See what happened when I interviewed English Frank and Joe Cole for Channel AKA about their new film Offender out August 8th,
August 1, 2012
Can Wiz Khalifa smoke Snoop Dogg under the table? [Interview]
I interviewed US rapper Wiz Khalifa here what he has to say about Snoop Dogg, his new movie, tattoo’s and his beautiful fiance Amber Rose and also tells us his firsts and lasts.
August 1, 2012
Introducing Luminites [Interview]
Luminites are a mixed group of males and females, aged between 17-22 from different parts of London. They were put together as a band, when Ben was discovered beatboxing on the streets of London by their now band management, and the rest is history. The band have been together for a few years now, working on building a fanbase by continuing to busk on the streets, and performing on school and club tours. I went down to meet them for dinner in Shoreditch to get to know them better and watch them perform live at an event. Afterwards I talked to them about how they met, how the band work together, their friendship and most importantly their music.
Firstly tell me the story behind Luminites, how did you guys get together?
JJ: The guys who are managing us they spotted Ben and were blown away by his beatboxing talent. They had a chat with Ben to see how they could channel his talent, and they had a few ideas. One of them, which they ended up going with, was Ben helping with finding a group of people to put together. I know Anthony (one of their managers) because my school is right next to his office, and I heard him speaking to one of my friends about music, and it was something I wanted to get involved in. They found us all in different ways, I sang in front of Anthony in his office.
Ella: I was at a small showcase night at a jazz café and they found me there.
Corey: I put loads of stuff on YouTube, and the managers spotted me whilst flicking through there.
Steph: I went along to a rehearsal with my friend to show my support. Anthony asked me to sing and I was like no because I’ve never sung before, and it just went from there really.
JJ: It wasn’t 100% that it was going to go that way, we work shopped some ideas, and we all loved each others sound, so we thought lets go for it, lets get the band together.
Did you gel straight away?
Ben: It was weird because usually when you put a group of such different people together usually there’s always a clash, even families everyone argues. We’ve all got along very well for some reason. I think that’s why we’ve stayed together and things are going well.
Ella: It’s a good thing we’re all different.
JJ: There was no gelling process. The second that we met each other we all had something in common, and the conversation got rolling straight away. It was really nice.
Ben: Where we all have different inspirations, we all have our own input. Imagine five people wanting to put into 1 idea; we all have to come to some agreement.
Ella: We know each other better now, so we know what works.
What do you all do to kick back and relax together?
JJ: We chill with each other, we like to have a laugh and we skateboard a lot. Were all really into skateboarding. The girls are all really good at it (laughs).
Explain your roles to me.
JJ: I play the keyboard and I’m also a vocalist.
Ben: I beatbox and rap, I’m like our drum kit.
Ella: I’m a vocalist
Steph: I’m a vocalist as well
Corey: I play guitar and rap, and I try to do a little bit of beatboxing.
How would you describe your sound?
Ben: (sings) ahhhhhhhhh
JJ: When it comes to our live performances we like really stripped back music. We use our keys, we use an acoustic guitar and vocal harmonies, and that’s one of main aspects.
Ella: It’s a bit edgy.
Ben: I’ve not seen many groups that have a beatboxer, that’s what makes us different.
JJ: It’s a unique element what Ben brings to the band, his percussion sounds aren’t meant to replicate that much of a proper drum kit. He’s got sound effects, synthy sounds and scratchy sounds.
Your initial performances was busking at London’s main tourist attractions, how did people react to you?
Ella: They gave us really good support. Considering nobody has to stop and they do, were proper grateful.
How different is street performing to club and school tour performances?
Ben: Clubs we use more backing tracks, schools we usually strip it back and it’s calmer.
Ella: They’re both wicked but in totally different ways. Schools are wicked because the kids are buzzing, they’ve come out of class, and they’ve seen a new band. With kids they love the latest things, they like to know something before everyone else, if some thinks in fashion next week, then they want one today. That’s what we love about them, they give us great support.
JJ: It’s nice because school kids don’t tend to see live bands. They enjoy it when they see a band come in and play.
Ben: They follow us on Facebook the school kids.
Any funny stories from your street performances?
Corey: We were doing a gig in Trafalgar Square, and this, guy he must have been about 50, he was obviously drunk because he was all over the place. He came and stood next to me, we were in the middle of a song, and he rocked along to it in front of everyone that was watching. Then he thought it would be funny to try and play my guitar while I was playing it. That was really weird.
JJ: We had another one outside Covent Garden, it was right outside the tube station and it was immediately after work, and there were loads of office guys drinking and stuff. It was really good; they appeared to be really enjoying themselves. Then we had to police officer’s come up to us and stop us. They got a bit ratty with us. Ben asked the crowd “Do you want us to stop?” Everyone was like “no no.” These police officers weren’t happy about it at all and pulled us to the side and said, “if your going to be like this we will arrest you.”
Ben: Westminster council has always been my biggest problem when it comes to busking. Everytime they come up there’s 2 of them and there was this one woman who came along and she had these pigtails and tried to stop our show, but we didn’t pay much attention.
Steph: There were so many people on our side booing her.
