Latest / ninetyfive / In Conversation With Osas | The story behind the EP, musical world-building & ambition with purpose

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In Conversation With Osas | The story behind the EP, musical world-building & ambition with purpose · ninetyfive

• 0:10
  SPEAKER_02: Today we're joined by Southeast London's rising Afro RB star Osasuq.
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_02: His latest EB.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_02: Wish we had more time released at the end of July, and he's currently preparing for the debut headline show.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_02: Let's go.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_02: Uh colours Hoxton.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_02: You excited?
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_02: I'm excited, man.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_02: I can't wait.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_02: I can't wait.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you for having me here, bro.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_02: It's an honor to have you here.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you for making the journey with a bit to West London.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_02: Let's go, let's go.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_01: So Southeast London Afro RB.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_01: But other than that, if if we don't know you, give us a little intro of Osas.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_04: Um I'm Osas 23.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_04: Um, I was born in Germany.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_04: Fun fact, born in Nuremberg, came in when I was like three, and yeah, man, man United support, as we spoke before, having a terrible season.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_04: Let's let's not talk about this.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_04: Don't do this to me already, bro.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_04: But um, yeah, like apart from that, really just music, man.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_04: Just growing up, like making music, singing with my family, and then after a while, just wanted to take it seriously, and now we're here.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_02: Random question.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_02: Do you have do you have any memories of Nuremberg at all?
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_04: The only memories I have are like my parents telling me about why I'd done it.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_04: I was like, okay, I don't I don't remember it at all.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_04: However, I am planning to go back soon just to kind of like you know, see, see where I was made.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, see where it all began.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_02: Well, we um what needed to get into like obviously you say we're here now, but on the journey you're talking about, you know, you we know that you've like I've heard you speak about like this a Vodafone and like recording the Vodafone growing up and stuff.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_02: But I'm interested, like what are some of your um like main musical references and inspirations that you carry into your music today?
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_04: That's that's actually such a good question.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_04: Um I I think I said to my friend, it's it's kind of a blur, you know, because it's just so many different elements.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_04: Like I remember my dad, like when he used to drop us to school, he used to like play like old school Edo, where I'm from in Nigeria, um, folk music.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_04: So that we'll be hearing like high life elements, or when anytime we went to Nigeria, he came back with like a brand new CD with like the newest like Afrobeats hits.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_04: This is like 2010, 2011.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_04: Um, but then when you're in school, you're listening to grime, you listen to rap.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_04: Uh me and my siblings, like anytime we came home, MTV bass, mtv pop, just constantly listening to like new music videos and seeing what's up, and yeah, and RB.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_04: And I loved Michael Jackson.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_04: Like when Michael Jackson died, like I was upset.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_04: I was like, I don't even know how old I was, but yeah, like I was I was heartbroken.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_04: Um, so yeah, like I feel like my musical influences just came from everywhere, like all around me.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, do you have like any like point in time that you can reference where you saw someone, whether you're on MTV base or whatever, you're like, that's sick.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_04: I would love to be like, Yeah, oh my gosh.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_04: Um, I remember watching channel aka and when Bryce and Tiller dropped Don't the music video, and I thought it was from London, like because obviously it was dark, like the neon lights, and like I think it was like under a bridge, and for me, I was just like, Yo, this is so cool because it's RB, but like he was just cool with it, like was mad like Bob.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and I yeah, I resonated with that album so much.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_04: Like, yeah, Bryce and Tiller Traps, that was a very, very big album for me.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_04: And then, like, I think the second point, like 2020 lockdown, when Whiskey Drop made in Lagos, like for me, like as an as a Nigerian, like that album was insane because it was like the right blend of RB and Afro, and I think even that album kind of shaped like the type of music I wanted to make, and yeah, so those two points, like yeah, I remember those two, yeah, for sure.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, Trap Soul was mad.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, Trap Soul was mad.
• 3:47
  SPEAKER_04: It was mad.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_04: Like, there was no there's no misses on that album, you know.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, it's crazy, yeah.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_04: Like, yeah, Bryce and Tiller, he's a goal, man.
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_04: It's definitely a classic album, yeah, yeah.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_04: 100%, 100%.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_01: So, in terms of going into shape shaping the OSA sound, like what does that look like?
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_01: What does it feel like?
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_01: Like, what what what's what's the scene?
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_04: I mean, like, it's definitely evolved.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_04: Like, I think when I was starting, like, when I started music when I was like 13, it was really much like Afro Swing, like Afro Swing music, because obviously that was what was popping in um you know in in the UK, but behind closed doors, I was listening to a lot of RB, I was listening to a lot of Afro beats, yeah.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_04: Um, but just because Afro swing was the thing that was kind of in the front, so that's like what I was doing.
• 4:31
  SPEAKER_04: But I think artists like um Bryce and artists like Wiz, Brent, um they like they helped me when I started listening to their music more.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_04: Um, you know, they helped me really find this sound where it's like there's RB elements, but the core is Afrobeats, and that's why in a lot of anytime I speak to people, I really reference um Whisk's work, especially Made in Lagos, because I really felt like it was Afrobeats, but it was RB as well, like the melodies.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_04: Um, there's one song he had with like Damien Marley.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_04: Um, that song was beautiful.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_04: The song with her, um, the LMA there's so many amazing songs in that project.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and just when I listened to it, I was like, okay, this is a time music I want to make where it's RB but it's afro as well.
• 5:12
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and I just started to like work and build towards that.
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_01: So to taking a step back, so 2020 made in Lagos, but you were releasing already by like 2018.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_01: So, what was the point where you're like, This is I want to make music and this is for me?
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_04: So I I started releasing music because there's 2018 is what it's set of on like DSPs, but I still never had some black rock.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_04: So I dropped my first song around like I was like 2015, 16.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_04: I was gonna drop my first song when I was like in year nine.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_04: Um how do you know you have to even do that in your nine?
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_04: So my friends were so I was always singing in school, um, and then my friends, they actually went studio, so they were going to studio here and there, and I was just like, yo, I actually want to do this, so can can you take me studio one day?
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_04: Um so they took me and we we we created this song, and I was like, okay, this is sick.
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_04: Dropped it on SoundCloud, and then like the people in my school liked it.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_04: I was like, okay, cool, you know, I'm gonna keep dropping music.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_04: So then from there, just casually like dropping so many.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_04: I can never listen to those songs because they're so like that's so cringe in my ears.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_04: But like, yeah, man, I think it was just developing from there.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and then obviously, like I said before, Afro swing became the main thing in the UK.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_04: So I started like really, you know, doing that, but I didn't necessarily feel like it was my music, if you know what I mean.
• 6:35
  SPEAKER_04: It was just the music that was just you know popping at the time, and obviously I was young listening to that.
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_04: Um, so when like I really delved into like you know the RB lot from like the 2010s, and then obviously like whiz like I feel like yo, my world just changed.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_04: I was like, okay, this is like this is yeah, how I can grow and this is how I can make this true to myself.
