London, over the years, has been home to dozens of iconic club nights from Nag Nag Nag to Boombox to Batty Bass. For the last 18 years, Deviation has taken on the baton from those legendary parties as one of the most influential with the staying power to prove it. Now, to celebrate this nearly two-decade run comes a limited-edition photo book with an exhibition located within a hidden space behind King’s Cross Station to go with. Oh, but that’s not all. On Saturday, November 15, Deviation will make a long-awaited return to the late-night scene with a bangin’ 18th birthday party you won’t want to miss.
Founded in 2007 by renowned resident DJ Benji B (who featured inside 10 Magazine issue 74) with co-founder Judah Afriyie as its ardent host, Deviation is a defining force in London nightlife, shaping the city’s club culture for nearly two decades. Community-led and rooted in a commitment to cutting-edge sound, forward-thinking curation and championing both global icons and emerging talent, it has welcomed everyone from James Blake, Jamie xx, Arca, Dean Blunt and Yasiin Bey to rising stars like Bambii, Shy One, Nicky Summers and Kitty Amor.
Benji B comments, “Deviation turning 18 felt like the right moment to reflect – in theory, the club night we created is now old enough to go to the club. The book and exhibition are a celebration of everything we built: the sound, the people, the energy and the evolution of a movement born in London. For 18 years, Deviation has been a space where music, community and culture could grow together. This project gives permanence to something that has always been lived in the moment – Deviation isn’t just about the music, it is about the people who make the music matter. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of the journey. These are the levels.”
The commemorative book, dubbed These Are The Levels, is published by Zak Group and features over 300 photographs from London, Paris and New York, capturing rare and iconic moments with artists like Virgil Abloh, Kaytranada, Erykah Badu and Samuel Ross, offering an intimate chronicle of Deviation’s journey before the era of camera phones and social media.
Of the same name, the exhibition opens today and runs until November 18, in a hidden space behind King’s Cross Station featuring 46 mounted images, a curated lineup of DJs and a listening room with bespoke acoustics and furniture. Expect an immersive dive into the music, energy and culture that has defined the collective.
The party is tomorrow at Camden Stables Market and promises a full night of Deviation’s DNA, with Benji B on the decks, Judah hosting and a guest list of past residents, new-generation artists and community members, spanning house, broken beat, garage, disco, hip hop and soul, all delivered with energy, atmosphere and a dancefloor-first ethos.
“To quote the late, great Glenn O’Brien: ‘Parties are hard work’. 18 years in, that sentiment remains the same, but we wouldn’t have it any other way,” says Afriyie. “As Deviation turns 18, the books and exhibition are a moment to reflect and celebrate and hopefully serve as a guide for future generations ahead. This milestone belongs to our community and everyone who has helped us get these. This is the only accolade that Benji and I seek. We salute you.”
The book, These Are The Levels, as well as exclusive Deviation 18th anniversary merchandise will be available to purchase at the exhibition. Get your tickets to tomorrow’s party here.
Photography courtesy of Deviation.
