“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.
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.
I would say passionate, honest and with some of my new stuff vulnerable.
“Lonely at the top” is an emotional song indeed. Tell us a few things about it.
“Lonely at the Top” is a mantra for the determined. This song comes from a vulnerable place for me. The song was written and recorded with the featured artist Streetz years ago. Along with many many other songs, this track was left unfinished when Streetz was murdered in 2018. The song was then posthumously produced and released by myself at the end of 2019 in his memory. Although the tone of the song is sad, it is still powerful, uplifting and motivational. The point is to carry on the legacy for him. Even when you’re by yourself, it’s not always lonely at the top.
You sampled an iconic song by the Beatles. Which are your major musical influences?
I take influence from all types of music. I grew up listening to every kind of music you can think of – from Jazz to MoTown to 90’s hip hop/rap, to Pop Music to Rock and everything in between and think this has all influenced me, even if just for my deep love and respect for music. If I were to pinpoint a specific artist that has had the most influence on me musically and as a person in general, I would say TuPac. The last few years, I can say I don’t listen to alot of other people’s music. I really focus on my personal creativity and my craft. I will listen to beats and instrumentals and just create. I want my music to be authentic and not have too much influence from others in order to maintain my artistry.
Favourite rapper, lyricist and producer?
Honestly, I would say myself. As an artist, if you’re not your own biggest fan, you cannot expect anyone else to be and maybe you shouldn’t be doing this. I love what I create and am proud of every track I release. I have my hand on every piece of the process of creating my music.
Do you have an artist that you would describe as a hidden gem that we should know about?
Not to be redundant, but I think myself. I believe my artistry and music is a hidden gem and the new stuff I’m creating is going to set the world on fire.
What was the best film you have watched during the quarantine?
I recently watched The Banker and thought that was a great movie. It had a very real and raw storyline and the acting was great. I think it’s very inspirational and reminded me that even when you’re faced against the odds you have to rise to the occasion.
Any future plans?
There’s too many future plans right now to try to list. I would suggest the world be on the look out for what’s next from me. The future is going to be epic for my brand.
What is the main topic of your lyrics? Tell us a few things about your creative process.
I often find myself talking about things every other teen idolises.. Money & Women. It often starts with me saying a catchy one liner, an example of this is in the intro ‘Monie’ where in my first line I say “Nickname Monie, they all wanna get to know me”
You blend grime with lofi and chill beats. How many beats do you listen to before you end up using one?
I listen to multiple genres, I even find myself writing to drill beats & I’ve actually used the lyrics.
Best UK Hip Hop album ever?
Dave – Psychodrama
Why is it still difficult for UK rappers to break through to America?
I feel like there isn’t a strong enough link in between the both & when there is it’s more mainstream based. We need more underground collaborations, then it would help to open different opportunities.
What was the best film you have watched during the quarantine?
Tell us a few things about your new project “Unbalanced”
We all looking for a sort of balance between things to find happiness in life and that’s the exact same with music. I’m in love With us rap, i fell in love with the language and the culture, but I’m french and I wanted to find a balance between these two languages so I’ve tried to blend them to create a new vibe.
Which song of the EP represents you the most?
There’s a little bit of me in all of the tracks. Each tracks has it’s own mood. Like everyone else I go through tons of different moods everyday, so I’d say all of them.
How many beats do you listen to before you end up using one? Who is your favorite producer?
I make all of my beats. Sometimes it takes me 5 min to make a beat that I love, sometimes it takes a week to find the right vibe. I’m very picky with the beat that I use I keep a very very tiny portions of whatIi create. I don’t really have a favorite producer though.
What does the future hold for Trap specifically and Hip-Hop in general?
I have no clue but I hope a lot of new sounds and creativity and hopfully a little bit of success for Dopize ahah!
What would you change in the music industry?
Money is the only thing that matters in the industry that’s the problem, I would put the art first
Any future plans?
A lot of new music, new concepts, just wait and see !
Where is the place where you get more inspired to write the lyrics for your songs? Tell us a few things about your creative process.
Places where I know that I will be left alone. Outside in the streets where I don’t know anyone is a good one, but it ends up being my room and in the bathroom most of the time. Most accessible isolation areas.
You rap in both English and French. Is language a barrier in music?
For me, I grew up bilingually so to speak: always talk to my dad in French, was in French schools until high school, and my mom in English. So how I live with the languages transpires in the music. I also feel this Kanye West quote: “words can get in the way of what you want to say”. I see and feel this being the case for family, friends and myself. Some words exist in some languages and not in others, and so it really becomes a different way of thinking.
