Location: Dalston, London
Age: 19
Releases: Eclectic Perspective EP
What’s the meaning behind your name?
My stage name is actually my real name, when I decided to take music seriously I thought the best way to portray, display or showcase if you like, is deliver the real me without the need of a created moniker nickname or “tag name”
What other names have you had?
Haha, I can’t lie, to get to this stage I did try a few, especially in the early age of early grime when let’s say everyone was “spitting”. That’s when I ran under the “tag name” of “Ecko or Echo.” Very young and indecisive, it was given to me by a member of the rap group, Rascals. We went to the same school.
Which song of yours would you first want people to hear?
It’s quite difficult to pinpoint an exact song to sum up me as a person because I’m still growing musically and I have songs behind closed doors. For someone listening to me for the first time via a current body of work and frame of mind on the Eclectic Perspective I’ve got three songs that for me sum up myself. P.I.W (Put In Work), Lucid Thought and Global Scale. All of them with the exception of my new ish on the way, kind of give the listener a slight insight to the man behind the music.
Who was your Hip Hop idol growing up?
To be totally fair with you I wasn’t really exposed to mad Hip Hop or real urban music til later. I grew up in an African home (Ghanaian background), full of different types of music. My pops had an old vinyl player with records and an old boombox he would play so many genres. I remember watching a Michael Jackson concert on VHS of his performance skills, plus Spandau Ballet, Bob Marley, P.M Dawn… My memory is slightly faded but in terms of my music you can hear that old school element which I’ve most been renowned for, you know.
For Hip Hop, I remember 50 Cent was someone who I really liked. I guess it was the catchy hooks. On the other hand there was Pharrell who I thought was this cool guy singing on Hip Hop-like songs with tattoos and shit, so the two I suppose. Later on and even today I become more and more fond and respectful of the pioneers, so we’re talking Grandmaster Flash, Tupac, Rodney P, Pete Rock – the list is stupid. Also, Kano for instance just because of the [impact] the era of grime had on youth. As a young dude living in urban London, I was exposed to so much so from eight til about 14. Grime had more of an impact. I also had mad influence to go and do research via games like Grand Theft Auto (notably Vice City or San Andreas) some Tony Hawk games gave me a soundtrack to an illusion I thought was real for a long time. Cool melodies made me want to find out more about music.
Which musician would you most like to work with?
Man crazy question. I think now it would have to be a mix of Mos Def (Yasin Bey), Nas, Dr. Dre, Pharrell, Kanye West, Coldplay or Tinie Tempah. Even if I didn’t vocal with them, just to see how they work in the studio type thing I think the experience is what counts.
If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead?
Outside of music, I feel like a passion I’ve had from a young age is discussion, talking, debating, storytelling I guess somewhere in the media/creative field, a presenter like a dark-skinned Reggie Yates or an Idris Elba or something, haha! I feel like I’m a Jack of all trades. Something like that but music has opened doors and my eyes rather than being blind to the fact the world’s a big place and following others isn’t always the best for you, didn’t think I’d be modeling or rocking skinnies instead of baggy jeans, but life’s like that, you zimieee?
What’s success to you?
I think achieving a personal Plato within an area of genuine enjoyment and expertise, live off it and sharing it with others is how I would define success.
Which country produces the best food and women?
I have to say Ghana, I was born here but it holds that title, but traditional English pie and mash or fish and chips. For women, I have no specific colour/nation – all flavours!
What’s your vice?
Bad habits. I’d say I’m a tad bit indecisive in immediate ‘yes/no’ situations. I’m quite specific I like time to decide, ha ha.
What’s your favorite animal?
Probably a Panther, a Chimp or a Koi Fish.
