Jordan Stephens has spoken to NME about finding “the trans community inspiring”, being “aligned” with Kate Nash in their determination to support LGBTQ+ causes, and fight for the survival of grassroots venues.
The rapper and podcast host, who is also one half of Rizzle Kicks, caught up with NME at the Trans Mission show that took place at Wembley Arena on Wednesday (March 11).
Organised by Olly Alexander and Mighty Hoopla’s Glyn Fussell, the gig saw nearly 10,000 fans show up as a “statement that trans people are loved, valued, and celebrated”, and raised funds for non-profit organisations Good Law Project and Not A Phase.
Performers lined up on the night included Wolf Alice, Beth Ditto, Sugababes, Olly Alexander, HAAi, Jasmine.4.T, Kae Tempest, Adam Lambert, Beverley Knight, Romy, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, MNEK and more. There were also a variety of guest speakers including Sir Ian McKellen, Munroe Bergdorf, Nicola Coughlan, Russell Tovey, Tia Kofi, and Green Party leader Zack Polanski.
Among the speakers on the night was Stephens, who appeared on stage alongside bestselling author, screenwriter, and journalist Juno Dawson.
Backstage, the rapper spoke to NME about feeling inspired by the trans community, and explained why he thinks it is so important to stand up for those who are being “targeted” in society.
“ I wanted to get involved tonight because I believe in every individual’s freedom of choice and expression, and I find the trans community quite inspiring,” he explained. “It’s a bit of an overused word, but any human spirit courageous enough to push against the binary and what’s expected of them is really cool. Big up my trans friends and the trans community.”
He also spoke about how music can be vital in helping inspire hope in times of darkness, adding: “I think tonight is confirmation that art is always a really powerful vehicle for, hopefully change, but at the very least community, which should never be understated.
“There are thousands of people together right now listening to music in the name of supporting a very targeted minority, so the energy’s great. It’s no coincidence that art is often pushing for more freedoms rather than less.”
Stephens went on to share that he was excited to see recent NME cover star Rose Gray perform on the night, and hoping to catch up with “my boy Zack Polanski”, who delivered an impassioned speech on the night, calling for solidarity in the face of oppression.
One of the artists Stephens was most excited to see, however, was Kate Nash, who he shared was a kindred spirit.
“I was talking to Kate, who I missed performing – which is annoying because I adore her with all my heart! She’s like my big sister,” he said, before adding how the two are “aligned” in both their support of the LGBTQ+ community and determination to help support grassroots venues across the UK.
“I agree with Kate Nash’s backing of grassroots venues. I’ve even got a tattoo saying, ‘Rescue the roots’ which is for a campaign I’m doing with youth music to raise money for the very same thing,” he said. “So Kate and I are certainly aligned on that mission, and we’re aligned on a lot of things.”
- Read More: The ticket levy that could save grassroots venues and artists: what happens next?
The ‘Rescue The Roots’ campaign was launched by Youth Music last March, and aims to protect local music venues through donations – with Youth Music matching every pound raised up to £1million. All of these funds are then distributed to youth organisations and emerging young creatives who are in urgent need of support.
Shortly before it launched, Nash made headlines of her own at the end of 2024 when she started her ‘Butts for Tour Buses’ campaign, which saw her join OnlyFans to protest the music industry, highlight the struggles faced by both new and established artists, and help raise money for her UK and European tour.
She then took things one step further, and used the “bum on the back of a fire truck” campaign to head to the London offices of Live Nation, Spotify, and the Houses of Parliament to protest the increasingly difficult circumstances facing talent in the UK.
“The reality is that touring is making losses, not profit,” she told NME at the time. “The grassroots is in absolute crisis. Venues are closing, festivals are being cancelled. People are thinking, ‘What’s the point in starting a band?’ and ‘How can I as an artist carry on?’”
Other attempts to help support artists and grassroots spaces has come through the push for a ticket levy to be introduced, which would see smaller venues and rising talent across the country receive a contribution from arena and stadium gigs to ensure their survival. The pressure is now on for the live music industry to ensure that 50 per cent of these shows are voluntarily paying in by June 2026, or else the government will step in to make it mandatory by law.
Elsewhere at Trans Mission, Olly Alexander performed Years & Years tracks, and was introduced to the stage by Sir Ian McKellen, who recited Shakespeare’s politically-charged The Strangers’ Case speech from Thomas More.
One of the most powerful moments of the night came from author Caroline Litman, who made an emotional tribute to her transgender daughter, who took her own life.
Find out more about what went down at the show here.
