Author: Admin

Valhalla Kid – There’s Good Days and Bad Days [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Sad lefty boi

What is the main topic of your lyrics?

For my last EP it was definitely a drive to convey an emotional/political rock bottom I had reached a few years back, as well as how difficult it felt to get out of it because of internal and external pessimisms.

How Important are political statements by music artists? Can music have an impact on politics?

Very. Everything is political, even a lack of politics is a passive affirmation of the status quo. So yeah, 100% if anyone has a platform and they do nothing with it they’re complicit in purely funding themselves. All art can have a political impact, but politics shouldn’t stop at art, material change is fundamental.

What would you change in the music industry?

It’s incredibly predatory. The mainstream face of music is run by execs who not only dip their toes in creative control, but abuse the artists in all kinds of ways and are protected by capital. All of that would need to go. The commercial aspect of the music industry does just as much to choke out the beauty of music as it does to source out talent, but much of that change can’t happen without systemic change, sadly.

Favorite UK Hiphop album of the past decade?

If we’re talking strict hip hop I still keep going back to Jam Baxter’s Touching Scenes regularly. If this were about grime tho, I’m yet to hear anything as colourful and wild as The Calm Before the Storm by Ghetts.

Best film you watched during the last year?

One film that really spoke to me recently was Wages of Fear by Henri-Georges Clouzot.

One last thing we should know about you?

My music wouldn’t be possible without the help of 3 other amazing artists I regularly work with: LumbeRoss, Orange Bloom and OS Elliott.

Thank you!

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Chicago Ray Ray – Vultures [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

REAL RAP MUSIC!

“Loyalty is everything in life and in the streets.” Tell us a few things about your new song Vultures.

Vultures exposes the people around you who have no loyalty or those that do. The ones who are only around to take from you and have no loyalty are vultures

How do you relate to the Chicago music scene?

Growing up I have witnessed the music transition and Im apart of the diverse talented artist here in Chicago, I thrive on all of the music made here and support them with the good music that comes from here. I want to be apart of the tradition of setting a trend in Chicago with good music.

Favourite rapper, lyricist and producer?

My Favorite Rapper is Black Thought, My Favorite Lyricist is Scarface, My Favorite Producer is SUPERHOOD (My cousin)

Dream performance venue?

Performing at Lollapalooza Here in Chicago, Its one of the biggest Concerts in the world

Best film you watched the last 12 months?

Power with Jamie Foxx

Any future plans

Im working on my album and hoping to release it summer of 2021!

Thank you!

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Nedelko – Cinq Centimètres par Seconde (Prod : Lapwass) [Interview]

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  • Describe your sound in three words 

Elliptical, melancholy and progressive

  • Tell us a few things about your new project Urizen  

Urizen is my second album, which comes out in two parts, the first one already available and the second coming out at the end of March. It speaks of the constant modulations of our horizons and of our personal universe, which are restricted or widened depending on the events that we have to experience and the people we meet. It is a reference to a central figure in William Blake’s mythology who embodies the absolute law and who draws the outline of the universe with his compass.

It’s a pretty cinematic and abstract album very influenced by the imagery of the works of Terry Gilliam, Chris Marker, or even the cyberpunk side of Akira and Evangelion.

  • Wich sound of the EP represent you the most ? 

It’s a hard question because each song represent a different state of mind, but I think my part of « Damocles » is a balanced choice. Not too dark and not too optimistic either, sadness mixed with the desire for a brighter existence. « Bienvenu à Néopolis » is also a good fit ! 

  • Favorite rapper, lyricist and producer 

I think my favorite rapper is Grems, a French artist who’s also a very very talented graphic designer, lyricist is Lucio Bukowski, also a French rapper and one of the main artist of L’Animalerie, the crew I’m in, but I’m also a huge huge fan of the lyrics of Julian Casablancas, singer of the Strokes and the Voidz . And producer I’ll say Oster Lapwass, who’s my producer, Rick Rubin and Mattia from the French group Odezenne. 

  • Is language a barrier in Music ?

I think it depends on what you listened to when you were young mostly, and in what part of the world you were born but in general music is more a way of connecting with each others than a barrier. It can even be a motivation and a way to learn other languages.

  • Do you have any artist that you would describe as an hidden gem that we should know about ? 

