Exclusive interview with 21 Perspective

Exclusive interview with Hip Hop Artist 21 Perspective

21 Perspective is a London based artist with a lot of passion. He started his career as an artist manager but now 21 Perspective takes his experience and stories and applies them to his own craft. We get to speak to the man himself and asked him a few questions on his music, his career and the role religion plays in his music

You have a degree in Philosophy and in medicine; does this play a part in your lyrics and song writing?

Yeah definitely. It just gave me a bit of introspection into myself and the world around. I only ever write about things I’ve seen or done so the Philosophy kinda just helped me add to the critical analysis of what I do

 How would you describe your music to the people out there?

It’s real. It’s just me but on a microphone. I’m the same kinda person but just broken down. So when I record as the Suicide Kid or the Romantic I’m just tapping into different parts of myself using different tones, contents, lyrics and so forth. End of the day I’m just being me. I mean I’m not the coolest guy. I don’t get a lot of girls! I mean I just want to express myself and this gives me the avenue to do that.

In terms of genre my latest stuff really isn’t restricted. I’ve done acoustic stuff, hip hop, RnB and my latest stuff I’m about to put out is sorta urban soul, I guess.

The name 21 perspective. Is there meaning behind it?

Yeah I started music at the age of 21. It’s also the year I just figured out how I feel about a lot of things so it made sense for me put the two together. Plus I think it’s a bit different and will make people remember it

 You are also a film maker do you feature your own music in your movies or do you like to steer clear of that?

Yeah I’m in two minds about this constantly. I pretty much hate everything I do and am super self critical so ask me on the day of the shoot! Haha got a video shoot later this week . I try and play it to the content of what we’re shooting if I’m completely honest

The debut mixtape “straightAstudent” is being developed, can you give us some insight into how this will sound and feel?

Old school jazz hip-hop. I’m a MASSIVE Tribe Called Quest, Mos Def, Rakim fan – all those classics so it’s got that intelligent, chilled feel to it.

Are you always looking to venture into different avenues as you have achieved a lot so far?

I haven’t achieved anything! But yes. I just dropped a poetry video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DvHiyc7-zM&feature=channel_video_title. I would like to focus  a little more on my blog – it’s just to vent my academia to be honest. Sometimes it’s hard to do that and be melodic and musical!

Does your religion play a major part in your thought process or is this something you like to keep away from when writing/singing?

Definitely. Everything I’m saying is linked to religion if I’m honest. Pretty much everything.  I’m rarely overt with it but it’s constantly in the back of my mind ensuring I keep a check on everything I say and do.

What can we expect next from you?

Hopefully soon I can drop my film, mixtape and another poetry video if things fall into the right place

Any tours coming up? If so where and when can people check you out?

My manager’s got me a few shows up north soon I think. But come and check me out at:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhatsYaPerspective

Twitter: www.twitter.com/YaPerspective

Blog: www.WhatsYaPerspective.wordpress.com

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Just Blaze interview with Recordkingz

Just Blaze talks to Recordkingz.come

Platinum selling Hip Hop producer Just Blaze speaks to Recordkingz TV in an exclusive interview on beat digging and music production culture.  The multi million dollar recording artist who has produced Hip Hop hits for artists like Eminem, Jay Z, Kanye West, T.I, The Game, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg and Mariah Carey.  Which includes some great sampling tips, some dusty crate music science and even some Hip Hop history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YENK1b_-l8

Check out the Recordkingz website and see for yourselves, why Recordkingz.com is the best place to dig in the crates for that rare vinyl and samples.

www.recordkingz.com

Join the New Facebook fan page for more Recordkingz Interviews with Alchemist,
Buckwild and Craig G here:-

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Recordkingzcom/292337864136713

Follow Recordkingz on Twitter @recordkingz

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Interview with the Liverpool band Space

Iinterview with the Liverpool band membTommy Scott and Allan Jones

Space are back! With a reunion gig in Liverpool's O2 Academy in Liverpool in December, a new album in 2012 and a possible world tour, the band are very busy at the moment. Luckily for us Tommy Scott and new drummer Allan Jones took time out of their schedule to give us a few answers to our questions.

How does it feel, after all this time, to be back together as a band. How does the recording feel and the reunion as a whole?
Tommy: It feels dead good to all be back together again doing solo things for so long.
We’d lost touch with each other but starting talking again after Andy’s funeral.
The band is the exact same line up apart from Andy and a sax player Andy’s replacement AlLan would make Andy proud. He’s fitted in really well.

