Tinie Tempah has warned that young people are “losing that physical connection” by not engaging with the UK’s nightlife economy, as he returns to music after a hiatus focused on fatherhood. The 36-year-old rapper from south London is backing the Night Time Industries Association’s (NTIA) The Last Night Out campaign, which encourages people to swap screens for dance floors.
“As a dad, I’ve seen how different things are for this generation,” said Tempah, who has not released a studio album since 2017’s Youth. “We’re losing that physical connection, the joy and energy that you get from dancing, meeting new people from all backgrounds and being free.”
The campaign calls on the Government to provide urgent financial support for night-time venues and cultural protection for “iconic clubs”. NTIA data from last year showed 37% of nightclubs had closed across the UK since March 2020.
Tempah has returned to the studio and is developing collaborations with gaming platforms Roblox and Fortnite to integrate music and virtual life. He is also creating a short film and a series of live events focused on “driving energetic movement and nightlife”, to be unveiled at SXSW London on Friday.
He will be joined at London nightclub XOYO by NTIA chief executive Michael Kill, musician and DJ Majestic, and BBC Radio 1 DJ Charlie Tee for a “one-off evening of music, culture and conversation about the future of the UK’s night-time economy”.
Michael Kill said: “It’s been amazing to see how Tinie Tempah has resonated with The Last Night Out’s message. He really understands what’s at stake – not just for club culture, but for society.”