Favourite rapper, lyricist and producer?
This is always unfair… but I’m a huge TDE fan so my favorite rapper is Isaiah Rashad, my favorite lyricist is Kendrick Lamar, and it’s a tie between J Dilla and Travis Scott (very different) for my favorite producer(s).
What does the future hold for Hip-Hop?
More and more creative fields and doors opening up! Between French Afro-influenced hip hop, Drill in the UK and trap in the US, lofi instrumental beats, and fusions of all of these and more, Hip Hop is just taken to so many places, and I think it’s amazing. My first EP was about a four leaf clover island, a metaphor for a land of the rich, the privileged. I am one of them, I grew up on that island. Hip Hop educated me, partly to convey my own life experience in my art form. Hip Hop is not something that was made for people like me. Yet, as a mode of expression, it can be used to convey different types of stories. However, the core of hip hop remains the beauty of giving a voice to the voiceless, to non-white “minorities” and it needs to (and will) stay that way.
Do you have an artist that you would describe as a hidden gem that we should know about?
Mamadou. I opened for him last year. He is an amazing lyricist, poet, and his personality and true beliefs come out through beautiful sounds.
One last thing we should know about you?
I just got back to Paris after four years of college in the United States, and I am going all in with music. Any music people who feel inclined to listen to my music and like it, hit me up for collabs, a talk, anything.
“These haters didn’t help at all, they’re way too small, and shame on me I turned the volume low, now your prayers aren’t getting to God. I never learned the guitar, I never was all that smart, but I have come way to far, and do it for love, and I aim at your heart.” – ‘Mauvey’ – Vancouver
What is the true underground sound today (if there is one)
I don’t think there is a true underground sound.
Best Hip Hop album ever?
The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, and Lauryn Hill is the best rapper of all time, Andre 3000 is second, I don’t want to discuss the matter further haha.
What would you change in the music industry?
Creators should be compensated more for their creations. How streaming services operate should change.
Oh. and the elephant in the room; could get some more people of colour holding key positions in the industry.
Favorite music related film?
8 Mile – my man was in every single scene!
Any future plans?
I’m releasing A LOT more music in 2021, and heading on tour, if the world doesn’t shut down again.
Tell us a few things about your new single “Yeah, No”
“Yeah, No” sonically illustrates the feeling of existential dread and the thoughts that are sometimes hard to forget when life keeps repeating itself and it seems like we are just powerless beings floating around in space. The entire song is written from 2 perspectives of thought and almost every lyric is a double or triple entendre. I intentionally recorded and mixed the vocals to sound as if they are my internal thoughts being transferred through the music.
Your music has an experimental tone. Should music as a form of art always challenge the listener?
I honestly think music should be and can be anything. There is space in the world for all types of music, for all types of occasions. I personally enjoy music that challenges me. I get excited when I hear something new that sounds innovative and unique, especially when it’s anchored in emotion or storytelling. I do realize my music is on the experimental side and I hope the listener can stretch their ear and take a moment to vibe with something different.
How many beats do you listen to before you end up using one? Who is your favorite producer?
I actually produce most of my own music so far. I’m an indie DIY artist and I really enjoy exploring vibes and creating music that has an artful and cinematic quality to it. Those are usually the type of beats that inspire me. That being said, I work with a couple other producers and when they send beats I often don’t spend that much time at all finding the right one. When I feel it, the vibe hits me right away and I immediately start writing.
My favorite producer of all time is probably Quincy Jones. I’m also a huge fan of Pharrell, Flying Lotus, Jon Brion and Trent Reznor.
What would you change in the music industry?
The music industry has its pros and cons and its ups and downs. I would probably change the concept that artists have to subscribe to industry standards to be relevant and successful. Just make music that you like and that comes from a real place.
What was the best film you have watched during the quarantine?
Oh man, that’s a tough one. I watched this movie at the beginning of quarantine titled “Luce” that stars Octavia Spencer and a great young actor, Kelvin Harrison Jr. The film is a powerful and timely story and it shows another side of race-relations in the United States, that I think a lot of people are unaware of. The movie touches on specific ideas of privilege and the model minority myth in America and how stereotypes can be extremely damaging to a person and a community if left unchecked.
Any future plans?
I have an EP dropping at the end of December. With this project, I’m exploring a lot of the same themes in “Yeah, No” I’m excited for people to hear my music in a broader context. This EP is a cinematic, 6-track journey through the mind of Jōviky.