You recently started to write and record material, how does this work, as there are 5 of you?
JJ: We all have different ideas. We sit down and write some pieces and share our ideas, some are better than others, and my ones are usually the worst ones. We come to an agreement and we structure it like that, so it all fits and ties in together nicely.
Ben: If we’re doing a cover for an example, I’ll go home and learn the beats, Corey will go and learn the melody with his guitar, and the other 3 guys will learn the harmonies and the lyrics, then we come together and make our own arrangements.
Ella: Sometimes we make stuff up as we’re going, and we’re like ah that sounds good, we’ll put that in.
Ben: Even tracks that we’ve got finished we always have this thing were its not finished till it’s finished. Were still working on tracks that we think we’d finished a few months back.
JJ: You just think there are always things that need improving.
Is there a leader of the group?
All answer: No
Ella: There are 5 big personalities in one band
Ben: No-one’s the leader.
JJ: Everyone’s on a par with each other.
You have done a few cover tracks including Rihanna’s ‘Talk That Talk’ and Katy Perry’s ‘Part of Me’, how do you decide what tracks to cover?
JJ: We like ones that are relatively new. We do up-tempo’s, mid and some slow ones. It’s what we like the most, we all go home and research tracks, and when we come back we all chip in. If we’re all feeling it, we’ll say yes lets arrange it, and record it and stick it up on the Internet.
Ben: We all listen to different types of music. I might come in and say I like this hip hop track, Corey might say I like this rock track and the girls might like a Beyoncé track.
Individually what do you all listen to?
Corey: I like reggae, hip hop and rock
JJ: I like hip hop and stuff like Chris Brown, Eminem and Ed Sheeran.
Ben: I listen to mainly hip hop, some dubstep and drum n bass for beats, just whatever I can beatbox, dance and rap to.
Ella: I like something for absolutely everything. There’s not a genre of music where I can’t take at least one song.
Steph: I like bashment and D’banj and Leanne Rhymes and people like that.
Tell us about your recent track ‘Gotta Get Into It.’
Corey: It’s about chatting up a girl. It gives the listener both points of view. The woman whose getting chatted up, and the guy who’s chatting the woman up. The guys rap what the dude would feel in the situation.
Ben: The girls are saying you got to try harder, I’ve heard all this stuff before and it’s just not going to work for me.
JJ: Because we’re a mixed band we thought it would be cool to do the two point of view thing. There are so many boy bands and girl bands, but there’s not many mixed. Where the boys are quite cheeky we thought that concept would work, and the girls are like nah I’m not having it.
Ella: That’s what we’re like as well.
Ben: It’s a real reflection of us in a way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eguiddaFH28
What does the future hold for Luminites?
Ella: Just gigging really.
JJ: We don’t get anymore of a buzz than we do when we’re out performing, on the stage live.
Ben: That was my thing about busking you can set up anywhere and you don’t know what’s going to happen, you could get a crowd of 200-300 people. You’ve stopped a big crowd of people without telling them to stop. For them to stop enjoy it and clap it makes you feel good.
JJ: We don’t do things in half, we put everything into it, so in 5 years time if we could be at the 02, which would be amazing. We’ve just got to keep working hard and see where it takes us.
July 19, 2012
Saxophonist Yolanda Brown on her new album
Meet Yolanda Brown a talented, intelligent woman who as a self taught saxophone player is now one of the UK’s best. She has had many great achievements including two MOBO Awards for ‘best jazz’, being invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen, playing for the Russian president and the Jamaican Prime Minister, being listed in the Evening Standard as one of the top 30 black students in the UK and being awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts by the University of East London. Now she has released her debut album independently ‘April Showers, May Flowers,’ and for the first time shows off her vocal skills on it .
You taught yourself how to play the saxophone at the age of 13. Why did you make this decision instead of having lessons?
I had played a range of instruments before the saxophone and so had a background of theory and reading music. The saxophone was the first instrument that I felt I wanted to make music on instead of playing what others had composed. Teaching myself the instrument and how to improvise came naturally and I enjoyed exploring for myself.
You have played many other musical instruments before the Saxophone. Do you still play anything else now, and what else would you like to take up?
I grew up playing the piano, drums and violin before the saxophone. I still play the piano now and have always wanted to play the guitar. I was given one for Christmas last year and I am enjoying finding chords and melodies.
Why did you decide to complete two masters degree in operations management even though you wanted to pursue a career in music?
I didn’t know that I would have a career in music until I was 2 years into studying my PhD in Management Science. I had already completed a Masters in Management Science and a Masters in Methods of Social Research and was well into my PhD research when I joined a band for the summer holidays (as some students do!) and by the end of the summer I was performing solo at shows and recording my own music. Solo concerts and the MOBO awards followed and I was still studying, it was only then that I realised that a music career was budding.
You’ve performed in front of Russia’s president and Jamaica’s Prime Minister. Which one was more nerve racking, and which president or Prime Minister would you like to play for now?
For me, music and performance is like conversation and so I don’t find being on stage or playing my saxophone nerve racking. Both of these occasions were memorable because of the people and where I played, the Hermitage in Russia was beautiful and being accompanied by Russian Folk instruments was great. In Jamaica, Port Antonio by the sea! It is a true honor to be able to play for such dignitaries and I would love to add Barak Obama to that list!
