London has never needed much encouragement to stay out late. But when CHANEL touches down at one of London’s most storied venues for the launch of Coco Mademoiselle Crush Absolu, and brings together some of the city’s most exciting musical talent with actors, artists, dancers and club kids, calling it just another night out doesn’t quite cut it.
CHANEL Beauty just collaborated with KOKO for a night centred around music, nightlife and culture, to celebrate the launch of its new fragrance, Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Crush Absolu, bringing a distinctly Parisian touch to Camden and turning the 125-year-old venue into the setting for its latest “Legendary Night.”
And legendary is a word KOKO knows well. Over more than a century, the venue has existed in countless forms and welcomed generations of cultural disruptors through its doors. From The Rolling Stones and Madonna to Amy Winehouse, its history is intertwined with the artists and scenes that have shaped London after dark. And for one night, CHANEL added another chapter.
The evening began with Grammy-winning duo Blue Lab Beats, whose jazz-inflected sound eased the room into proceedings before things quickly moved through the gears. A high-energy dance performance followed, transforming the space from gig venue into a full-blown spectacle.
Jacob Lusk, the frontman of Gabriels, then brought the drama with a towering vocal performance that dipped into the grandeur and emotion of classic soul and disco, with his rendition of Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Crush’s campaign track, “Young Hearts Run Free”. From there, the night moved firmly onto the dance floor. Producer and DJ Lil Silva brought his collision of electronic music and R&B into the mix, while MJ Cole added another name synonymous with British club culture to the evening.
The line-up continued to move across genres and generations. Sampha joined a bill stacked with some of the most distinctive voices in contemporary British music, while rapper, producer and poet John Glacier brought her own left-field energy to KOKO, performing “Lemon Til We Rise” and her track “Bond Girl”.
The crowd reflected that same cross-section of London culture. Anaïs Gallagher, Chloe Qisha, Earl Cave, Francesca Hayward, Greta Bellamacina, Griff, Haley Bennett, Jacoténe, Joy Crookes, Kim Turnbull, Lennon Gallagher, Lou Llobell, Ella-Rae Smith, Nia Smith, Sebastian Croft and Sophie Cookson were among those who descended on Camden for the night, bringing together faces from music, film, fashion and the arts under one roof.
By the time the party stretched towards midnight, the idea of the “crush” had taken on another meaning. This was CHANEL’s crush on London and London’s crush on the night itself: a packed KOKO, a cross-section of the city’s creative community and a line-up that moved effortlessly between jazz, soul, rap, electronic music and the dance floor.
For a few hours in Camden, Paris met London, CHANEL met KOKO and the city belonged to everyone inside. Consider London officially crushed.