Was it an easy decision to reform?
Tommy:It wasn’t an easy decision to reform and took years for me to decide. It’s been hard for us all to do solo stuff, even Ian McUlloch found it difficult. I also felt guilty about performing Space songs in my solo sets and it didn’t feel right to be performing them without the rest of the guys. The new solo songs went down amazing at Chester Rocks and Mathew Street lapped up both new and old Space songs even enduring the rain to have a dance.

3.The new album, do you have any idea on the name as yet?
Tommy:New album’s called, “Attack of the Mutant 50ft Kebab”.We’re still singing about serial
killers, somethings will never change
Allan: I’m so excited about it all, I was never a big Space fan growing up so had to learn
everything from scratch but I’m really excited now for the coming things, especially the
new stuff.
Tommy: There will No backing tracks either, one thing I insisted on was everything was played by us. Obviously my solo material bleeds through at times but the rockabilly songs have a "Spacey" sound to them as Fran has put bleepy noises over it to give it a 50’space sound.


What was the response to you gig at this years Chester Rocks?
Tommy: The resonse was immense. A lot of good feedback from it and people really enjoyed my solo material and throwing a few Space songs in, although I felt guilty about it, felt right.

Will the gig at the O2 in December feature any of the new material?
Tommy: It will be an even balance I think. Something for everyone. I don't really like nostalgia but I think that any reunion has am aspect of that so we hope to please everyone, old and new alike.

What are you looking forward to most at the Liverpool reunion gig?
Tommy: We are looking forward to the O2 gig, it will have a balanced mix of old and new stuff but the new songs are good enough to get the people going. Hates nostalgia so doesn’t want it
from the O2 gig. That might change though as I know the fans will be nostalgic about it. There will No backing tracks either, one thing I insisted on was everything was played by us.

So how are you dealing with the media attention again and what are your plans for the near future?
Tommy: We are hoping for a full UK tour next year as long as we don’t fall out this time.(laughs) We’re all still in the honeymoon period again then in 2013 there will be a global tour including Thailand but for 2012 we’re concentrating on the UK.

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Exclusive Interview with Tyla from Dogs D'amour

The Dogs D'Amour are a rock and roll band formed in 1983 in London, England. Over the years the band has had various line-ups, the only constant being vocalist Tyla.

Our man on the scene, Bryan Heath, got to talk to the man himself on the cusp of their new UK tour and ask him a few questions regarding the old members and his notorious rock and roll life style.

How are the preparations for the tour coming along? Looking forward to it? What can the audience expect? 

YES, everything on schedule looking good and cant wait for it to start. 

Any plans to do any of the old material (Errol Flynn, satellite kid?) and what, if any new stuff do they intend to play?

Well if you just do new stuff the older fans moan and if you only do old stuff new fans moan so its hard to keep everyone happy so we will be doing a wide selection of everything old and new. should be about an 8 hour set, only joking about an hour and a half, basically if we don’t have a curfew I would keep going as long as the fans stay. 

You have a reputation for being the "rock star" (drinking lots, partying etc) does this still go on or has age calmed you down? 

Well I still like the odd drink or two but being a family guy with 2 kids its not best to get wasted with them around lol 

A lot of the old skool fans would like to see the original Dogs D'amour again,will there be any chance of the old line up getting together at some point?

Well one is in L.A one in Middlesborough  one in New York so booking a studio is a problem lol, no we still keep in touch, calls and emails but they are busy with their things and I'm just keeping on with mine. 

You have 18 solo albums..any plans for any more?? 

Oh yes, I just keep working you know pen and paper in pocket and it just comes when it comes, I have even written lyrics down on my oyster card in the past! I am redoing all the old albums including A graveyard of empty bottles, the record company didn’t want to do it so I'm going to do it myself with some new videos as well. I have already put a couple on YouTube so check it. 

You used to do the artwork for your covers do you still do the art? 

Yes yes that’s what I do I love it, I love painting guitars, becoming a musician was never my dream I just started doing it and I'm lucky to be still at it but art is always something I will love to do. 

I always thought of you as an American band as you had that look, I was surprised to discover you were actually British, do you get that a lot?

Yes some people think I'm American, Australian but I have a background from Portsmouth and the midlands. (said with an unmistakable midland accent!)

http://www.myspace.com/tylaandthedogsdamour 

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Tall Trees interview

We caught up with Tall Trees to ask them some vital  questions on their new album and to generally just chew the fat over their likes and their future plans

MM: You are about to release your mini-album ”Scream Danger”. How dos that feel and do you think it will be well received?

TT:Feels great. We hope everyone will enjoy it as much as we did recording it!

MM: What was it like working with producer Streaky?

TT:They were very quick, we dont get much involvement with mastering, other than listening back to it.