You have also met the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. What was meeting them like, and what did you talk about?
To be invited to a reception at Buckingham Palace on the merit of the work that I love to do was overwhelming. It was a true pleasure to meet the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, as well as their staff and associates and be able to talk about my music, journey and future plans.
You’ve had some great achievements one of them being listed in the Evening Standard as one of the top 30 black students in the UK by Gordon Brown. How did you feel?
It always amazes me that you can be recognized for something that you are doing naturally in your everyday walk of life! As I said, I love to research and so was doing what I was passionate about and then found that this was something to be celebrated! It is strange because there is so much more that I plan and want to do. I’m not there yet, but it is reassuring and motivating to have these achievements and be recognised along the way… it gives me a push to do more and better!
What is your personal biggest achievement to date?
My personal biggest career achievement so far would be independently releasing my debut album. I have been humbled and excited by the tours and awards but being able to release my music and be accessible to people that want to hear my music is something I am very proud of.
You have always been an independent artist with many record labels approaching you. When do you think the time will be right for you to sign a deal?
When the deal is right! As an independent artist you have to work very hard to make an impact but you also have control of your brand and how it is looked after, the balance if very important to me.
How do you feel you have taken and developed jazz music to a new and exciting level?
I don’t think that I can take credit for developing jazz music, although I do enjoy doing things a bit different. As I have been touring, holding workshops and meeting people who enjoy my music I think the main thing is about feeling what you play -being able to improvise and make the listener feel something. Also, having grown up with such a range of musical genres being played at home, I like to mix these influences into my music. Hearing Jazz alongside Reggae, Classical, Gospel, Soul, Hip Hop, etc makes it music that all can tap into and enjoy.
What is your debut album ‘April Showers, May Flowers,’ about, what is the story behind it?
April Showers May Flowers is a story of overcoming the odds. The April Showers illustrate the trials that we all have to overcome in life, hard times that take that extra push to get through. When we get through, the May Flowers come; The silver lining, blessings, good times that we can celebrate. This is something that young and old can identify with.
How has your sound developed since your two EP’s?
I think the main development is maturity. When creating original songs on my EPs they were based in improvisation in the studio – the band would play and I would improvise the saxophone lines while recording. With my debut album there was a longer writing process involved where the songs could breathe a little and notes or sections could be changed to make the finished song. This was a new experience for me and a great process to experience, as well with using the spontaneous element of recording also.
You sing and play the piano on your new album. Why the decision to have two vocal tracks and how do you feel letting people hear your singing voice?
When writing melodies and improvising I use words in order to get the emotion across. Usually these words are in my head as I play, but when writing the album I had written them down. It got to a point where I had lyrics written for saxophone melodies and so I decided to vocalise them for this project to get the point across quicker. It was my first time singing and developing my voice as an instrument with vocal coaches. It is new and exciting and I look forward to growing with it even more in the future!
You have the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra performing with you on your UK tour. What made you decide to have such a prestigious Orchestra perform alongside you?
The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra accompanied me for the first two dates of my album tour to launch my debut album. They were two fantastic concerts at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo along with my full band and backing vocals. On the Album, April Showers May Flowers, I have strings and orchestral arrangements and so it seemed only right that the first time this new music was to be played live in concert it would be with an orchestra! The RPCO were wonderful and it was an overwhelming experience to hear and play my music alongside a 25-piece orchestra. It was also a great buzz to have them play the range of genres I love, including Reggae on TokYo Sunset!
You say you plan to do this with similar orchestras right across the world. Where would you tour next and why?
There are Philharmonic Orchestras all over the world and I would love to take this concert all around the globe. My next stops would be Japan, Australia and USA – I love their appreciation for new music and can’t wait to share my music with different cultures and people.
YolanDa Brown’s debut album April Showers, May Flowers is out now on Black Grape Records. For info on her UK tour visit www.YolandaBrown.co.uk
Interview by Shireen Fenner
July 11, 2012
Speech Debelle
Speech Debelle is back with new album Freedom Of Speech, an engaging journey through her life, full of energy and attitude, following her debut album Speech Therapy, which won her the acclaimed Mercury Music Prize 2009.
Her soulful, raw and organic music speaks on personal, social and spiritual issues.The 28-year-old from south London is wise and this shines through. She wants her voice to be heard, not only as an artist but as a representative for her peers, and has visited Number 10 and Parliament to promote opportunity and equality. Flavour gets the lowdown on Speech Debelle, her voice and speaking out…
For the people who may have forgotten about you, tell us who Speech Debelle is?
I am a rapper, that’s who I am. I’m a Piscean, I’m 28 and I’m a chef. I make music with organic sounds, with bass and trumpets and strings.
You won your Mercury Prize in 2009. What’s been going on since?
I’ve been touring and making the second album. I took a little bit of a break, went on holiday, chilled a bit and ate some seafood on the beach. I basically went from my day job to TV, then TV to touring.
You have been involved with some social and political issues over the past years. Why is it important for you to become involved and speak out on certain issues?
