall filled with a crowd eagerly tuning in to the multi-faceted Toby Corton. His live performance was featured by futuretense, a fortnightly free gig series in collaboration with BBC Music Introducing. The space was open and contemporary, with slick architectural interjections, and engulfed with vast windows that allowed those inside to perceive the peaceful approach of the riverbank. Aided by the colourful preceding tunes of Ley Soul and D’Angelo, the tone was certainly set for Toby Corton’s eloquent performance, in which he demonstrated an unquestionable sincerity in both music and personality.
Corton greeted the stage accompanied by a solemn, minor, keyboard introduction. His attire - a free-flowing, layered, white mesh skirt - echoed the graceful nature of the music that followed. Given the multi-instrumental texture his recorded music habitually contains, it was a pleasant surprise to realise that this set was to be something more stripped-back, comprising solely himself and the accompanying keys player. This provided a unique opportunity for the audience to truly absorb Corton’s tender tone of voice, which blends an indie-pop softness with a jazz-infused nuance.
Having been eased in gently with his first song '407', it felt as though Corton firmly settled into the stage in the second track, 'Roll With It', which was originally released as a single in 2022. Underpinned by a series of driven, jazzy chords, Corton displayed his impressive vocal range, mirroring the rhythmic momentum as it built. His impassioned vocals enhanced the relatable message of the song, which explored the turbulent nature of navigating repeatedly difficult days. The audience was notably drawn in by Corton’s melange of musical talent and unapologetic vulnerability in this song, exemplified by a brief moment of reflective silence prior to a zealous applause.
The set then leaned into a new direction with the following two tracks being unreleased. A momentary interlude saw Corton discussing a personal and disheartening experience which evoked an intimate reflection on acceptance as a Queer individual, detailed lyrically in the succeeding song 'Buy the Boy a Dress'. The emotion was palpable in the music, which presented a jazz-infused, delicately upbeat vibe, whilst lyrically exploring a personal response to a deep-rooted, resonant social injustice. An evocative spoken-word verse punctuated the song, containing powerful lines such as “I won’t be castrated by your antiquity”. Set to be released on an upcoming project, this is assuredly one to look out for.
Corton concluded the show with 'Guessing Games', a song from his 2022 album Some Songs Mixtape. The song encapsulated a warm and laidback energy that traversed the crowd through bouncy, uplifting piano chords and vocals that almost felt conversational. The lyrics presented a narrative about the essence of fragile communication in romance from an honest and independent perspective, allowing the song to feel affectionately wrapped in truth, leaving the evening on a tranquil note.
The performance, though brief, offered a potent glimpse into the music of East London’s Toby Corton. Corton boasts vocal richness and intense lyrical expression, and is set to captivate listeners further as he continues to explore the realms of jazz, indie and popular music. An unequivocally fruitful performer, it will be fascinating to see what he does next.
Edited by Julia Curry - Music Editor
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