I’ll never forget the first time I heard Majid Jordan. In July 2014, I was watching Much Music & the music video for their song “A Place Like This” came on. I had never heard anything like it. It sounded like the kind of song you’d vibe to at a house party or on a late night drive. It was unique and alluring. Their music sounds like what a deep, mature kind of romantic love feels like. That’s when I instantly became a fan. 

Majid Jordan is a Toronto-based duo made up by vocalist Majid Al Maskati and producer Jordan Ullman. The two met at Majid’s birthday party and quickly began making music together. From Jordan’s parent’s basement to packed shows around the world, the pair have stuck together. Their second EP, A Place Like This is what I (and many other fans) heard for the first time. Throughout the years, they have worked with Drake, Swae Lee, Khalid, and even performed at Tyler, the Creator’s festival, Camp Flog Naw. The duo has built a loyal following and established their sensual, yet groovy sound.

Their show in Toronto was the last stop on their Wildest Dreams tour. It was held in Massey Hall, a smaller venue known for its incredible acoustics. I was happy about this because I knew it guaranteed an intimate experience, unlike shows at large stadiums. The seating was shaped like a semi-circle around a moderately-sized stage. It felt like a pop-up show as opposed to a concert for a tour, in a positive way. The acoustics lived up to my expectations, and the vocals filled up the room completely. I was lucky enough to be in the front row for the concert and had a prime spot against the barricade. I had very high expectations for Majid Jordan’s performance. Safe to say they delivered. 

The opening act was a DJ named Jayemkayem, and unfortunately, very few attendees seemed to enjoy the set (I was not one of them). The song choices she made for the set were quite bizarre. For example, she mixed Heartbreak Anniversary by Giveon with a trap beat, then segued into The Box by Roddy Ricch mixed with a tropical/dancehall type beat. It threw everyone in the crowd for a loop, and didn’t seem to accomplish the goal of revving the crowd up for the headliners. I can say honestly that there were only two songs in the set that the crowd seemed to genuinely enjoy, and in a set with dozens of songs, that’s just not enough to keep a crowd engaged. It didn’t help that the DJ acted like she didn’t want to be there. She pulled out her phone to send a text twice, only smiled a few times, and didn’t seem to vibe with the music she was playing. Honestly, having to stand through that set was a little painful. Thankfully, Majid Jordan came out shortly after, and the energy in the room completely changed.

They began with Dancing on a Dream off their new album Wildest Dreams. Everyone was dancing, vibing and completely mesmerized by Majid. His stage presence was electric and he interacted with everyone, from the barricade to all the way up in the balcony. His vocals are so distinctively charming, even better than his studio recordings. Majid had the entire crowd moving and belting out the words to every song. His high energy coupled with his genuine interaction with the crowd made this concert truly unforgettable; not one section was neglected. He even knelt down to sing to me toward the end of the show (which was definitely the highlight of my night). They performed every song off the album and even performed one of their older but still popular songs, Her. There were a lot of couples in the crowd and I could tell they all were enjoying themselves. 

I also have to mention Jordan’s production and mixing throughout the concert. From the transitions between songs to his engagement with the audience, he did it all seamlessly and kept the energy high and flowing all night. Jordan made sure each song blended in succession. There was never an awkward silence or pause between songs, the whole set flowed seamlessly. He also made sure to interact with the crowd. Whenever people would call his name, wave at him or show him their signs, Jordan would always acknowledge them in some way without missing a beat. Watching them play off each other made me realize they truly are the perfect duo. They were even wearing matching gray suits with the symbol on the cover art of their A Place Like This EP in crystals which was just adorable. 

For my first concert since the pandemic began, Majid Jordan did not disappoint. The show was well-paced and so lively that I didn’t want it to end. The crowd obviously wanted an encore, and the duo returned to perform two songs from their 2017 album, The Space Between, which everybody went insane for. I honestly believe this is one of the best concerts I have ever been to (I might be a little bit biased, but that’s neither here nor there). I am surely counting down the days until their next album and (hopefully), their next tour. Until then, my next concerts are Tyler, the Creator and Tame Impala in March so I’ll see if they’ll be able to top Majid Jordan.