On Sunday, the 21st of June, Spotify Presents hosted Asake One Night Only at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The exclusive black-tie event was invitation-only for Asake’s fans, friends, and family.
The evening was strikingly hot as I arrived for the event. The queue was not too long, and every guest was adorned in their Sunday best; women wore sequined full-length dresses, and the men in sleek tuxedos. Nobody came to play.
Asake’s first live performance of his latest album M$NEY was elegant and exuded black excellence. With a stellar guest list of black Britons, entertainment figures, and hardcore fans alike, the energy bubbled with excitement as conversations bubbled throughout the theatre.
Notably present in attendance were music artist Ivorian Doll, as well as public figures Adeola Patronne and Mariam Musa. Close by was PapZ, a TikTok star and comedic actor, and Charlie Mase, both an entertainer and presenter. The women of the award-winning comedy podcast UNCUT, Sharon Odu, Tammy Montero, and Beatrice Akins, were also present, alongside many others.
Carrying a long legacy of London’s changing entertainment scene throughout history, the Theatre Royal has hosted some of the biggest West End musicals and plays for over 300 years. That night, Asake joined their acclaimed roster.
The venue itself was a showcase of Asake’s growing superstardom. The edifice evinced affluence and luxury— the core theme of Asake’s sound in this new chapter of his musical journey.
Released under his independent label Giran Republic on May 1st 2026, Asake continues to explore his unique blend of Afropiano and Fuji sounds. Compared to his previous projects, Lungu Boy (2024) and Work of Art (2023), M$NEY takes a slower pace infused with classical and smooth jazz stylings. Nonetheless, this style continues the incorporation of genre-blending sounds we’ve seen throughout his career.
As attendees crowded the nooks and crannies of the Theatre Royal marble foyer, with its historically charming balconies and neoclassical-style bars, I sat down as conversations murmured around me. Topics of holidays and projects people bounced around as we all waited in anticipation for the event’s commencement.
I caught the tail end of a discussion about Fete de la Musique taking place in Paris, the world music day originated in France, where music lovers take to the streets to enjoy music. It’s only fitting that Asake’s first performance of his album takes place on a day slated to appreciate music globally.
The stunning venue, well-dressed attendees, and anticipation for Asake’s first performance of his latest project made for a great night of good music.
Starting the show with already released songs from the 13-track record, Asake stunned the crowd once more with four unreleased songs. It didn’t take long for everyone who was seated to get right back up again, dancing and singing with renewed fervour.
One would never know that this latest project received mixed reviews from critics, the way people jumped out of their seats for track favourites ‘WORSHIP’, ‘BADMAN GANGSTA’, and ‘WHY LOVE’.
As the performance went on, nearly everyone in the hall was still on their feet, dancing and singing the lyrics with ease, going crazy for the track Afropiano ‘Wa’ with his Yoruba-infused lyricism.
You can already see how a track like ‘WHY LOVE’ will be a crowd favourite as he goes on his ‘In God We Trust Tour’ starting in October of this year.
Asake ends his artful performance with the final song on the Album ‘Skilful’ as the orchestra plays him out, everyone roared in applause.
The attendees all filtered out of the theatre feeling fully gratified, knowing that we had just experienced the performance of a lifetime. One guest notes with all sincerity: ‘I don’t just understand his music, I feel it.’
With the full concert experience arriving on Spotify soon, and his ‘In God We Trust Tour’ kicking off in October, Asake proves once more that M$NEY really does make the world go round.