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_04: So yeah, it took a lot of building, but yeah, that's sick.
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_02: I feel like you've really found your your sound.
• 7:01
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_02: And it sounds, yeah, it feels yeah, it feels the most authentic to you.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_02: It feels like it complements your vocal tone the most and it combines like influences from from family, but also what you were listening to growing up and some of your favourite artists as well.
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_02: So that's a great effort.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_02: A question on that, so you coin it afro R and B.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_02: If there's if someone hasn't listened to the project that we're about to come on to, yeah, what is the is there a perfect environment for them to listen to?
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_02: What like what do you see when you're listening to Osas?
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_02: What do you smell?
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_02: Like, is it a candle lit?
• 7:33
  SPEAKER_04: Like what's the vibes?
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_04: Man, like it's a romantic date night, man.
• 7:37
  SPEAKER_04: Like he's like you're at some like high-end restaurant, you know what I mean, dim lights, just talking to your woman.
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_04: That's that's kind of the vibe, you know.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_04: Um, but at the same time, it's like you're at a beach, um, just chilling, relaxing, you know, because even when I'm making my songs, like I like studios where it's like it's not like LED lights, I like like studios where it's super chill, like, you know, there's like these type of lights, you know.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, or not this like light specifically, stuff like that.
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_04: That's where I just feel like I make you know the best music.
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_04: Because I feel like my music is very warm and relaxing.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_04: So I feel like when you listen to it in those places with the people that you love, yeah, you'll get the you'll really understand and really take it in for sure.
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_04: I love that.
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, thank you.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_02: From a date night to the beach.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I'm telling you.
• 8:24
  SPEAKER_04: I'm telling you.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_04: Have you listened to it on the beach yet?
• 8:27
  SPEAKER_04: No, not yet.
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_04: I I'm going to um I'm going to Nigeria soon.
• 8:32
  SPEAKER_04: So I'm going to listen to our project on the beach, and I'm going to let you know how it how it feels.
• 8:36
  SPEAKER_02: That's it.
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_02: I'm looking forward to the content from that as well.
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_02: Need to see it.
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_02: Of course, man.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_02: Need to see it.
• 8:41
  SPEAKER_01: So in the studio, you've set you set the mood, you already know what is gonna is gonna match the sound.
• 8:45
  SPEAKER_01: Are we doing melodies first?
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_04: lyrics first or melodies, melodies for sure.
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_04: Um, it really starts with a conversation to be honest.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_04: Like, I talk a lot, so when I'm in the studio, I'm always I always have something to say, so and then we just have conversations.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_04: I play some music I've been listening to, I've been vibing with, play some chords, and then obviously it starts with the melodies.
• 9:05
  SPEAKER_04: Um, because one thing I've realized like with music is that melodies like translate even if they don't understand what you're saying.
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_04: You know, like I've had a lot of um people reach out or like become fans with me from like different places that don't actually speak English, so it's really the melody that they're really resonating with.
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_04: So like if the melody can like connect already, then the lyrics that's when like I'm like, okay, cool, we're good.
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_04: These these melodies sound sick.
• 9:31
  SPEAKER_04: Now let's work on the lyrics and what I'm actually trying to say.
• 9:34
  SPEAKER_04: So your melodies start and then we go into the lyrics, and then yeah, it kind of builds from there.
• 9:38
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, obviously, we're we're in Afro R and B now.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but there is a lot of fusion in in in your sound, and it's not it's it feels like almost a disservice just to call it afrogramm.
• 9:49
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, no, for sure, for sure, for sure, for sure.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_04: Right, looking at like your so much soul jazz, there's so many elements in it, yeah.
• 9:55
  SPEAKER_01: So like so, do you know kind of what pocket you want it to live in from the get-go?
• 9:59
  SPEAKER_01: Like, once you've got the melody, do you know straight away it's gonna be this type of genre or this like nah nah nah?
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_04: Because we we can never fix it in the studio, like yeah, um, like we just create, and then whatever it sounds like after is whatever it sounds like after.
• 10:13
  SPEAKER_04: Like, we have some songs where it's going this direction, and then we're like, okay, we might have to put some bossa nova drums in it, and now it's sound like a whole different way, or X, Y, and Z.
• 10:23
  SPEAKER_04: So I don't think you should like as an artist, I don't think is you it's good to go into the studio with like a fixed mind of how you want a song to be or what journey you want the song to live in.
• 10:32
  SPEAKER_04: I just want to go there and create music, so that's kind of what I do.
• 10:35
  SPEAKER_01: So, speaking of creativity, yeah, let's get into the project, bro.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_01: First of all, it's an EP, right?
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_01: So, what does an EP mean to you versus an album?
• 10:45
  SPEAKER_04: That's a good question.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_04: Um, so I've dropped two EPs.
• 10:49
  SPEAKER_04: I had um If it was up to me and Wish Had More Time.
• 10:52
  SPEAKER_04: And the way I look at it is for me, these EPs are like my small albums because I don't have the money to do the album yet, you know what I'm saying?
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_04: So yeah, like because we're putting on a lot a lot of time to these for these projects, so that's just kind of like how I look at it, and then obviously when the album comes, you know, just know we we're backed, we're ready for that album, you know.
• 11:15
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_04: That's just that's literally it, that's how I view it.
• 11:18
  SPEAKER_01: So you wouldn't call uh the projects that you released uh last year the summer and winter projects.
• 11:24
  SPEAKER_01: No, no, yeah.
• 11:24
  SPEAKER_04: They're not even EPs, they're not even EPs, too.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_04: That's just a little vibe, yeah.
• 11:30
  SPEAKER_04: Those are just like little vibes, and then these are like EPs, which are to me anyway my mini albums.
• 11:35
  SPEAKER_04: That's how I look at it.
• 11:37
  SPEAKER_01: I was saying I was saying to Harrison, I was like, Yeah, I'm bumping that winter one into the top, yeah.
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_04: We're gonna bring um Sons of Winter too soon.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_01: So let's go, let's go when you say Bryce and Tiller, yeah.
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_01: That was the vibe, yeah.
• 11:53
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, straight away.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
• 11:55
  SPEAKER_01: Congrats on that.
• 11:56
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you, thank you very much.
• 11:57
  SPEAKER_02: But with that being said, like you have definitely approached it and treated it very much as if it were an album in terms of like um everything from the visuals to the artwork to the cohesion of the songs to the feel of the songs being in the same world.
• 12:12
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so yeah, firstly commend you on that.
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you, and then secondly, your your brother said to you previous that like the music's cold and everything, but he was like, You need to work on the world building, um, which is like obviously an important thing in today's day and age.
• 12:26
  SPEAKER_02: However, it you also just want to double down and focus on the music.
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_02: So, how did you approach world building for wish we had more time?
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_04: So, yeah, when it came to like the world building, um thinking of a colour when listening to the project.
