INTERVIEW
At what point did you know this was something you wanted to do as a career?
When I performed at an event my elder brother was playing, he had a sound system – going back many, many years( laughs). I was about 12 years old and I touched the mic and literally all the girls were all over me, making a big fuss and from then, I was like, this is me all over! I’ m a Gemini and I like all the attention, I like all the hype. That was it. I was sold.
You’ ve been in this industry for a long time, what are some of the biggest changes you’ ve seen in the business? Good and Bad. The first thing that comes to mind is, when the smoking ban came into play in clubs over here( UK) that killed a lot of the scene off, to an extent. Another big change is that three quarters of the clubs in London and everywhere else for that matter, have closed down, that ' s also killing the scene. We need it to come back! The internet has definitely changed things, both good and bad. The best change is that the UK is getting its chance to shine and that is super positive. I’ m proud of that.
You own your own label Bushbash Records. What is distinctive about a Bushbash records track? When an artist comes to you what do you deliver that sets you apart? In a word, it’ s just the vibe. We always try to maintain a vibe. Whether the music is up or down beat we try to uplift it in our own way. Give it a positivity, even with negative lyrics we still manage to put a positive spin on it.
How many artists you’ ve worked with are able to match live what they have done in the booth? Not many. One thing with artists in the UK, as much as our sound has caught up, we haven’ t caught up to Jamaica and America in the live performance side of things. I don’ t know if the weather being so gloomy plays a part in it, but when people get on stage they just haven’ t got that electric energy. It’ s not a vocal skill issue, its more about a presence and coming with a show. It’ s the entertainment factor. There are a few who do bring it but the vast majority don’ t. I don’ t know if it ' s shyness or even laziness but that needs to change. You can produce a great vibe at home or in the studio but the fans need to see that too.
So, can you make a great track in home studio or is a pro service needed? You can create a track at home and it will touch the underground but if you wanna go international with it, you are gonna need some professionalism. Get it mastered, pay for it to be mixed and give it a world standard.
Are there any artists who you’ re keen to work with but haven’ t had the chance yet? Beyonce, Rihanna and Alicia Keys. I ' ve also got my eye on Steph London, from the UK. I’ m on the prowl for female artists to link up and get something popping.
If you could make a track with an artist who has passed away who would it be and why? Michael Jackson, for the pure fact he is a real legend. He would bring the whole package and I’ ve always loved his music, get a little garage verse on there …
Perhaps a remix in the works? Yeah, if his people would allow it then yeah, why not.
When things aren’ t going too well, how do you keep your mind on the work, without losing focus? My secret is... I’ ve got a positive attitude. You’ ve got to keep a positive mental attitude. My mum always told me attitude is everything and she was right, my family too! They are my support network. No matter what happens, they always keep me uplifted. They keep me grounded and if things aren’ t going right they kind of give me that push and enthusiasm to get back up and go again.
What advice would you give anyone who wants to become an MC or artist? It sounds really funny but, leave it alone.( laughs) I always get asked this question and I always say the same thing. The advice my Gran gave me when I was talking about doing this music thing was,“ Please do anything
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