It’s important for exactly the same reason that people go to the hairdressers or barber shop. It’s exactly the same, except I’m doing it mainstream, as opposed to doing it in the hairdressers on a Saturday afternoon. I think it’s part of my culture to talk about the society in which I live and to voice my opinion, and to expect to be heard.
Some of your work has been quite personal and political, who do you think listens to your songs?
People that like emotive music. There are young people, there are older people that just like organic music.
You write your music in hindsight rather than at the time of an event. Why do you feel it’s important to write afterwards and not while a situation is happening, when your emotions can be at their rawest?
It’s not that I feel it’s important to write afterwards, it’s just the way it happens for me. In terms of emotional or emotive songs, I’m not able to write about them in the moment – it’s probably because I can’t make sense of it in the moment. I think you need to have time to analyse. If I’d just broken up with someone I wouldn’t go to the studio and be like, let’s go do a song.
Why the title Freedom Of Speech, what is the message behind it?
I wanted to carry on having ‘Speech’ in the titles. I want to do a trilogy of ‘Speech’ titles. Freedom of Speech is after vulnerability comes freedom.
The stories on your first album were so personal, so what will you be talking about on the new one?
There’s always going to be personal songs, always. I always write about things that affect me.
How do you feel about letting the world into your life through music, which you describe as your diary?
It’s not something I question; it’s just something I do. Sometimes there is a reason without explanation, you just go with it.
The track ‘Blaze Up a Fire’ talks about spiritual revolution, which you leaked after the riots. Why?
It’s metaphorically speaking, in the same way you have a fire inside and you have the same belief to do things inside yourself. That’s what the song is about, spiritual awakening.
Favourite track on the album?
‘Sun Dog’ is my favourite because it speaks to everyone, and it’s the footstep into the next one.
Have you matured as an artist?
I’ve got into this album knowing how to form songs more constructively. I thought about choruses more. The first time I didn’t really know about how songs were structured.
After the album release, what can we expect from Speech Debelle?
After the album, we’re going to be touring again. There’s definitely going to be more music, I’m not going to stop doing that.
July 9, 2012
BET Awards 2012 Red Carpet
We flew all the way from London to LA to bring you exclusive coverage of the 2012 BET Awards. We bring you up close and personal with the guests that attended the Awards with exclusive footage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPGiCqs8JUo&feature=youtu.be
July 6, 2012
Mikey J | Interview
Mikey J is not just a producer, although some know him best for the work he has done with Kano; producing London Town, Home Sweet Home and Not For The A List and the newly released EP Random Antics. What some might not know is that he is also a classically trained singer, with his voice being featured in many songs. Not stopping there, he has also been heavily involved in the dance world, starting up Boy Blue Entertainment with a friend, and winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Pied Piper. There is more to this man than meets the eye.
How did you get into producing and was there anyone in particular who influenced you?
I think it was an amalgamation of my love for music overall, experimenting and putting music together. Music and production back then was more analogue, I got into it when I was 14. No one in specific got me into production, it was the creation of music which got me. I was in a studio and saw guys making music, and I just thought I want to do production.
How do you start making a tune? Do you make the beat first or the bassline, or do you get inspired by a sample, talk me through the process.
It depends really. Of late I’ve just been playing with ideas and sounds and putting them together. You could hear a sample and just be like yea bam. The Kano track Layer Cake, well I was watching the film Layer Cake, the Michael Gambon speech and I thought this talks about what I’m going through at this point in time, I’m going to make a track inspired by this. Or it could be you get a job and it’s the artist that inspires you. Now I’ve got The Maschine, I just have more fun with my music. It’s the No1 source where I begin my material now.
What programs do you use to make your beats and why?
The Maschine which has it’s own software attached to the hardware. I use Logic Pro mainly to make my tracks or loops into full songs. I use samples from all kinds of digital software out there.
Your work had been very varied from dance theatres and shows to production and engineering. How do you juggle so many different things at once, and which one do you want to pursue the most?
It’s pretty hard, I don’t have much of a life. I just like to put my head down and work. I don’t get to see everyone often, but my friends and my family are very understanding they know it’s a part of me. No one nags me saying where are you, they are very supportive. I don’t get much time; my weekends are usually spent in the studio. I get down time every now and again. Juggling everything is exactly what I do, but it can be tough. It’s allowed me to do so many different things, produce music for films, TV, shows and theatre. As long as I’m doing music I’m fine.
Do you feel that by taking the hip hop dance scene to a wider audience in the theatre that it’s helped it to become more understood and mainstream?
Yes defiantly. Flawless are doing their thing now they did the Chase the Dream tour. Zoo Nation has got a piece called Some Like It Hip Hop. Now we’re starting to see that hip hop is more viable, people are understanding it more. It’s getting more prestige in the dance world, you don’t have to go and see Swan Lake. When you see hip hop dance it’s really exciting, that’s what makes people come.
You’ve been working with Kano for a long time now including the albums Home Sweet Home and London Town. Why did you feel it was the right time to bring something out together again?