• 12:39
  SPEAKER_04: So, when I was listening to I th I I saw brown, do you know what I mean?
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_04: So I was like, okay, cool, warm, chill, brown, home brown.
• 12:48
  SPEAKER_04: So then we we um went on Photoshop and we created the brown background that I was um posting all around, even till now.
• 12:56
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and then me and my creative team Hardfire, we started shooting videos um of like a little storyline.
• 13:03
  SPEAKER_04: So there was one where I was with a girl outside and she was kind of stressed, she got a new job, but like she just stressed that so many things are happening at once, and I was telling her, take it easy, relax.
• 13:13
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, and then there was another song where she just got into a um she's like finished her job and she's in the car now going home, but like the work never stops.
• 13:23
  SPEAKER_04: Her manager's still calling her and she's in the cab, the cab driver's sending to speak to her, but when I call her, it's like all of that weight on her shoulders gets released.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_04: Um and I feel like, and even like the merch that we have, like the colours and like the writing and all of that, like it was just something that we wanted to just bring.
• 13:41
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and for me also to challenge myself as well, um, to try and like you know, just build something and show people that okay, if I'm doing all of this now for these six songs, you know what I mean?
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_04: I could really build and do something sick for the album.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_04: So yeah.
• 13:57
  SPEAKER_01: So would you say the main inspiration was that warm feeling, or was there was there something behind it, was it the messaging?
• 14:04
  SPEAKER_04: Because obviously, yeah, um, it was it was a bit of both.
• 14:07
  SPEAKER_04: Um, because even I was asking the O investors like um what would you wish you had more time for?
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_04: Um because the message for me was really deep in the sense of like you know, um time is precious in it.
• 14:19
  SPEAKER_04: And I think for me, like I'm so focused.
• 14:21
  SPEAKER_04: Well, I was probably told now to be honest, super focused on like what's next, what's happening, and I found myself a lot of times um that I'll be in a room, but my mind is somewhere else, constantly, constantly thinking, and yeah, it wasn't really until um I went to see my girlfriend, and like I was there for like a few days, and she just felt like she said to me that it felt like I was there for a few hours, and then one of my friends had a show, and at that point I've not seen any of my friends for a long ass time.
• 14:51
  SPEAKER_04: And when I was at the show and I left, I was like, damn, like I haven't seen these guys in ages.
• 14:56
  SPEAKER_04: So these little moments um kind of made me want to make the project, you know.
• 15:01
  SPEAKER_04: So yeah, and then from there, obviously the world building kind of came from there.
• 15:05
  SPEAKER_02: In that, do you feel like you've actually spent more time with people you're close to and friends and creative collaborators by um doing the project?
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_04: Probably not, you know.
• 15:14
  SPEAKER_04: Is it yeah, if I'm being honest, it's a work in progress because like I feel like life, it's just so many things are happening like all the time, and also as well, like I'm still trying to learn how to actually be more present in these things and like actually take it like each day as it comes, you know what I mean?
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_04: Um, but even like I said, like even with this project, like I was constantly focused on making sure this is the best music, making sure that you know the rollout was good.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_04: So I was constantly thinking about these things.
• 15:44
  SPEAKER_04: Like even now with the show, I'm constantly okay, cool, we need to do this, we need to do this.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_04: So um, I'm still learning, like, it's still definitely a work in progress.
• 15:51
  SPEAKER_02: But so interesting, in it, because um, yeah, just we we always want to do sometimes the grass can always feel greener, innit?
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_02: But I do think that um, and I've heard you speak about this in other forums, but like you used to work a retail job, yeah, yeah, and in that job there were people that you've met that you now cross paths with in like a creative and a musical way.
• 16:12
  SPEAKER_02: So I feel like it can be so easy to like almost despise the time we're in at the minute because we're we're seeing here and the vision and the ambition so much, but on the journey, there's such amazing stuff that does happen, and sometimes it's easy to like.
• 16:26
  SPEAKER_02: No, 100%.
• 16:27
  SPEAKER_04: Like, even um my my auntie came from America, and like she saw my mum, and they had like a beautiful moment where they hugged each other crying.
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_04: I was like, damn, they haven't seen each other for so long.
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_04: Do you know what I mean?
• 16:39
  SPEAKER_04: Like they speak on the phone here and there, but like being in that same place, like all of the emotions of not seeing your sister because she lives in the UK and you live in America, and like it was so crazy to see, and I was like, this is kind of what like I'm making this project about, you know.
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_04: Like, obviously, I'm talking about in like a romantic setting, but I think it's the same thing, like um, you know, my girlfriend's super busy, I'm super busy, so the times that we have to actually spend with each other, I actually cherish that.
• 17:05
  SPEAKER_04: Do you know what I mean?
• 17:06
  SPEAKER_04: So um, yeah, so I really I really enjoyed making this project.
• 17:11
  SPEAKER_04: Like, even when I listen to it now, I'm like, yeah, this was sick.
• 17:13
  SPEAKER_04: Like, we actually cooked, you know.
• 17:15
  SPEAKER_04: Um, yeah, man, yeah, it was it's good, it was good.
• 17:18
  SPEAKER_01: So, speaking of time, how long did it take you to make this project?
• 17:22
  SPEAKER_01: Do you wish you had more time?
• 17:24
  SPEAKER_04: Oh, do I wish I had more time to make nah nah nah nah nah?
• 17:27
  SPEAKER_04: I don't wish I had more time to make the project.
• 17:29
  SPEAKER_04: Um, I think it's it took me like a year and a few months um to make the project.
• 17:33
  SPEAKER_04: I can't, I couldn't have done it without like you know, the amazing like producers on it.
• 17:38
  SPEAKER_04: There were so many collaborators on it from like Pyro, F1, David, Benjamin, Will, Q's Retired, Gianni, he's from New York.
• 17:47
  SPEAKER_04: Like so many, so many um things I even produced some songs on it.
• 17:51
  SPEAKER_04: Come on, come on, and big up everyone else as well.
• 17:53
  SPEAKER_02: It sounds so clean and yeah, where the guys are mixed and mastered, like you executed it, yeah, executed it really, really well, man.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_04: There was um so many people um on it.
• 18:03
  SPEAKER_04: We had so many, like, so many other songs as well that didn't make the cut, but I think with this, with the time that we had, like, every one of those people I named was super ready to make sure that these this was like the best music ever.
• 18:15
  SPEAKER_04: Like, there was times where I wasn't even in the studio and they were working on it.
• 18:18
  SPEAKER_04: Wow, like yeah, so I really appreciated it.
• 18:21
  SPEAKER_04: So I think for me, as much as the music, like I was even saying to someone, I kind of missed the process.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_04: Now the songs are out, it's like damn.
• 18:28
  SPEAKER_04: Like, I I enjoyed the idea of this project one day going out to the world, and obviously now I was here.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_01: So, you yeah, you've mentioned like quite a few like collaborators there.