MM:  Are you playing any of the UK festivals and if so where can people catch you?

TT:At the moment we only have one festival, and that is Warrington Music Festival.

MM:  What would you say were your biggest influences musically?

TT:We have a long list, from Thin Lizzy to Paramore, Lost Prophets, Anberlin, Foo Fighters to name a few great bands.

MM: After the album is released are you touring with it?

TT:We plan to continue touring as we do now. We hope to visit a lot of new places.

TT: Why “Tall Trees? What is the significance? No particular reason, other than it stood out from a long list of possibilities.

MM: Any new single releases on the horizon and if so when and what will be the single?

TT:We plan to release the title track 'Scream Danger' along with a video before the release of the mini album.

http://talltreesband.com/

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Exclusive Interview with Ruarri Joseph

 

MusicmafiaUK has been in conversation with Ruarri Joseph ahead of his UK Tour and visit to the Shipping Forecast in Liverpool. Read what he had to say to us and his thoughts about the new album Shoulder to the wheel

Can you tell us where your influence and ideas came for the new album “Shoulder to the wheel” ?

 

The record kind of came from nowhere.  I  had no preconceptions about the end result, I was just writing, recording and mixing all at the same time, like a stream of consciousness, and then suddenly found I had another record under my belt.  When I think about it now there’s an underlying theme of hope and light at the end of the tunnel I guess, optimism in the face of adversity and what not, but it really wasn’t planned.   The previous year had been pretty insane and it was the first time I’d done any real music for quite some time, so I was doing it for myself.  I knew nothing about gospel music but loved the idea of music that gives you faith and truth, so it’s an interpretation of that if anything.  

      You play the Shipping Forecast in Liverpool on Saturday. Have you played Liverpool before and what are your impressions of it if you have?

Yeah I’ve played Liverpool a few times, always a pleasure.   The people are super friendly.  When I was a kid we lived next door to a guy from Liverpool who used to play a Hammond organ at full volume.  I’d stand in the garden and be loving it.  He gave me an LP of the Kop choir singing all their different football songs (the clean ones), which was my first record.  He said I could have it so long as I supported Liverpool!  It’s a cool place

.   

      What type of gig will the people coming to see you expect to see?

We’re playing a bunch of duo shows, so it’s me and my friend Al who plays electrics and anything else with strings.  We still mix it up a load.  Some old, some new, the odd request, whatever.  We take each show as it comes and try to make sure the audience is happy.  I hate any show where the singer tells the audience to be quiet.  We’re there for them.

      The Shipping forecast is a great venue for intimate gigs due to its outlay. Do you think your music will reflect well in these surroundings?

I hope so.  Like I say, each gig is totally different.  Sometimes they’re quiet and intimate, sometimes rowdy as hell but it’s good to be versatile.  I’d like to think we could make it work whatever our setting.

       You have 2 other albums (both sides of the coin/Live at the acorn) how does the new album compare to the other 2?

Actually I have three other albums.  My first album was called Tales of Grime and Grit and came out on Atlantic records in 2007 but I no longer own the rights to it so I don’t know what they’re doing with it.  That record was made within the major system, so big studio, producer, mix engineer, budget, but as much fun as it was, I’m not sure it suited me.  The second record (both sides of the coin) I’m still really proud of as I’d done the brave (or stupid) thing by leaving Atlantic and poured my heart and soul into it, doing everything including releasing it through my own label which was tough going but really satisfying.  I pulled out of the promotional tour on that record when my eldest became ill and had to be taken to hospital for some time, so I always feel it had more to give but wasn’t meant to be.  I was a dad and a husband for the next 8 months and then Shoulder to the Wheel popped out.  The new record is the most ‘me’ a record could be.  I wasn’t writing for a label or to prove anything, just purely for the love of music.

      How has the tour been so far and what has been the reaction of the audiences?

We start tomorrow so I’ll let you know.

     What’s next for Ruarri Joseph? 

I’ve been writing and recording some new stuff and got the rest of the year between shows and festivals to piece it all together.  Just trying to stay afloat and happy for now.

You can catch Ruarri on Saturday 9th April in Liverpool at the Shipping Forecast

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REVIEWS

OFFICER KICKS – CITY WIDE CURFEW REVIEW.

Every now and again a band comes along that you say to yourself “why aren’t these guys massive!!!” Officer kicks are such a band and city wide curfew is the debut album.

Officer Kicks is KEITH WICKHAM (drum), MICHAEL SKORJANEC (bass), JAMIE SCALLION (vocal), JAMIE FISHER (guitar) and we at Musicmafiauk have managed to secure a pre-release copy of the album out on April 19th from our friends at Artfulmtb
(http://www.myspace.com/artfulmtb) and let me tell you, I’m glad we did.