We did a track that was a personal for him for one of his friends. It had been a while, he was doing his thing, and I’ve been doing my thing. I just had a jam with him after we made the track for his friend and I said, ‘we should just do something.’ So he said ‘OK cool.’ He came over that Sunday, and literally I just made a couple of beats, and it just ended up being Random Antics. He was leaving and said this tracks cool I’m going to go now, I said I got one more, and he stayed and we did another. Random Antics is the perfect way to describe the project, it just happened randomly.
Have you got any exciting projects coming up that we should know about?
We got a new show with Boy Blue. We’ve got a new show up in Ipswich were doing for 2 weeks, up at DanceEast. I’m making all the music for that, so I’m going to be working on that for the next few months. I’ve done a track with Chronz from RD, that’s come out sounding nice. I’m working with quite a few artists, so you will be hearing them soon
July 6, 2012
Mr. Mitchell | Interview
Mr Mitchell, aka Tony Mitchell formerly of the Mitchell brothers, who were signed to Mike Skinner’s label The Beats, came back onto the scene last year as a solo artist. He released his first solo track ‘Off The Coathanger,’ followed by his first solo mixtape, ‘The Night I Thought I Was A God’. His first solo release this year, ‘On The Rooftop’, will be out on March 25th followed up by a second single ‘Wolfcry’, and an EP. Flavour’s Shireen Fenner talks to Mr. Mitchell about The Mitchell Brothers, being a solo artist and what to expect with his new music.
You caught Mike Skinners attention by slipping a CD in his back pocket. What advice would you give to up and coming artists who are hoping to attract attention from DJ’s, labels and artists?
Always do what I did; in anyway you can force something to be done basically (laughs). Always put a CD in an artist who you find inspiring’s bag. Always do it the difficult way never the easy way.
How influential were The Streets to your musical direction?
It helped me out a lot, because working with Mike inspired me a great deal with writing, with thinking about music in a different way. He taught us specifics, and making a simple subject seem bigger when you’re writing it. I’ve always kept that knowledge and added it to what I had already. Now I can’t say I’m complete because I’m always learning when it comes to music, but its good to have someone like that teaching you stuff, and helping you out technically when it comes to writing music.
The Mitchell Brothers split in 2008. What was the reason behind the split?
We grow as adults, and I guess at the time I was writing music that didn’t make the albums ‘A Breath of Fresh Attire’, and ‘Dressed For The Occasion’. When we split it wasn’t a great time, but the more time that had passed the love for the music I had written had grown. I suggested to Teddy at the time, “what do you think of me going solo?” Obviously it was hard to digest at the beginning, but I don’t think he said the idea was a bad one. As time went on it just happened.
Was it hard being a duo and working alongside someone so closely, and then becoming a solo artist and not having someone else to share the pressure with?
I mean it’s always going to be hard. It’s like having a baby and your girlfriend walked out on you (laughs). Fans were probably questioning us about what we were doing. We were good writers and we dedicated a lot of time to writing, and I feel because of that we both could last as solo acts. When I’m on the stage and I look to my other side, he isn’t going to be there.
Formerly the Mitchell Brothers and now Mr. Mitchell. Is there a reason why your family name is so key to your identity? Did you not think a more drastic name change would be helpful in distancing yourself from your musical past?
No because I don’t want to run away from my musical past. I want people to remember me and know where I’ve come from. By calling myself Mr. Mitchell it was easier for people to digest rather than if I’d changed my name completely. By calling myself Mr. Mitchell I haven’t erased what me and Teddy built together. I feel the word Mitchell is important, I feel it was paramount that I left that name.
Where do you draw your inspiration from for your songs?
Through the pioneers, through listening to all different types of artists, from Jay Z to Kanye to Ian Brown to Chris Martin to Stevie Wonder. I’m a lover of music full stop, so I think when you listen to a broad sound; it allows you to learn a lot. I get my inspiration from that and I get my inspiration from real life. I think the best music to make is the music where people can relate to it. They can take a piece of that painting that you’ve painted, and they can say, “ah I’m going through that, I know what he’s talking about”.
You have consistently been described as innovative and unique. Is it a challenge to remain different and fresh especially given that you are not new to the music industry?
Yes it’s definitely a challenge, because now I’m trying to find a balance in terms of brining that uniqueness and still being credible and cool at the same time. I feel like now I’ve found that balance. I find that balance by listening to new music and different sounds and reading books. I still try and keep being creative and innovative, but without possibly going a step to far. There are some people who might not be able to digest that creativity.
What do you bring to the industry that makes you stand out from other artists?
I bring real music. Real music that says what people go through around me. I don’t make music to sound cool. I make music with a meaning. I feel that artists today should make more music like that. I also feel that artists should put themselves in the music. I’m a firm believer that when your writing a song write the chorus, write the bridge write the hooks. Don’t just do things the conveyor belt way where you just give the song to the artist, and that person writes you a song. I believe in making real music and that’s my path.
Why should people be listening to Mr. Mitchell?
I’m making music that I feel like they want to hear. They could be driving to work, or be in a bad mood and need to listen to one of my songs, or be in a happy mood and listen to one of my songs. I write music for the people. If the people want someone where they want themselves to be heard, or they want a song that will relate to them, then that’s why they should listen to me. I make music that’s sincere and honest.