• 18:39
  SPEAKER_01: Like, how do you go about that collaboration?
• 18:41
  SPEAKER_01: Like, how does it all start?
• 18:42
  SPEAKER_01: Do you have like one set producer first, and then you kind of go from there?
• 18:46
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I mean how did you make those connections to be honest?
• 18:48
  SPEAKER_04: My set producers that I've worked with a lot is always F1 and Pyro.
• 18:53
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and then from there just kind of grew.
• 18:56
  SPEAKER_04: Like, I'm I'm so down to collab, collaborate.
• 18:59
  SPEAKER_04: Like, as long as like you're gonna bring 100%, as long as like you're gonna challenge me creatively, and everyone that like we've brought on, um, it's kind of like AR into it to uh to an extent, like one of my producers on Take It Easy Cadet.
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_04: We worked together, and I had a session with F1 and I was like, Bro, you might as well come.
• 19:16
  SPEAKER_04: And we were we were creating something else, and he had a drum pattern, and he was like, Yeah, yo, play this.
• 19:21
  SPEAKER_04: We played it, we're like, This is sick, and then we made Take It Easy.
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_04: That's one song.
• 19:25
  SPEAKER_04: Um, we had a bunch of songs with Pyro, and he was like, He thinks that we need a sax.
• 19:30
  SPEAKER_04: And we had some like saxophone loops on Splice, but he was like, We need a proper saxophone this.
• 19:35
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and then he brought um he brought Will and I was like, Oh, sick, Will is sick.
• 19:40
  SPEAKER_04: We brought him in for a session, and he was amazing.
• 19:42
  SPEAKER_04: Um, Gianni, he came to London for a few weeks.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_04: We said let's lock in and we create waterfall.
• 19:48
  SPEAKER_04: Um, yeah, like it was just just reaching out um and just trying to tap in with people that are really down to collaborate.
• 19:55
  SPEAKER_04: Um, David, Blacks, they're like they're like my big brothers.
• 19:59
  SPEAKER_04: So, like David, he plays everything like on Odor, the piano, the guitar, the saxophone, the trumpet, he played everything on that.
• 20:08
  SPEAKER_04: Um, yeah, and then um Blacks, he's like the best bass player I know.
• 20:12
  SPEAKER_04: So, yeah, they're just so talented, man.
• 20:15
  SPEAKER_04: I can't lie, they're just so talented.
• 20:17
  SPEAKER_04: So I was super blessed to be able to work with them on this project.
• 20:21
  SPEAKER_01: And how do you make sure with all these people coming in and touching the project?
• 20:27
  SPEAKER_01: Obviously, they're super talented, but how do you make sure it's still to your vision?
• 20:31
  SPEAKER_04: No, because um I kind of run a strict regime.
• 20:34
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, let us know, let us know.
• 20:37
  SPEAKER_04: I already know, like, when once we've got past that creative phase, like I'm like an executive director, yeah.
• 20:44
  SPEAKER_04: So um executive producer, so I know like, okay, cool, this is where it needs to go.
• 20:48
  SPEAKER_04: So once we've hit there, it's done.
• 20:50
  SPEAKER_04: Like, there's no more editions, it's done.
• 20:52
  SPEAKER_04: Or so yeah, like when we were creating the songs, I knew okay, this needs to come in, take this out of this point.
• 20:58
  SPEAKER_04: I'm very, very vocal when it comes to the production style.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_04: I'm very, very vocal when it comes to I need it to sound like this, um, especially the ad prod stage.
• 21:06
  SPEAKER_04: So, yeah, like as much as they were doing their thing and it was so sick, yeah.
• 21:10
  SPEAKER_04: We were tailoring it to make sure that it was where it needed to be.
• 21:13
  SPEAKER_04: We had like so many sessions where it was really just like fine-tuning things instead of just like playing things.
• 21:19
  SPEAKER_04: So, yeah, those sessions really helped.
• 21:22
  SPEAKER_02: Just on the on the instrumentation side of it, like at what point did you was it a conscious decision or did it was it something evolved to have like session players come in and play like actual instruments versus like programming in logic or whatever?
• 21:35
  SPEAKER_04: I mean, um it was something I always wanted to do.
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_04: Um, I was lucky enough to obviously when I was having sessions with Pyro, Benjamin and um and David were there.
• 21:46
  SPEAKER_04: So anytime we were creating music, it was already always live from the beginning.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_04: Um, but I think when we're listening to the songs, um, we just we'll just be listening to it, listen to it, listen to it, and be like, something's missing here.
• 21:58
  SPEAKER_04: Um we need to get some.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_04: Some live instrument instruments in.
• 22:01
  SPEAKER_04: Um, okay, what live instruments need to be in?
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_04: And it will just try, it was really trial and error.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_04: Like if we had something and it just didn't fit, then you know it wouldn't work.
• 22:09
  SPEAKER_04: But I think working with you know live instruments now for me has taken my music and my creativity to a new level because like there's so many amazing like musicians in this world now.
• 22:21
  SPEAKER_04: So to be able to tap into in with them and like make good music, yo, I'm so gassed.
• 22:26
  SPEAKER_04: Like I had a session the other day because we're making some new stuff and it was so cool, like everything is from scratch now.
• 22:33
  SPEAKER_04: Like, yeah, this guy's playing in the Kid's calling.
• 22:36
  SPEAKER_04: That's amazing, that's the dream, man.
• 22:37
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I'm telling you, so yeah, I'm super grateful, man, for sure.
• 22:41
  SPEAKER_02: And I feel like um with that, it's almost like the thing of like streaming versus like analogue and having like a vinyl, it gives it like more soul.
• 22:48
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and I feel like I don't know, maybe um, maybe I'm it's a reach, but I I feel like you can really hear it, yeah.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_02: That's what it is, isn't it?
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_01: Those low vibrations and the real analogue, it makes a difference, even if you don't hear it in the music actually, you feel the vibrations.
• 23:04
  SPEAKER_04: And I'm proud of it.
• 23:05
  SPEAKER_04: Like, I'm anytime someone listening, like, is that yeah, I'm like, yeah, that's a real sax in there.
• 23:09
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, temperament.
• 23:10
  SPEAKER_04: I'm pick up Will as well because that's but sax is one of my favorites.
• 23:14
  SPEAKER_04: I think even on like on door or door, like um David, like he played the trumpet.
• 23:19
  SPEAKER_04: There's even one like Ghanaian type of like instrument he played, like he went crazy on that on that song, and it was all live.
• 23:27
  SPEAKER_04: Like if you go my Instagram, there's a video of him actually playing the trumpet in the in the session.
• 23:31
  SPEAKER_04: I was like, Yeah, this guy's so sick, so yeah, it was super sick.
• 23:35
  SPEAKER_01: In terms of uh, sorry, I've taken a mad tangent here.
