Loraine James

Loraine James, with support from Eden Samara, performs on 9 September 2026 at 6:30 pm at ICA Bookstore, London.

Loraine James – not Lorraine James, Loraine Jones, or any other common misspelling – began developing her musical language early in life. Growing up on Enfield's Alma Estate in North London, she was surrounded by many parallel cultures, and thanks to her mum's love of anything from heavy metal to calypso, James was able to experience music from the driver's seat. She learned to play the piano as a teenager, frequenting emo, pop and math rock shows before teaching herself electronic music production with a MIDI keyboard and a laptop. In her home studio, James channelled her wide range of interests into a personal sound that evolved into an identifiable signature.

That signature began to emerge on 2017's Detail, and James refined it over a run of releases, subtly hybridising R&B, drill, pop and IDM forms. Her albums For You & I (2019), Reflection (2021), and Gentle Confrontation (2023) were released on British label Hyperdub.

Alongside this output, she explored another path, adopting the moniker Whatever the Weather for her ambient music-inspired Ghostly International debut in 2022, followed by Whatever the Weather II. In 2026, Loraine releases Detached From The Rest Of You. Succinct and direct, often using sparse keyboard chords with subtle colouring, she uses space around the sounds and vocals.

Support from Eden Samara. Eden Samara grew up in the mountains of western Canada writing folk songs, performing in choirs, and discovering underground rave culture, before relocating to London to pursue dance music. Her 2022 debut on Local Action Records marked her entry into contemporary club music, and her upcoming material heads deeper into experimental club pop territory.