What was the reaction to your first solo work last year, and in particular your mixtape ‘The Night I Thought I Was A God?’
I feel a lot of people liked what I was doing, in particular visually. I stayed away from radio, a lot of the stuff I did was promo work. I got a lot of good feedback; it was always going to be difficult for me to come back as a solo act. The fact that they acknowledged me was fantastic. When I did ‘Off The Coathanger,’ the video was seen as something very creative and different. That’s how I wanted to start off; I wanted to come into the scene saying something without saying something. Now is where I’m going to be judged (laughs).
If you had to choose one track to best describe and showcase you as an artist, both past and present, which one would it be and why?
‘Routine Check’, it was about a real situation in terms of the topic being harassed by police, and having that altercation with police that a lot of youngsters go through, and myself. It was just the way we went about it in putting that picture to people for them to like it, for them to like the funny side of it, but understand the seriousness of it as well. At that time with a lot of artists it was cool to be macho, but bringing that wit and humour for me was important.
Tell us about your forthcoming single release, ‘On the Rooftop?’
It’s about wanting to be like the bird on the rooftop. What I mean by that are people in bad situations and wanting to get away from those situations. Sometimes when you look at the rooftop, and birds fly off the rooftop and they go to another destination. It’s not that easy for us to do that. In some ways I’m saying I want wings. Another reason why I made that is because that is what is in my surroundings. When I come out of my house, that’s what I see, I see rooftops. That to me is a symbol, not only of London but also of the UK in general.
You have an EP set for release this summer. What can we expect from it?
Real good, energetic music. Music that you can play in your car, music that you can play in your home. It still has that cool sound, but at the same time has that concept that you can all get into. Good well-written music. I’ve got Mic Righteous in the studio right now, so that should be fun.
The single On The Rooftop out March 25th
The single WolfCry out May 2012
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Interview By Shireen Fenner
June 27, 2012
Ill Manors Cast Interview: Nick & Sean Sagar
Ill Manors is one the most exciting films to hit the UK. A crime thriller set on the gritty streets of East London’s Forrest Gate. Shireen Fenner from Flavour heads down to Revolver Studio’s to talk to real life brother’s Nick and Sean Sagar who play Marcel and Freddie in the film.
How did you both get into acting?
Nick: I would blame that on my mother. From an early age if it wasn’t football or piano it was something she wanted us to do that was creative. I kind of latched onto acting, and I’d be doing it outside of school like theatre shows and anything in school that I could get involved in I did.
Sean: For me it wasn’t even my mum. My dad pushed me to do football and that all went out the window. For me it was Ben with this because ‘Ill Manors’ was the first audition I went for. Ever since I did that a casting agent from that sent me for another show that I did last year ‘Top Boy’. It was like Ben kind of brought me in and said look you’re good at it, so stick with it.
What is your relationship like with one another?
Nick: Were close. There’s only two years between us were practically the same age. We were in school together and I think the fact that we are close in age means we can do a lot of stuff together. Plus he copies everything I does (laughs)
Sean: The relationships cool its just banter 24/7, there’s not much seriousness unless I steal some of his food. I think it’s cool, we get along.
Was there ever a point where you both were competitive both being actors?
Nick: We used to have mad arguments he used to get on my nerves.
In school we’d be in a fight everyday, but then as he grew up he stopped that.
Sean: I would say I’m better than him at football; I’m faster than him. This is the competitive side.
Nick: He doesn’t score goals. No but were not really competitive I think we kind of give each other ideas…
Sean: Nah were competitive.
How do you immerse yourself into a film role? Is there anything notable that you do to prepare yourself?
Sean: I smoke a cigarette just before I go on set. For you to become a character, you have to live like one. Just like Heath Ledger did with the Joker, he lived like it. I think if you want a performance you have to be your character, you obviously have to bring a certain part of yourself into it. I think as much research, ideas and stuff you’ve seen before will be useful.
Nick: I think I’m lucky because I studied it in college, and then outside I took further studies so I’ve kind of managed to join in techniques that I’ve learnt to help me get into roles.
Ill Manors is set in Forrest Gate where you are from. How similar are the storylines to the real life East London?
Nick: its pretty much spot on, I mean half the stuff that happens in the film you see in real life. You could drive to Forrest Gate now, and you would see half the stuff you’ve seen in the film just regularly going on. I think it was pretty much a perfect depiction of Forrest Gate.
Sean: The film portrays prostitutes but not just as prostitutes selling themselves, but prostitutes trying to better themselves as well. A lot of people would drive past and be like ‘ah look at them’, but you don’t know what they’ve been through, what there going through. You can’t judge them for what there doing.
Where there ever moments when you could relate on a personal level to the role you were playing? What were they?
Nick: Not really because Marcel’s a bit of a pillack. That’s not an attribute I associate myself with. I do say I could relate to his drive, because although what he’s going for is deemed as bad, his drive and he wants it so bad he’ll do anything. I can kind of relate that to me and what I want in life with acting.
Sean: My character Freddie is just the joker, and in most situations in real life, if me and my friends are having a serious conversation I’m usually always the one to just mess it up. In terms of him being a right hand man for his brother again is the exact same, because obviously he’s my brother and I’ll do anything. In a sense Freddie was spot on for who I kind of am.