• 23:39
  SPEAKER_01: I haven't thought of a good segue for this, but in terms of the artwork, um, obviously we've got the the warm colours and we've got kind of you blurred and yeah, yeah.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_01: Is there anything is there a story behind that, or is there was it just you that had that idea?
• 23:53
  SPEAKER_01: Was it a creative team?
• 23:54
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, no, it was a creative team.
• 23:56
  SPEAKER_04: Um, me, um Shan um and Hard Fan really.
• 24:01
  SPEAKER_04: Um when we had Wish Had More Time, I strictly told everyone I don't want it to include sand, I don't want it to include a clock, I don't want it to include like what's that glass?
• 24:12
  SPEAKER_04: You know that glass where it turns up to wasn't looking for the sands of time and I didn't want it to be on the button at all, like so I was you were thinking about what it could be, and I was like, I want it to feel like a picture where it's like you don't know where they're coming from or you don't know where they're going.
• 24:30
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, you know what I mean?
• 24:30
  SPEAKER_04: So I was looking at a lot of like pics for inspiration.
• 24:34
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and yeah, like I feel like the artwork for me resonates, um, basically depicts the projects in the best way because it's like wish I had more time.
• 24:43
  SPEAKER_04: Like this picture they're running, but they're stuck in time, like you don't know where they're coming from, you don't know where they're going, you don't even see their emotion in their face, but you just know that like they're together, and um, that's kind of like the best way for me to describe the project without having sand and a clock all around and all of that stuff.
• 24:59
  SPEAKER_04: So, yeah, I was super happy with it.
• 25:01
  SPEAKER_04: How many takes did it take to get the shot?
• 25:02
  SPEAKER_04: We're running like we're running like idiots.
• 25:05
  SPEAKER_04: Because she she was doing it with me.
• 25:07
  SPEAKER_04: Um, we were in central London and we're just running up and down, and um Raka and Shan were just taking the pictures far sight to get to make sure they got the best one.
• 25:15
  SPEAKER_04: It was crazy, but it was super fun, that super creative, and yeah, I was happy with what how it turned out.
• 25:20
  SPEAKER_02: Nah, you should be.
• 25:21
  SPEAKER_02: I feel like it really encapsulates that essence nicely, even like the way that the I don't know, shut up speed or whatever, it makes it blurry, like it's that sort of that even plays into the the whole concept of like speed and time and everything.
• 25:33
  SPEAKER_02: So and the brown, uh I think it's a brown leather jacket, leather jacket, everything, yeah.
• 25:37
  SPEAKER_04: So I was super anytime I look, I'm like, okay, we're done.
• 25:40
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, proper man, property sick for sure.
• 25:42
  SPEAKER_01: So for time for you, what is what does living in the moment mean for you?
• 25:47
  SPEAKER_04: That's actually a good question.
• 25:50
  SPEAKER_04: Um I feel like these days I only get to live in the moment when it hits like evening times, when I'm like in my living room and I just make my tea and I just sit down and like thank God for today.
• 26:02
  SPEAKER_04: Like um, it really like reflecting, like reflecting on like how the day's gone, um, reflecting on like what I've done or like where like what's next to come, stuff like that, but also chilling.
• 26:15
  SPEAKER_04: Like I really enjoy watching movies um and just having like being in peace and quiet.
• 26:21
  SPEAKER_04: Um yeah, that's kind of delivering in the moment for me, to be honest.
• 26:25
  SPEAKER_02: As someone who makes music, and as you said before, you like take a like exec production producer role within your own music.
• 26:32
  SPEAKER_02: Do you find that you can use music as a form of like escapism, or do you listen to it with the analytical ear that makes you like super switched on with it?
• 26:41
  SPEAKER_04: I'm I'm like the biggest fan when it comes to my music because the reason I even started making music was because like yeah, I just wanted to like make songs for myself.
• 26:50
  SPEAKER_04: Do you know what I mean?
• 26:51
  SPEAKER_04: Like me and my brother, we were just making songs, and it really in reality, I'm just sharing music I enjoy with the world.
• 26:56
  SPEAKER_04: That's what I'm saying.
• 26:57
  SPEAKER_04: That's literally the truth.
• 26:58
  SPEAKER_04: I started writing songs when I was in school about like primary school, about like my crushes and stuff like that.
• 27:02
  SPEAKER_04: So it was really just to kind of help me with my emotions, you know what I mean?
• 27:06
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and it turned into something that you know people really enjoyed.
• 27:09
  SPEAKER_04: So, yeah, it's 100% escapism for me, 100%.
• 27:12
  SPEAKER_01: You were saying that you're you're like making songs in like year nine with people, your friends, and stuff.
• 27:17
  SPEAKER_01: Are there any is there anyone in that group that you still work with or or is creative as well?
• 27:23
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, like um all of them all of them do different things now.
• 27:26
  SPEAKER_04: It's like obviously that the person that even took me to my studio, he makes like rap, but like melodic rap.
• 27:31
  SPEAKER_04: His name is Getback, he's super cool.
• 27:33
  SPEAKER_04: Like um, that's like my brother, man.
• 27:34
  SPEAKER_04: We've known each other for so so long.
• 27:37
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and I met Hardfind when I was in sixth form, like um September, who's the creative director.
• 27:42
  SPEAKER_04: We were in the same class, and like yes, I'm seeing him like him grow.
• 27:47
  SPEAKER_04: And to be honest, Hardfind, they've really helped me in the sense of like shaping my identity, all of my visuals have been through them as well.
• 27:53
  SPEAKER_04: Um, so they've been a big, big part of my journey.
• 27:56
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and it kind of even goes into like the O investors because in reality, it really just started.
• 28:01
  SPEAKER_04: The name kind of just came with like my school friends, like you know, they would come to school and be like, Yeah, we're investing in your journey.
• 28:06
  SPEAKER_04: I was like, okay, O investors, this could be something, and yeah, so that's kind of how the name coined.
• 28:11
  SPEAKER_04: And you know, um, I think the biggest thing for me is like growing with the people that kind of see me from the beginning.
• 28:17
  SPEAKER_04: Do you know what I mean?
• 28:18
  SPEAKER_04: So it just kind of makes the story sweeter.
• 28:20
  SPEAKER_02: That's so sick.
• 28:21
  SPEAKER_02: I love that, man.
• 28:22
  SPEAKER_02: No, thank you, man.
• 28:22
  SPEAKER_02: I feel like collaboration is so important, innit?
• 28:26
  SPEAKER_02: 100% collaboration and also like doing it.
• 28:30
  SPEAKER_02: I might not be playing the keys for your song, but like doing the journey with people, yeah.
• 28:34
  SPEAKER_04: And as you said, like when you started, it's the best moment because this project, especially, like we had to collaborate with so many people, and so I feel like so many people brought so much into this project.
• 28:44
  SPEAKER_04: Like the listening party that we done, this was my first time doing like um a proper, proper thing like that.
• 28:50
  SPEAKER_04: Do you know what I mean?