This album is original, refreshing and just the thing we need to get us away from all the coldplay, Paloma Faith dross we have been exposed to recently.

From the first track “Murderland” we are thrown into a heady mix of rocking guitar riffs, thumping rhythm and intense vocal displays from the man scallion. The album stomps along bringing track after track of pure melody and lyrics that will have everybody singing along at concerts. Songs like “Tom Thumb” and “Control Sick” are two such songs and with songs like Automatic, that may have that Oasis influence within it, id none the less a stand out and stand alone track that works.

Don’t get me wrong. Officer Kicks aren’t only just about amazing catchy rock riffs but also show their versatility on such tracks as “Mrs Anderson” the gorgeously poetic “White Heat” which concludes the album on a haunting note with the beautiful piano accompanying Scallions hurt and emotional vocals.

All in all, this album is packed with great songs, catchy melodies and lyrics and most of honesty. Something which a lot of the bigger bands have forgotten about in their road to glorious indie fame.

I have seen these guys perform before and they blew me away but with this new material in their arsenal they are sure to not only bring the house down but probably the whole neighbourhood and surrounding counties!


NEW YOUNG PONY CLUB, KAROVA LIVERPOOL 26/3/10

Well heres the first of our reviews/Interviews. This is with New young Pony Club who have just finished a UK tour and soon to be embarking on a european tour with their new album The Optimist. This was during their gig at The Karova in Liverpool.

How is the tour going up to now?
Andy: Really good! All the crowds have been really supportive. Glasgow and Bristol especially were great
How you feeling about tonight’s gig at the Karova?
Andy: We have a few little hometowns like Brighton and of course Liverpool. We have played here so many times that we now feel it’s a home from home especially as the guy that designs our album cover etc is from here, so we are feeling really good about tonight.
What response have you had from the new album “The Optimist”?
Andy: The album response has been amazing. It’s been kind of mixed in some places but the people who got it have loved it and people like NME have given us a brilliant review.
Tahita: I think it’s also split a lot of people who wanted us to do what we did before because they loved it and then there are the people that thought the last album was annoying and wanted us to grow more and do something that they related to more and those people are loving it.
Andy: Reactions from different countries has been varied. I think people in this country believed the hype and the new wave hype. Other countries just went out and bought it because they just saw us as a band and saw it as a progression from the last album.
Was it difficult to make this album?
Andy: To be fair it didn’t come really quickly, it took a while for us to get going and to realize what it was we wanted to do with this record, that in itself took a bit of time, but that was mainly due to getting over a massive year long world tour and massive schedule but once we settled back into it it became a lot easier.
Tahita: It was harder to make because we were trying to do something different. We threw ourselves out of our comfort zone. It’s like the saying that when things are darkest and you’re the most afraid, it’s then that you know you’re going somewhere new. So in that respect, in sort of keeping the faith and continuing to move forward as hard as we could, that helped. It’s definitely beneficial to be out of your comfort zone. It’s terrifying and you freak out but at the same time we wouldn’t have made a song like The Optimist if we had still been in the fantastic place we were. The strongest songs on the new album I feel are when we are furthest out of our comfort zone
The new album is a lot darker than the first. Was this intentional?
Tahita: I think it was intentional, yes. It was something we had talked about after the last album and we were aware that we were no longer these 18 year old party animals and that we have had our darker times.
Why “The Optimist” as the title to the album?
Andy: Well I think because we were going through some troubled times ourselves the optimism came from the music we were making.
Tahita: It felt like we were moving forward.
Andy: And that kept us optimistic that the band was going to keep on going through those troubled times and not fall apart. Our biggest fear was that the we would make a duff album which has been the downfall of some many bands before us. We didn’t want to rush something out and it was rubbish and that was always in the back of our minds so there was optimism there when the music started to come together.
The single “Lost a girl” seems to have a new order influence to it, was that intentional?
Andy: Well if there is it wasn’t intentional. I’ve never been a big fan. Of course they had their moments but I prefer them before they became as popular as they did, when they still had some of the darkness from from Joy Division. I found there was a lot of optimism in the ceremony single so that’s why it wasn’t unusual to call this album The Optimist. You need to bring the hope into music when things aren’t always so bright.
Finally, will you be playing the NME tent at the festivals this year?
Andy: Yes we will still be doing that again this year. We always enjoy doing the later slots at festivals and in a smaller arena because, especially with the new material, it’s more intimate. It should be good.

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