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Green Man Profile : SWEET BABOO
Rhodri Jones catches up with Northwalian lyricist Sweet Baboo to find out more about his rising popularity ahead of his appearance at Green Man festival .
“ I ’ d like to see him ... and them ... and those .”
“ It only takes a brief glance at this year ’ s lineup at the Green Man Festival for Sweet Baboo to become enthused . In a summer packed full of festivals promoting his latest album Ships , the weekend event at Glanusk Park in August clearly holds a special place for the Cardiff-based artist . “ I think I ’ ve been almost every year ,” he says as he goes on to reel off some of the bands and musicians he ’ s seen perform there . More important , however , seems to be spending the weekend with friends and enjoying the beautiful Welsh scenery . It all sounds like a perfect weekend . Sweet Baboo , or Stephen Black in everyday life , is playing at the Walled Garden this year and it should be one of the many highlights of the festival . Ships might have started off as a concept album about the sea , but that “ got lost somewhere in translation ,” he admits . Still , the sea , “ a classic image of escapism and freedom ,” runs through the album and if escapism is what you ’ re looking for , then it won ’ t disappoint . Even if it ’ s raining , the opening track If I Died … will conjure up those long sunny days with its exhilarating pop . One of the reasons for this is the brass section ; it influences every song , a development from his previous work . He matter-offactly describes making the album , “ I was listening to a lot of northern soul and Dexy ’ s and Rob ( Jones , the producer ) happened to have bought a trumpet so we decided to put that on every song .” For a second , it seems as if it happened by chance , but Ships is nothing of the sort . The album ’ s success and the amount of airplay the singles have had , which has taken Black by surprise , are testament to that . I put it to Black that he is the hardest working man in pop music , but despite playing for Slow Club and , amongst others , Johnny , Cate Le Bon , H Hawkline and Islet in the last couple of years , he ’ s having none of it . Perhaps part of that is because he doesn ’ t want to make “ grown-up music ,” he ’ d prefer to make music with an element of fun , just like those bands he ’ s always loved : The Beach Boys , The Beatles , Super Furries and Gorky ’ s . Part of that also seems down to the community of artists in Cardiff at the moment , “ an inclusive thing which doesn ’ t have any egos ,” according to Black and reflected in the vibrancy of the music coming out of the city . He doesn ’ t say it , but Sweet Baboo comes across as someone who thinks that making and playing music is primarily just for the sheer enjoyment of it . The success is just a by-product . It ’ s no wonder that it ’ s as if he ’ s continuously on tour , packing everything into an Astra estate and doing it all on the tightest budget possible or supporting Johnny Flynn on some sold out dates . He mentions that for smaller gigs where they can ’ t afford the brass section , they ’ re trying to work out a way to stop playing for a moment , pick up the trumpet and saxophone , play them briefly , and then get back to the rest of the song . That playfulness runs through the album and it ’ s no wonder that he adds that his girlfriend tells him that he looks happiest when he ’ s up on stage making music . It sounds as if Green Man will be one of the highlights of the summer for Sweet Baboo . “ You can take it for granted in Wales , but the setting is spectacular and to watch bands in that atmosphere is pretty amazing ,” he says . But it also sounds as if Sweet Baboo will be one of the highlights of this year ’ s Green Man . When he plays , regardless of the weather , he will bring with him a perfect slice of summer pop .
Info : www . sweetbaboo . co . uk
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