• 28:52
  SPEAKER_04: I was kind of nervous about it, but we brought in um two amazing talented women, Maraki, they're like a creative agency as well, and they took charge of that um with a strategy, and yeah, they killed it.
• 29:04
  SPEAKER_04: Like that that was amazing.
• 29:05
  SPEAKER_04: Like, um, so I feel like with collaboration, when you're working with people, they can actually bring out the best out of you.
• 29:11
  SPEAKER_04: And obviously, like as an artist, is always gonna go back to me and be like, Oh yeah, he's so sick, but I always try to make it known like there's a big, big force behind me, and without all of these people you know pouring their hearts into what I do, we wouldn't even be having these conversations now.
• 29:26
  SPEAKER_04: So I'm always grateful for it for sure.
• 29:28
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, literally, and when when when you win, everyone wins together as well.
• 29:31
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, that creative exercise.
• 29:34
  SPEAKER_03: Oh, investors, man, investing.
• 29:35
  SPEAKER_03: Oh, that's that's literally the thing, it's for sure.
• 29:38
  SPEAKER_03: That's it.
• 29:39
  SPEAKER_01: So the the uh OSAS sound, yeah.
• 29:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um is it something that you feel that you have to protect now, or when you go into the studio, are you still experimenting and kind of trying to expand things?
• 29:53
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, we're still we're still experimenting for sure.
• 29:56
  SPEAKER_04: We're still experimenting.
• 29:57
  SPEAKER_04: I think it's come at the right time because now like UK RB is now growing now.
• 30:02
  SPEAKER_04: So I'm like, okay, yes, it's the time, man.
• 30:04
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, let's go.
• 30:06
  SPEAKER_04: Um, but there's so many different like elements into it.
• 30:09
  SPEAKER_04: Like as you said earlier before, like even calling the Afro RB is mad, like, yeah, like you're confining it into this space because like there's a lot of different elements in it, like there's soul, there's bossa nova, there's some house elements, there's so many different um cool things.
• 30:26
  SPEAKER_04: I think there was one song I dropped recently, um no last year's sorry, called Output, and that was very like alternative.
• 30:34
  SPEAKER_04: Um, we had like a French girl doing the chorus, was very different to the type of music I normally make.
• 30:39
  SPEAKER_04: Um, so even going forward, like I've been really trying to you know tap into different bags, but I was staying true to myself, yeah.
• 30:46
  SPEAKER_04: A lot of like traditional RB now, um, but even with like the Afro soul, like going deeper into it, listen to albums that have came out before me and trying to see like why these albums were classed as great and what I can take from them.
• 31:00
  SPEAKER_01: So is there is there anyone in the UK RB scene or just in the scene in general that you would look to want to collaborate with in the future with?
• 31:09
  SPEAKER_04: 100%.
• 31:10
  SPEAKER_04: I I would say yeah, I really love like the RB space right now here, and I really feel like I don't want to be biased coming from the UK, but I think that they're making some of the best music ever because everyone sounds so different, yeah.
• 31:23
  SPEAKER_04: Like everyone's just trying to come and like um with like their best work, do you know what I mean?
• 31:28
  SPEAKER_04: So obviously, Jed Soul, that's actually my guy, he's he's amazing.
• 31:33
  SPEAKER_04: Um, who else can I name?
• 31:35
  SPEAKER_04: There's so many.
• 31:36
  SPEAKER_04: Um Odil would be a sick collaboration, um Nole.
• 31:40
  SPEAKER_04: I think he's amazing as well.
• 31:42
  SPEAKER_04: Um Kari, I don't know if you've heard of Kari, he's an amazing artist.
• 31:47
  SPEAKER_04: Um I'm missing names, there's so many people from Jerome, he's so sick.
• 31:52
  SPEAKER_04: Um, yeah, I can go on and on, man.
• 31:54
  SPEAKER_04: There's there's so many amazing artists.
• 31:56
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, the scene is alive at the moment.
• 31:57
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, there's so many amazing artists.
• 31:59
  SPEAKER_04: I think it's like it's kind of been a problem with the UK where it's like, I don't know why it is like this, but it's like it's like one sound has to be the one.
• 32:06
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, like it's like before um I don't know what was before it was grime, then it was like I think it was Afro Sync Dendril, I don't yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 32:14
  SPEAKER_04: I think Afro Sync Dendril, but it's like I don't know why it's like that.
• 32:17
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, because in like if we look at like America, like two different entities can stand at the same time.
• 32:23
  SPEAKER_04: Do you know what I mean?
• 32:23
  SPEAKER_04: Because now even you're seeing the discourse is like R and B's now, rap is dead.
• 32:27
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, but I'm like, that don't make no sense.
• 32:29
  SPEAKER_04: Why do you guys, why is it always a a one genre, because we're never ever gonna grow then, because then it's always gonna stop.
• 32:36
  SPEAKER_04: Do you know what I'm saying?
• 32:37
  SPEAKER_04: 100%.
• 32:38
  SPEAKER_01: So I yeah, I don't even I don't even feel like I don't know if it's just because of the size of our country, like a lot of this stuff, man.
• 32:44
  SPEAKER_04: I I just I genuinely don't think that's an excuse because it's like even like if you look at the size of our country, people on their phone are still listening to different types of music anyway.
• 32:52
  SPEAKER_04: That's true.
• 32:52
  SPEAKER_04: So why is it like when it comes to UK artists or like UK drones, it has to be one or the other.
• 32:58
  SPEAKER_04: Like rap and RB are so separate.
• 33:00
  SPEAKER_04: Why is it RB is popping, rap is dead?
• 33:02
  SPEAKER_04: I don't know why people are even throwing it's these like I don't know why people are even throwing like it around in it.
• 33:08
  SPEAKER_04: Um yeah, it doesn't it never really made sense to me.
• 33:10
  SPEAKER_02: So funny, when it I do feel like there's a there's a sometimes a narrative that like blog pages or whatever like kind of like blanket things and then like have a narrative because maybe in years gone by the UK has felt like the inferior like Western market and the musical Cells.
• 33:26
  SPEAKER_02: Like if we if we blanket these guys and put this as a collective and try to export, it maybe carries more weight.
• 33:31
  SPEAKER_04: It'll make sense because even like you see it with like the love that we receive from like Europe or even now, even America, like they're really respecting what's going on here from rap, from RB, from the alternative, you know, yeah.
• 33:46
  SPEAKER_04: Like they're really respecting it.
• 33:48
  SPEAKER_04: So it's like I feel like we kind of do ourselves the service when we make it like genre versus genre.
• 33:53
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, like even when alternative rap came about, like it was like alternative rap versus mainstream rap.
• 33:59
  SPEAKER_04: But it's like those two worlds are actually allowed to exist on their own, do you know what I mean?
• 34:03
  SPEAKER_02: Like, say SDK, didn't it?
• 34:04
  SPEAKER_02: Before like before he popped, he'll be like, Oh yeah, he's an underground rapper, and now he's massive, and you'll be like, Oh, he's just a rapper.