What is the main topic of your lyrics? Tell us a few things about your creative process
Bastos sous les Voûtes was written as a freestyle : in one hand chill and phlegmatic but quickly twist into a violent and lethal universe. In the shadows of the vaults: smuggled shots or punchlines stray bullets.
In general, I’m aiming to turn common life subjects into absurd dreamy situations or positive hallucinations.
I like to tell in this world, spoons are knives, frequencies mess your heartbeat up and everything you’ll do there will end up in pure sweat.
In my artistic universe we could find the atypical Yelle’s poetry, the disturbing Philippe Katerine’s gentleness, the dreamlike Shygirl’s atmospheres or the improvised Marc Rebillet’s characters.
Is language a barrier in music?
In one hand, I don’t think language could be a barrier in music because anyone can feel the vibe without understanding the lyrics. For example, I love Azar Strato’s songs. He is a russian beatmaker and producer. As an example the track : Нарушители пустоты that I enjoy a lot even if I’m unable to pronounce its name.
He is really good because his video-clips tell enough of his universe.
In the other hand, in my recent creation, I’ve put some effort into my lyrics, but it’s in french and I know that not everyone can understand it. During a show, everyone can feel the energy of the moment, but at home it can be a rather different experiment.
For example some of my subjects are : is air really free ? You’re an artist, but what do you do for a living ? That is one of the reasons that I like interviews because I can explain some of those topics.
Do you have an artist that you would describe as a hidden gem that we should know about?
He fuses raw hip hop vibes with synthesizers and club music. He takes inspirations from any-era dance music genres as the mood strikes him, and from his musical roots grown from video game soundtracks and US hip hop.
We did a 2-week tour together by train in 2019 in France called “TGV Max Tour” (a name of a transport card in France under 28, I was close to 28 so it was a huge way to finish it).
What would you change in the music industry?
Definitely the facts that Twitch won’t pay a percent for music that creators used. Instead of that they prefer to delete those videos. That such a pity.
Some deals have begun to arrive with some big labels, but I hope that we will not recreate a quasi-monopoly situation only for major music labels. We want that underground music to be used by creators without any trouble, and generate money the same way it does with other media.
Tell is a recent French Film we should definitely need to watch.
Jacky au Royaume des Filles
It’s a dystopic story in Bubunne (or Bubunia). It’s a matriarchal totalitarian country led by the ruthless La Générale (Generaless). In Bubun, the roles of men and women are reversed, up to the point where the male population is deprived of any civil rights, including work, education, military service, freedom of marriage etc.
It’s really funny and make us wonder of our society. It’s exactly the kind of smart humour that I love.
One last thing we should know about you?
This year, I’ve decided to focus on my solo project LN-VR, after many years working with others bands. It was pretty cool working with them, but here is my advice : don’t forget to work for yourself!
I’m now determined to released a videoclip every 2 months with many talented directors and producers, so keep in touch on my socials @lnvrrrr (there is 4 x R)
“MADAM$” started as a title track for “The Madam$” series on the Cideshow platform. In what ways platforms like this change the music industry?
Platforms like these give creative people a voice. It connects people to work together in different disciplines. You can submit a show/series and/ or movie ideas for streaming. As a musician that is involved in one of those shows it’s a golden opportunity because your music gets to a different audience that you might never reach yourself.
What is the main topic of your lyrics? Tell us a few things about your creative process.
MADAM$ is all about feeling like you are wearing that crown on your head. In this particular case the topic of the song was already there, so it was up to my co-writer Lars Hempel and I how we were going to translate that. Pretty fast Lars came up with a grungy bass synth line and a badass beat, and then I came up with the hook. I have a thing for spoken word so this turned quickly into a rap. Put it all together and you have MADAM$.
Why sexism, and even outright misogyny, is so pervasive in Hip Hop culture?
I wish it were different and I hope it’ll change more. The concept of image, authenticity, lifestyle-oriented aliases of artists, has been distorted so much to a point that people start to believe it is a standard to hold onto. It’s marketed that way in mass production. I think it’s wrong and I believe that dignity and respect is worth everything. I hope that people will do some soul searching.
What is your favorite album of the past decade?
NAO – Saturn
What is your dream collaboration?
Anderson Paak would be the dream.
Any future plans?
I’m releasing a whole live album in the beginning of next year, so stay tuned!
HipHop Paranoia 