Instinctively I’d say Oklou, and The Voidz too, and for a really really hidden gem I’d say Penguin Cafe Orchestra

  • What would you change in music industry ?

I’d say give the power to people who really know music and not to some guys who decide who’s gonna be the next superstar depending on his popularity, less advertising and more music and passion. 

  • Any futur Plans ?

A lot of small projects with different artists and the third album who’s in progress ! 

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CHOZE – BADDERZ [Interview]

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Describe your sound in three words?

Alternative, edgy, seminal

Your music has an experimental touch. Do you feel listeners are tired of generic trap beats?

Tired? That’s debatable. My belief in producing music has always been created with a timeless approach. Trap music has a scene that is still going. It might not necessarily be at the forefront but it’s audience still supports it’s sound and movement so I wouldn’t bet against its musical status just yet. It’s the same principle with grime, jungle, hip hop etc. Those genres and more are still consistent with their production and the main reason for their progress is the general public such as a particular scene’s core fanbase. Sticking with their artist through think and thin will help continue a legacy for any particular type of music and will motivate any sound to move forward.

For which lyric you are most proud of?

“It’s WE but if we flip our W’s, it will just be Me” it’s the reading between the lines (no pun lol) that really connects with me. Especially the difficult circumstances we all are facing right now, this lyric really affects me every time I read it back to myself.

Best UK Hip Hop album ever?

That is a very tough 1 I can’t lie. If we’re talking about UK HIPHOP then it’s a battle between “the sagas of klashnekoff” by klashnekoff or “original pirate material” by the streets. Both iconic albums that will always stand the test of time and they both played a major part of shaping me into the artist I am today. I couldn’t imagine an industry without these albums. They spoke their truths with so much passion, conviction and fearless approach which demonstrated to me that this format is a procedure to creating a classic. Never afraid to be who you, plain and simple

What would be your dream performance venue?

That’s a very difficult one because technically I haven’t been around the world yet to discover new venues that make me daydream of one day performing my art in front of a supporting audience. If we’re inquiring about the uk venues then it’s a battle between O2 arena and Brixton academy. O2 surround sound, stage lighting and space is phenomenal. I’ve watched many great bands that have utilise all the facilities in the venue e.g Gorillaz headline show was one of a kind, blew me away. Brixton Academy I have a soft spot for because it’s near my mothers home which means it’s the foundation. Performing in Brixton would resurrect my child hood dream of headlining in an area where I’ve invested and developed my artistry so much. Without Brixton or clapham, I wouldn’t be the artist your witnessing today.

What was the best film you have watched during the quarantine?

I honestly have to express how good “tenet” is. Such an epic and trend setting movie but why would I be surprised? when this movie is directed by my favourite director in film, Christoper Nolan. His passion and artistry in making every film iconic and bravery to always leave people wanting more. Whether it’s the story line or the actors he hires to create his picture, he’s second to none.

Any future plans?

D.I.Y the LP is the project I’ll be focusing on but for the foreseeable future, definitely 2 more albums, merchandise store then focusing on working with new up and coming artist who remind me of pure artistry, period.

Thanks!

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Oshua – Waste My Time [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Lonely Bedroom Hip-Hop

How many beats do you listen to before you end up using one? Tell us a few things about your creative process.

I’d say on average I listen to around 20-30 beats a week, I usually choose atleast 1-3 to record on.
My creative “process” is pretty non-existent, there isn’t a set way I do things but usually the vocal melody is the first thing that sticks out to me and after that I’m kind of all over the place with how the song progresses.
I also usually record the same song around 2-5 times – I’ve come to realise that on different days my voice has different emotions and therefore different sounds, its good to have more than one full take on the vocals.

Favourite rapper, lyricist and producer?

Rapper: Juice Wrld
Lyricist: Frank Ocean
Producer: Roxxee

Best Hip Hop album ever?

PERSONALLY for me its “Goodbye & Good Riddance” by Juice Wrld, I listened to a lot of lyrical rap growing up like DOOM, Gang Starr, Mos Def but the Juice album really hit home for me and it has just stuck.
There is something about the lullaby sounds and the raspy vocals that keeps me coming back.

What do you love and what do you hate about living in Australia?

I seriously love the summer and the beaches, you cannot go wrong with a beach day and Sunday beers. However, the flies are an absolute let-down, they’re always in your face – its fine because you get used to them.