• 34:10
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, why do we need to like qualify it before?
• 34:13
  SPEAKER_02: That's the thing, yeah.
• 34:14
  SPEAKER_04: Because a lot of these guys, like, especially like with the underground guys, like some of them are probably like our biggest exports right now.
• 34:20
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, some of them have like 500k monthly listeners, a million monthly listeners, so it's they're not actually underground, they're just alternative, and that's fine.
• 34:27
  SPEAKER_04: Like, do you know what I mean?
• 34:28
  SPEAKER_04: But yeah, I don't I don't really know, man.
• 34:30
  SPEAKER_04: I try not to keep up with all of that stuff.
• 34:32
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, you just gotta do what you have to do, man.
• 34:34
  SPEAKER_01: Get your music out.
• 34:34
  SPEAKER_01: You know, you know your sound, you know what you like, yeah.
• 34:37
  SPEAKER_01: Push it out to the people.
• 34:38
  SPEAKER_01: Speaking of pushing out to the people, let's get into the live show, man.
• 34:42
  SPEAKER_04: When when is it?
• 34:43
  SPEAKER_04: Where is it?
• 34:44
  SPEAKER_04: 8th of November, colours hoxton.
• 34:46
  SPEAKER_04: I know you guys were just speaking about hoxton before.
• 34:48
  SPEAKER_04: Where's the hoxton going?
• 34:50
  SPEAKER_04: But yeah, colours hoxton, 8th of November, my my first show.
• 34:54
  SPEAKER_02: Come on, man.
• 34:54
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, how you feeling about it?
• 34:56
  SPEAKER_04: I feel good now.
• 34:57
  SPEAKER_04: Um, but I think when is the day and like when I see everyone there, that's when I'm gonna be like, okay, we actually done something.
• 35:05
  SPEAKER_04: I don't know why.
• 35:06
  SPEAKER_04: With me, it's like when I see streams or when I see things online, I don't really feel any type of way unless I see it in person.
• 35:14
  SPEAKER_04: Like I'm like, oh my gosh, this is actually this is actually really sick.
• 35:17
  SPEAKER_04: We're actually doing something here.
• 35:18
  SPEAKER_04: So I'm super excited because for me, like the opportunity to actually do a show and perform in front of people, and people actually coming on a Sunday to see me.
• 35:27
  SPEAKER_04: I'm super grateful for it, and I hope that like it's a is a start of something sick on in the live world, you know.
• 35:34
  SPEAKER_04: I mean the live show world.
• 35:35
  SPEAKER_02: So yeah, amazing, man.
• 35:37
  SPEAKER_02: Well, we we can't wait.
• 35:38
  SPEAKER_02: We're gonna be there.
• 35:38
  SPEAKER_02: I know it's hockston, but we're gonna be there, gonna do that.
• 35:41
  SPEAKER_02: Um on the poster, you framed it as a experience.
• 35:44
  SPEAKER_02: They wish we had more time.
• 35:45
  SPEAKER_02: Experience talk to us a bit about that.
• 35:47
  SPEAKER_04: You got a lot, we got a lot coming.
• 35:49
  SPEAKER_04: There's a lot, it's not just about the show, you know.
• 35:51
  SPEAKER_04: We have so many cool activations.
• 35:54
  SPEAKER_04: Um, my brother Rick's performing.
• 35:56
  SPEAKER_04: Um, he's like he's someone that he started music with me.
• 36:00
  SPEAKER_04: Um, one of my biggest songs, Purdue Paris.
• 36:02
  SPEAKER_04: I wrote it with him um in his apartment kitchen, so that's how close we are.
• 36:07
  SPEAKER_04: So even him being my supporting actor is a big thing.
• 36:10
  SPEAKER_04: Um, but it's an experience because you know we're bringing everyone together, do you know what I mean?
• 36:15
  SPEAKER_04: And you know, we have a lot of cool things.
• 36:16
  SPEAKER_04: I can't say too much, we have a lot of cool things um that's gonna make it very interactive before the show even starts.
• 36:23
  SPEAKER_04: So there's an event before the show, yeah.
• 36:25
  SPEAKER_04: I mean, so yeah.
• 36:26
  SPEAKER_01: So when when you were setting up the show, um, were you inspired by any other like other other artists' live show performances or anyone that you were trying to see um to kind of I guess?
• 36:37
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, no, no, no.
• 36:38
  SPEAKER_04: That's that's actually a really good question.
• 36:40
  SPEAKER_04: Um recently, I don't know if you guys have been seeing you guys probably have, like, you know, like the Red Bull um Symphonic Symphonies, yeah.
• 36:48
  SPEAKER_04: Like I saw there was Asher Kerr's one and um Tyke, and I was like, this is so cool.
• 36:52
  SPEAKER_04: Obviously, I don't have the budget for orchestra and then don't get twisted.
• 36:56
  SPEAKER_03: One day, man, one day one day I was like, this is so cool.
• 36:59
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and then at the same time, I'm like, those they're super grand, but at the same time, I I've been seeing like um Daniel Caesar, and he would just like sit down and play games, and it's like everyone's just they're singing together, and it's so cool.
• 37:12
  SPEAKER_04: And then I remember Justin Bieber, was it Coachella that you done?
• 37:15
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, with that.
• 37:15
  SPEAKER_04: I'm like, these are so cool, straight back just in the moment, yeah.
• 37:18
  SPEAKER_04: And I think obviously they're all very different, but I think one thing that I've realized from all of them is that they're all owning the moment in their different forms.
• 37:28
  SPEAKER_04: Um, so with me, this being my first show, is like you need to own that moment, you need people to come and be like, Yeah, this is sick.
• 37:34
  SPEAKER_04: Like, he's really on that stage owning it.
• 37:37
  SPEAKER_04: Do you know what I mean?
• 37:38
  SPEAKER_04: Um, but yeah, I think all of those guys are sick.
• 37:41
  SPEAKER_04: Like, all of those shows super really inspired me to be honest.
• 37:44
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, I'm excited.
• 37:46
  SPEAKER_02: It's funny, I was thinking about Justin Bieber when when when you were talking about that and the way that the way that music unites people is just like one of the best things.
• 37:53
  SPEAKER_02: It's just so cool.
• 37:54
  SPEAKER_04: You have to be in the room to feel it 100%.
• 37:56
  SPEAKER_04: And I also think like even now, bro, the economy is crazy, like you know, um tours aren't even selling.
• 38:03
  SPEAKER_04: That's how they like how they do so that for me, it's like you know, I'm building like the the foundation now, you know what I mean?
• 38:10
  SPEAKER_04: Like, I want to get to like um because we even had like a conversation with my friends of like, damn, there's not really like a lot of artists in the UK that even do like the prestigious arenas like O2 or like um you know OVO or like even going on to like the stadium stuff.
• 38:26
  SPEAKER_04: It's really just people outside of the UK that come and do it.