Ben Drew seems to be growing into a multi talented and versatile individual. What was it like being directed by him?
Sean: Being directed by him was amazing. It was a lot different because I worked with him previously for two years as his PA and stylist and I was always getting shouted out, and making sure I had this suit steamed. Him just sitting behind a camera just looked weird. He gave us the opportunity and allowed us to have a lot of lenience with the script and say this doesn’t feel right, how would you say it? Working with him has been the highlight of my career so far.
What did you think when you read the script?
Nick: I have to run naked. After I got over that I liked the angle he was coming from, the idea with the music. The only thing I’d say is on the script because the music hadn’t been made yet; we didn’t know how the music was going to fit into this. It wasn’t until the end product that I was fully blown away. We didn’t hear any of the music on set; we didn’t know any of the music. I even forgot music was going to be in it.
Sean: When I read the script I looked at it and was like wow. We can look at it two ways; we can look at it in terms of it being an urban film, or you can look at it for the story that it’s trying to portray to you. Same thing as my brother said with the music, when you’re reading the script, you cant fit it in. Your looking at it like this doesn’t make sense, it’s confusing, but as soon as the music was put into it, it all just unfolded and was like wow. The music to the script played a big part in the whole thing.
One of the key elements of the film seems to be the accompanying soundtrack and music from Plan B. To what extent do you think it helped set the mood and scene of the film?
Nick: I think music in films people don’t realise how important it is. If you look at some of your favourite scenes in film there’s always a soundtrack in the background. If you play something from ‘Speed’, or ‘Inception’, I know it straight away because you see what you saw when you were watching it. I think with this because the actual music is not just instruments, there are vocals and raps towards the story, it puts you that much more on the edge of your seat.
Sean: Music in general just brings out feelings in you. You always have a song you put on if you want to get in a lonely zone. With music in general and with the film Ben kind of hit home with the right genres to put in it. You had a slow song, you had a fast tempo beat, and you had a beat that was dark and hitting you. With music in general it brings out moods in you, especially when it’s in a film, you can feel that characters mood a lot more.
What do you listen to?
Nick: I can tell you what he listens to, Chris Brown.
Sean: Yeah I’m a Chris Brown fan because I like to just dance, not just Chris Brown though. He just says it because every time he’s in my car I play it
Nick: He has a Chris Brown playlist. I like Chris Brown too.
Sean: I like nearly every one of them. He’s got a new song ‘Countdown’, ‘Don’t Wake Me Up’, ‘Turn Up The Music’, ‘Oh Yea’, there are loads of songs. I don’t like to be in a lonely or dark place, so for me his music inspires me to dance or just think of stuff.
What should people take away from watching Ill Manors? Is there a lesson to be learnt from this film?
Nick: The main thing I would say is don’t judge a book by its cover. Watch these people and realise why they have to make these decisions that if you didn’t see why they made them, you would think this person is terrible, how can they do that. If you can see why there forced to do it you understand more. This is what happens in real life, we only see the end product.
Sean: It’s not just a film, for me it’s a documentary film. A lot of people watch documentaries and there like wow I never knew someone lived like this. Put yourself in the characters shoes, or the situations there in, you would feel that you would end up doing the same thing they are. As me and my brother have said don’t judge a book by its cover, don’t look at someone and think this is all your about because its not. Everyone has a dark secret.
What do you think sets UK film productions apart from Hollywood and the rest of the world? What is unique about our industry?
Nick: I think especially with the comedy stuff, our humour is completely different, were a lot more sarcastic. Sometimes they think were being rude, but they love it because they are addicted to our shows over there. I think with comedy that’s the main difference. With a lot of dramas, especially with ‘Ill Manors’, its so gritty there’s no censorship with of our stuff.
Sean: The film is a hard-hitting story but a lot of people have come out and been like that was so dark, because it was. There’s not other way for me to describe it, and a lot of people try and go on this whole 15 minute description of what the film is, no, its just a dark film. I feel Americans are scared to release such films as ‘Ill Manor’, which is as my brother said gritty. Its even in terms of music like with dubstep, England isn’t scared to do it, they just do it.
What are the plans for both of you now are you filming anything new or have plans to?
Sean: I’ve just recently been booked to do a new theatre piece that I start in August. I start rehearsals in 3 months and then we tour towards the end of November for 2 weeks. Then I go off to York, so I’m looking forward to being in York because apparently there’s a lot of sightseeing.
Nick: After last year, towards the end of last year I had a part in NCIS: Los Angles. After that I’ve had interesting offers and opportunities have started to open and especially after ‘Ill Manors’. I’m going to take time to pick my next one, because I want it to be completely different from this.
What are your main ambitions when it comes to acting?
Nick: I really want to play President Obama.
Sean: I’d like to play a role such as Chris Tucker, Jim Carey, just a funny comedy role. I’ve done a few bits now with a hat and hood on, so I don’t really want to be jumping into that field anymore. I kind of want to swing it to the other side and make it go somewhere different.