Favorite music related film?

Interstellar, the eery sound-choice used in the soundtrack is something else for me, it takes me places and makes me feel some type of way.

Future plans?

I plan to release a lot of music in 2021 with new singles out almost every month, I don’t really have a clear goal in mind with music but I plan to keep on keeping on.

Thank you!

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LumbeRoss – There Are Concentration Camps in Xinjiang [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Art pop rap.

Tell us a few things about your new track

So I was living in China for nearly two years and I returned back to the UK about two months ago. I loved my time there, but I feel a moral duty to speak out against the CCP’s persecution of Turkic minority groups. Because I’m a brown dude with a beard, people in China frequently mistook me for Muslim, which I’m kind of used to, but also sometimes mistook me for Uyghur. For the most part, people were nice, but I occasionally sensed animosity from police, taxi drivers, etc. On one occasion, a taxi driver took me to the police station instead of my home so they could question me, and another time a taxi driver called security on me when I asked to go to The Great Mosque in Xi’an. This was just a tiny glimpse into their suffering.

I wrote this track about a year ago, but I was too scared to release it then. Anonymous sources have previously informed me about cases where their friends have been taken to the concentration camps and tortured, so you can see I was rightfully scared to release it while I lived in China. All funds from this single go towards the Uyghur Human Rights Project.

How important are political statements by music artists? Can music have an impact on politics?

Political statements by artists are very important, as with most art. I feel like most young people nowadays, or maybe I’m just speaking about myself, become passionate about social causes because of art. My introduction to politics was probably System of a Down in my teenage years. Since then, I’ve been a vocal critic of the American prison industry, western imperialism and institutionalised racism. I’m not saying that Nas could release a track that would directly change the American constitution, but a song by him could start discussions that would make people more critical. I think that’s why visual art, music and films are heavily censored in China; good art can be a threat to the status quo.

Tell us something that you loved about China and something that you hated during the period of time you lived there.

Loved: the people. The kindness of the people there was unlike anything I’ve seen before. If you look lost or confused, like 4 or 5 people will come over to try and help you out. So different to the UK.
Hated: Privileged expats that came over to avoid political correctness in the west and to be creeps to local women. My city in China was, for whatever reason, filled with holocaust deniers and borderline sex offenders. I think many come over to Asian countries so they can spew their racist bullshit without repercussions and commit sexual assaults without being punished.

Favourite album of the past year?

Charli XCX – how i’m feeling now.

Favorite film ever?

Oof, difficult. Maybe The Handmaiden by Park Chan Wook.

One last thing we should know about you?

I’m in a political hip hop collective called Lowlives Collective! Check our stuff out if you want to get angry.

Thank you!

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Alvinos Zavlis – Alvinos Vs Lofi [Interview]

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Describe your sound in 3 words

Experimental, dreamy, spacey

Tell us a few things about your new EP ‘Alvinos vs Lofi’.

My new EP is completely different from my previous releases. In 2020 I started experimenting with Lofi music, a genre that I always enjoyed listening to but never
really found joy in producing. I tried to create Lofi music that fits my personal style and uses characteristics of IDM, cinematic music and ambient. I think the
end result is a collection of unique and fresh-sounding songs when placed in the context of this genre.

Which song of the EP is your favorite?

This is a hard one! I love all of them and while people seem to connect to “The day we met” a lot, “Neverland” is the one that stands out to me, because of how
long it took me to put together and all the different things I got to do harmonically in it.

Is realistically your type of music a genre that can be performed live?

I’d say yes, definitely. There’s so much technology to support electronic artists nowadays that I think almost any genre can be performed live. Just give me an
Ableton Push, a couple of my synthesizers, a big monitor for my visuals and you’ll have a hell of a show!

Cypriot based in the UK. What do you love and what do you hate in each place?

I had to leave Cyprus in order to pursue music, so that is the thing I hate most about it. There’s just not an industry to support electronic music yet, although
I wish to help change that in the future. The weather and food are the things I love most about Cyprus. And in England, I love how alive and multicultural everything
is, especially London and Bristol, where I’m currently based. Ironically, the weather and food are the things I hate most!

What was the best film you have watched during the quarantine?

