Inside the World of ix & uyi: An Intimate Live Experience

Through their collaborative project, it’s over, we tried, the rising Birmingham duo blur the lines between audience and artist, fusing raw emotion, community, and innovation into a groundbreaking live experience. 

In a world that often feels increasingly stripped of humanity, emotion, and genuine feeling, UYI and IX, two rising artists from Birmingham, have joined forces to create a powerful immersive live show and two-track EP that aims to reignite both. Their message is clear: “Make Something, Feel Something.” 

UYI first captured citywide and national attention with his 2019 single ‘Island’ featuring Lowki, a deeply reflective track exploring his upbringing in the UK. Known for weaving layered, conscious lyricism into his work, often compared to artists like Loyle Carner and Kofi Stone, UYI’s music challenges listeners to pause, think, and feel. Beyond his solo work, he’s become a pillar of Birmingham’s creative scene, founding The Neighbourhood, a celebrated soul and urban music night at the iconic The Night Owl. His grime and jazz fusion 2025 release K.M.F. further cemented his reputation for combining introspection with innovation. 

IX, meanwhile, has been honing his craft since the age of 13, drawing influence from artists like Jim Legxacy, Mk.gee, Dijon, and Frank Ocean. His distinctive sound first caught our attention with his 2025 EP Luvmore!, which showcased his ability to blend raw vulnerability with experimental textures. 

it’s over, we tried is a two-track collaborative project that introduces UYI and IX as a duo with the potential to set a new standard for rapper-singer partnerships in the UK. It begins with ‘Still Divided’, an upbeat alternative R&B song layered with afrobeats and pop influences, where both artists effortlessly bounce off each other’s energy. The track offers a retrospective look at a fractured relationship, with UYI commanding the verses as he captures the frustration of loving someone whose commitment feels uncertain. 

The second track, ‘Change’, is IX’s breakthrough moment as a producer, singer, and writer. It’s a raw, heartfelt reflection on wanting to love and change for someone, while feeling the strain of forcing that change, carried by layered, intimate vocals reminiscent of Endless by Frank Ocean and Absolutely by Dijon. 

On 28th August, UYI and IX hosted a live immersive experience to celebrate the upcoming release of their EP. I had the chance to attend, and it truly stood out as one of the most unifying and unique events I’ve experienced. Set in the artistic quarter of Digbeth, Birmingham, the night felt less like a typical gig and more like a curated emotional journey through their world, personal, tactile, and collaborative in every sense. 

The experience was divided into three stations, each offering a different perspective on their artistry. The first station invited us to listen to the raw demos of the EP, with the condition that we only hear one track per listen. What made this moment unforgettable was the use of old portable CD players, which instantly sparked a sense of nostalgia and intimacy. Listening to the early versions, we could hear the unfiltered emotion in IX’s vocals and the original verses from UYI, as if we were being let into their private world, witnessing the friendship and creative chemistry that shaped these tracks. 

The second station shifted from listening to creating together. We were encouraged to respond to the music by contributing to a collaborative canvas, using paints and brushes provided on-site. Everyone added their own marks: colours, shapes, fragments of words and what emerged was a collective emotional map of the night. It felt less like an activity and more like a shared act of expression, a way of becoming part of their artistic process. By the end, the canvas stood as a physical imprint of the emotions stirred up by the performance, a moment of community preserved in paint. 

The final station was where the live performance took place, inside a space designed to feel like a homemade studio, scattered with lamps, a laptop, MIDI keyboards, an equaliser, and a piano. It had a warm DIY atmosphere that revealed the deep creative connection between UYI and IX, not just as collaborators but as individuals. When they performed, it wasn’t just playing pre-built 

tracks; they constructed each song live from scratch, layering loops, chords, vocals and beats right in front of us. It was like watching scientists at work in a sound lab. They performed three songs: ‘Still Divided’ and ‘Change’ from their EP, followed by a powerful cover of Miley Cyrus’ ‘The Climb’. The standout moment of the night was IX’s and UYI’s heartfelt rendition of ‘Change’, where IX poured raw emotion into every note of the chorus. We were visibly moved as the room fell silent. 

For the Birmingham music scene, this felt entirely new, a performance that blurred the line between audience and artist, process and product, intimacy and spectacle. It wasn’t just something we watched; it was something we became part of. 

If you want to find more about their movement, check out: makesomethingfeelsomething.com