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MTV Wrap Up Interview: Roll Deep [Interview]
The legendary Roll Deep Crew are back with a bang with the new mixtape ‘No Comment Star’, which hears them take their sound back to grime. The mixtape features the likes of Jammer and Opium and production from G Tank, Swifta Beater and more in the lead up to their album ‘10’. The Wrap Up’s Shireen Fenner was joined by some of the group’s members to talk early days, evolution, and fans…
The Wrap Up: For those who don’t know about Roll Deep, can you tell us how you formed?
Roll Deep: Roll Deep was a collective of friends and family that have grown up in the same area, just a family thing. Music wasn’t always the profession; we were just street people. In around 2000, Roll Deep was at the forefront of the grime scene and as we had Wiley in the group – obviously that helped! Later on, we got a record deal and got some commercial success with tunes like ‘Shake A Leg’. We had two no.1’s in 2010. Today is about the ‘No Comment Star’ mixtape – a couple members have grown up and other members have left, but it’s still the core.
TWU: There are currently nine members in Roll Deep. How do you decide who should be on what track?
Roll Deep: We don’t, it just happens naturally. It’s just whoever comes the strongest; the strongest survive basically. Sometimes not everyone likes the same song. Tania’s not on the mixtape because of the style of music, so it all depends on what’s needed when.
TWU: Members of the crew have changed and left in the 10 years you have been around. Has this affected the group and has it made it stronger?
Roll Deep: We’ve gone grey and wrinkly [laughs]. We are stronger, because we’re growing and learning every day. The core is still there, that’s never changed – Roll Deep is Roll Deep. Whoever comes and goes, the name is still Roll Deep and that’s what we’re representing.
TWU: I assume you’re all good friends. What do you do when you’re not in the studio recording in your free time together?
Roll Deep: Sex. McDonalds. Paintballing. We don’t do anything abnormal to the regular person that doesn’t make music. I can go to the shop on my own; I don’t need the whole crew holding my hand. We live regular lives outside of music.
TWU: How do you make sure you stay relevant with the ever-evolving underground dance scene?
Roll Deep: We stay in the loop. We are making all types of music as well. Regarding the underground scene, it’s not something we try to be a part of, we didn’t try to make a grime scene, we didn’t try to do new music, it’s just who we are and we just know how to express it. If we stay original with what we do, we are always going to be relevant.
TWU: How would you define Roll Deep and your sound now as you have grown over the years?
Roll Deep: I don’t think we have a particular sound because we do so many different types of music. At the end of the day we are artists who enjoy making music. People say ‘When I’m Ere’ wasn’t our sound, but we’ve got different styles. From then till now it’s just progressed, we’ve branched out and done more things from when we were just grime – now were versatile.
TWU: How do you feel when your fans say ‘this tune isn’t Roll Deep?’
Roll Deep: You’re not Roll Deep either! People that say them things don’t understand the music industry. People are like ‘grime grime grime,’ but they don’t buy the tune when we bring it out. We are going to make sure we push our CD ‘No Comment Star’ and that’s got some songs on there that will shut some people up and answer a lot of questions that people have been asking like, ‘Can they do grime still? Are they still good?’
TWU: Recently in an interview Nas said ‘we don’t chase pop, pop chases us.’ How do you feel about this statement and do you agree?
Roll Deep: Yeah we didn’t choose music; music chose us [all laugh]. That statement is a good statement though, I never looked at it like that. When I check it, it does look like that. We were Roll Deep, doing our thing on the underground, a major label came to us and saw that and said ‘we want to bring that to another level.’ We weren’t chasing a deal, it came to us.
TWU: What is the funniest or weirdest thing a fan has ever done or said to you?
Roll Deep: Some have got tattoos of our lyrics; people bring gifts to the building and just wait for us to turn up. Last year when we were on tour, people brought us collages of our albums that they made and cookies and stuff. I don’t eat anything that’s given to me, but we are just polite and say thank you. It’s cool; they’re just showing appreciation at the end of the day. Obviously you’re touching their lives in some way, but I’m not touching their food!
TWU: You’ve been doing press all day now, what’s the best question you’ve been asked and what is the most annoying question?
Roll Deep: ‘Where’s Wiley? Who is in Roll Deep?’ We don’t know the answer to either of them questions. The best question today has been ‘foreplay or f**k’? I just said no comment star…
TWU: Speaking of ‘No Comment Star’, the mixtape goes back to your grime roots. Why did you make this decision?
Roll Deep: Roll Deep are a collective of versatile artists who do different things, who just make music generally and appreciate all types of music. We always engage in that. People act like this is our first grime mixtape, but it’s not the case. We are always in a position where we can’t win, so we don’t try to impress anyone, we just do what we do. You can never please everyone.
TWU: What can we expect on the album?
Roll Deep: It’s called ‘10’, obviously to celebrate 10 years of Roll Deep – it’s got a range of stuff. It is a mash up of everything, but at a higher quality than a mixtape. We have got grimier ones that are high quality and better mix downs. Agent X is on there, so is S-X, Swindle, Wide Boys… there’s a range of people and music on there. We’re still waiting for the date, but it will be out this year.
‘No Comment Star’ is available to download now.
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