Definitely Uncut Gems or Guns Akimbo! Great films, both so tense in their own way from start to finish.

Any future plans?

I’m currently working on an audiovisual reimagining of Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’ which will be released early in 2021, and is also the first video I ever
directed. I’m also working closely with my main artist Youngsmart, we are planning on releasing his debut album in the summer, produced and mixed by me. Finally,
I plan on releasing another project before the year ends, hopefully it will build on the Lofi inspired sound of “Alvinos vs Lofi”.

Thank you!

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Casscade x Raj Forever -Crazy Scenes

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North West LDN rapper and creative Casscade returns with his new single ‘Crazy Scenes’, this time teaming up with the hotly tipped artist/producer Raj Forever. Out 23rd October, ‘Crazy Scenes’ was produced by the prolific American producer Saint Cardona (whose credits include; Young M.A, Octavian, Fivio Foreign and Mariah Angelica). With its accessible drill-flavoured beat, mixed with Casscade’s playful bars and melodic approach, there is something genuinely fresh about the track, as Raj Forever punctuates things with a memorable chorus hook, nailing down its radio friendly vibe and positive message.

Lyrically, Casscade takes the commonly used phrase ‘Crazy Scenes’ as inspiration to build the track around an aspirational message. Looking back at the harsh environments both artists grew up in, to where they are now Casscade explains: “The ‘I still hear the screams part’ in Raj’s hook just signifies that although we may not particularly be in bad situations anymore, they’ve left their scars. Nobody is perfect and I think it’s always good to remember where you came from.”

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Thriftworks – TUPUXUARA [Interview]

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Describe your sound in three words

cretaceous, spacey, knockville

“I can’t dance but I can’t sit still”. In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?

it’s open to interpretation, this is undoubtedly up to the individual listener

Platforms offering sound recordings in a netflix style subscription-for-access model changed the art of sampling in a drastic way. Do you think that having such an easy access to samples affects the quality of instrumental music today?

I recently began using Splice, I think it’s important to stay true to yourself as a producer and not overindulge in premade loopps. Tweaking and repurposing is essential, otherwise things can get lazy and stagnant real quick.

Is realistically your type of music a genre that can be performed live?

Throughout the years i’ve learned that my live shows definitely have a different vibe than a lot of my more upbeat contemporaries. The vibe is much more cerebral and that’s ok.

You are a lover of chess. Which is the best album we should listen to while playing a chess game?

Hydromancy came from an era where I first began playing a lot of backyard chess with the homies. That’s gotta be it.

What would you change in the music industry?

Streaming royalties for sure. Artists are getting low-balled around the world by big streaming services like spotify and apple mucic, etc. etc

One last thing we should know about you?

I eat canned fish more than most people can handle. A can of baby clams has almost 20g of protein.

Thank you!

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Readey – Bubblin’ [Interview]

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  • Describe your sound in three words

Energetic, soulful and unique.

  • You blend different genres from UK Garage to Grime. Which are your major musical influences?

I started listening to Grime when I was at school, mainly Ghetts and Devlin… when they would go back to back on a track or a set I would literally lose my mind.

  • Do you think there is a true underground hip hop sound today?

I believe that there will always be an underground scene. When certain artists who have been grinding for years on end finally begin to get recognition, it inspires the younger generation to start their own musical journey, and they then take their idols place in the ‘underground’.

  • Which is the main difference in your opinion between the UK rap scene compared to the US rap?

Personally, I can’t really put my finger on a main difference, but I have always preferred UK rap in general, I’m not quite sure why… maybe because I can relate to the artists more as I’m from the same country as them? Who knows. Both have produced many exceptional artists over the years though.

  • Best Hip Hop album ever?

My favourite Hip-Hop album ever has got to be 2001 by Dre.

  • What was the best film you have watched during the quarantine?

The best film I have watched since the lockdowns began is a heartwarming, true story called Green Book.

  • Any future plans?

My next single is due to be released soon, I’ll be posting all the details on my social media pages @readeyofficial when the time is right, aside from that I have no idea what else is in store as of yet! I will more than likely put some kind of project together within the next few months, possibly a UK Garage one this time as most of my supporters have expressed how much they like it when I harness this genre. It also feels like a very natural process in the writing stage as a lot of the instrumentals tend to resonate with me as a person.

  • Thank you!

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