• 38:28
  SPEAKER_04: So I kind of want to start building this foundation now, like do Hoxton, have an amazing show, you know, next year, God willing, do another big event you and kind of start building that, you know.
• 38:39
  SPEAKER_04: Um, kind of give people them their money's worth because yeah, 15 pounds is not it's not cheap, man.
• 38:45
  SPEAKER_04: So I gotta make sure that you know if people are coming to the show, they're getting experience.
• 38:49
  SPEAKER_04: So when we are, you know, selling the tickets for the big bucks when we're doing the O2, it makes sense, you know what I'm saying?
• 38:55
  SPEAKER_04: People know it's a worthy investment, yeah.
• 38:58
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, 100%, 100%.
• 39:00
  SPEAKER_02: This is it.
• 39:00
  SPEAKER_02: Well, you've been working super hard this year.
• 39:03
  SPEAKER_02: We've not just had the project, we've had amazing visuals, yeah.
• 39:05
  SPEAKER_02: We've got uh the live show to come.
• 39:07
  SPEAKER_02: I've seen you tease T's a little t-shirt there as well.
• 39:10
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 39:11
  SPEAKER_02: Um, all of this to me speaks to like a big ambition.
• 39:14
  SPEAKER_02: You're really putting your weight behind it, you're betting on yourself.
• 39:17
  SPEAKER_02: Tell us what is what's the ambition, what's the dream?
• 39:19
  SPEAKER_04: For me, the dream um is literally to be one of the biggest artists in the world.
• 39:24
  SPEAKER_04: Like, if I'm just being honest, like it's to be one of the biggest, is to compete.
• 39:28
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and it's to also like change the lives of my family and my friends, you know what I mean?
• 39:32
  SPEAKER_04: Like, honestly, I'm trying to start a label called Walla.
• 39:36
  SPEAKER_04: My grandma gave me that name, and it means um your destiny can never change, it's written for you.
• 39:40
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and I I believe that like with this music, I'm trying to be the biggest, I'm trying to be a flag bearer.
• 39:46
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and I just hope that eventually we can get there.
• 39:48
  SPEAKER_04: Do you know what I mean?
• 39:49
  SPEAKER_04: Um, I want to be able to create a legacy and a power for future artists to come where it's like talent first, because right now it's not really all about the talent now.
• 39:59
  SPEAKER_04: Um, but I want to build that, I want to be able to tour the world and you know make cool music and you know, just make more experiences.
• 40:06
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, man.
• 40:07
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, that's beautiful.
• 40:08
  SPEAKER_04: We love that, man.
• 40:09
  SPEAKER_04: That's yeah.
• 40:10
  SPEAKER_02: If you're not gonna go boots in boots and all, and all in white why are we?
• 40:14
  SPEAKER_04: You have to.
• 40:14
  SPEAKER_04: We only got one life, so you gotta try and make the most of it.
• 40:17
  SPEAKER_01: That's cool, man.
• 40:18
  SPEAKER_01: Like, yeah, I'm just saying soaking that in.
• 40:20
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, soaking that in.
• 40:21
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, it's crazy.
• 40:22
  SPEAKER_01: That's uh it's it's good that you've yeah, you've got that, it's not just like lofty ambitions, like you've still you've you know the things that you want to do, yeah.
• 40:32
  SPEAKER_01: Um, like when you talk about the label and the reasoning behind it and stuff, so that's really cool, man.
• 40:36
  SPEAKER_02: And having it anchored in purpose as well, yeah.
• 40:39
  SPEAKER_02: Everyone could say under fame and whatever, yeah, like whatever that is that's part of it, yeah.
• 40:43
  SPEAKER_02: But like, what else are we doing for, as you say, future generations, other art?
• 40:47
  SPEAKER_04: Because I was like, obviously, when I started music, like it was it was super difficult, man.
• 40:52
  SPEAKER_04: Like, I was just a kid, I was trying to, you know, learn and develop, and I feel like development isn't even really in like the forefront anymore.
• 41:00
  SPEAKER_04: So I want to be able to like when I have my opportunity, you know, when I'm successful, I can actually help new artists actually have the opportunity to really develop, you know, and actually yeah, man, like give them the confidence and give them the space that they need to really succeed in the game.
• 41:15
  SPEAKER_04: Um, because yeah, we were just hustling, like me and my friends, till now we're just trying to figure things out, you know, and build.
• 41:21
  SPEAKER_04: Um but just because just because we're doing that and we're doing that grand doesn't mean that it's the right way, and also doesn't mean that you know we can't like help other people to to have an easier journey.
• 41:32
  SPEAKER_04: So that's just kind of my plan.
• 41:34
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, that's uh what the music community should be, right?
• 41:39
  SPEAKER_01: It's all about music first, talent first, and then just plugging everyone and putting everyone else on, right?
• 41:47
  SPEAKER_01: Help helping the community as much as you can because that's what makes everyone's creativity better in the long run as well.
• 41:53
  SPEAKER_01: So it's very cool, man.
• 41:54
  SPEAKER_02: Sick.
• 41:55
  SPEAKER_02: Well, headline show coming up.
• 41:56
  SPEAKER_02: We can't wait to be there and experience the Osas, uh, the Osas energy in the room together.
• 42:02
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and yeah, hear the live band.
• 42:04
  SPEAKER_02: Hopefully, the the sacks, the whole works, but it's gonna be crazy, man.
• 42:08
  SPEAKER_02: It's gonna be good, it's gonna be great.
• 42:09
  SPEAKER_02: We're excited, proud of you as well, man.
• 42:11
  SPEAKER_02: I feel like in this year you've like really up the level significantly, and I feel like from an outsider, at least looking in, it feels like that has been felt, the way it has been felt, and like thank you.
• 42:22
  SPEAKER_04: It means a lot, honestly.
• 42:22
  SPEAKER_04: And even like you guys invited me down and stuff like this.
• 42:25
  SPEAKER_04: Like, I really appreciate it, honestly.
• 42:27
  SPEAKER_04: It's our pleasure, man.
• 42:28
  SPEAKER_02: It's our pleasure.
• 42:29
  SPEAKER_02: Listen, we're pretty pretty black out.
• 42:32
  SPEAKER_02: See you at Hoxton.
• 42:33
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 42:37
  SPEAKER_02: I look forward to all of the I will be there on time.
• 42:39
  SPEAKER_02: Be there on time, trust me, because it's this late.
• 42:47
  SPEAKER_04: We got a few we got a few activations, so be there on time, trust me.
• 42:58
  SPEAKER_02: I wasn't even a dig, but we'll leave it a little bit so that I'm delegate offended.
• 43:02
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you so much for the last man.
• 43:04
  SPEAKER_04: I appreciate this.
• 43:04
  SPEAKER_02: Exciting for me to come.
• 43:06
  SPEAKER_04: Let's go.
• 43:06
  SPEAKER_04: Let's go.