Aramac - Sticks “N” Stones Recordings

‘Putting regular track out, on my label, gradually more DJs are taking notice’ says the up and coming DJ, producer and owner of the record label Sticks “N” Stones, Aramac. Orginating from South London, he has been producing from his college days and had his first air play on Rinse FM entitled ‘Hurt Inside / Intruder’ in 2010, The track received a lot of support from DJ’s and Radio staions alike including Rinse FM, 1Xtra, Déjà Vu and DJ’s such as Marcus Nasty, Wifey, Footloose. In 2010 he ranged in the top 100 tracks by Boomkat and has been described as ‘something different but definitely something good’.

I thought I’d catch up with Aramac himself to find out his triumphs, influences and ambitions.

‘I’m a DJ, Producer and Label owner of Sticks “N” Stones recordings. I started during my college days as a rapper and then I progressed from there to production and DJing. I’m motivated to make music by listening all types of genres especially UK Funky, Old skool, Afro Beats, House, Disco, Hip-hop, Funk, soul, just good music in general’.

His first single ‘Hurt inside / Intruder’ was first played on Rinse FM in 2010 by Marcus Nasty. This accumulated immense support, thereby giving him air play with his second release “A Journey through time E.P Vol 1”on Rinse FM, 1Xtra, Déjà Vu, Hivemind FM, SubFm and many other local and pirate stations. It was also a success, with limited vinyl copies selling out in most stores within days of release.

Through playing out in clubs, featuring on guest sets on radio and distributing his music to DJ’s across the spectrum including the likes of Marcus Nasty, Ranking, Footloose, Joy Orbison, Shortstuff and Brackles, some of which  have described his music as ‘pumping’ and ‘one hell of a groove’. He hopes to create a bigger fan base and appeal to variety of audiences who he says ‘is anyone and everyone who is into UK Funky, UK Bass, UK Garage, and underground Dance music in general.’

Similar to many artists, he has faced difficulties such as getting his music played on radio, however, by putting regular track out on his label Sticks “N” Stones Recordings, gradually more DJs started taking notice. He is influenced by 'Fela Kuti, Sunny Ade, Youssou Ndour' who he says are 'the originators of the Afro Beat’. Through listening to Afro Beats regularly, he has developed a better understanding of the drum pattern in beat making and recognisese it as a key feature when producing music.

He feels ‘the industry is in a good state especially the UK Urban scene, There is a platform for different styles of music and the best thing about it is that, its is independent. As an artist this has made me more business minded because after all the music industry is a business. I am currently working with an Artist called Enchanted. He is signed to my label, Sticks “N” Stones Recordings; he has a project coming in October and and EP coming out together next year.

When asked who he would like to work with in the future he says ‘to be honest, I would work with anyone, who is in the right frame of mind as me. Sticks “N” Stones Recordings is all about discovering and developing new talent. I have a few singles coming out before the end of the year and we also have a release by Enchanted and Tactics coming out this year on Sticks “N” Stones recordings.

For more of his music you can check out his Soundcloud, follow him on Twitter contact him via his Facebook page as well as the SNSRecordings Facebook.

Sam Khan - So Many Dreams

‘I was never encouraged to pursue my dreams I had to grab them myself’ says the North West London musician, Sam Khan who has had the pleasure of performing at some of the UK biggest urban platforms including JumpOff, The Sunday Show and ILuvLive when he’s not watching stand up comedy or watching contestants get fired The Apprentice. Not only has he received over 2 million Youtube hits, but he has also immense support from BBC Radio 1, Kiss 100 and BBC 1xtra for his latest EP 'So Many Dreams'. 

I thought I’d catch up Sam Khan himself to find out, where it started his sacrifices and ambitions.  

Like many musician, he recognised his talent for music from a young age, in his case, 8 years old. Sam loved writing poems, so he began working on verses and creating structures which allowed him to develop songs. ‘I enjoyed doing, it was how I dealt with a lot of things growing up.  Writing was always therapeutic for me, which is why called my first CD 'Me, My Pen and I'. I bought music equipment, built a home studio and the rest as they say is history!’

‘My ambitions motivate me as an artist. I want the world to hear my music and my story, I want to make other young people believe they can  strive for success regardless of their circumstances and that’s one of  the ideals of our brand 'B Somebody'. I've been through rough times but always maintain a positive attitude towards life. I  believe I've overcome problems, so I always aim to bring that message through in my music. When people tell me they can relate to my words and feel they are not alone, that gives me a great motivational feeling too.’

Although he;s performed at big industry events like ILuvLive, The Sunday Show, Astoria, JumpOff and other big festivals, he would say the the best place he's performed at would be 'at a high school for teenagers' aged 12 – 16 during their assemblies.' He explains 'I got a massive reaction, I told the kids to strive for whatever they believed in and because this is an issue close to my heart. As a kid I was never encouraged to pursue my dreams I had to grab them myself.  ‘

‘I feel like I have a chance to help others who are in the same position I was. B Somebody is not just about music,  its about inspiring people to positively believe they can do or be  anything, and so being able to make a difference to young peoples  outlook on life is the best feeling for me.’

                               

His influences include the likes of 2pac, who he refers to as an ‘early inspiration’. Kanye West he says’ I loved The College Dropout’. J Cole as he’s ‘feeling a lot of his tracks’ as well as other singers and songwriters and Lowkey, he says ‘I rate highly out the UK coz he has strong morals and is mad lyrical at the same time’ Overall his biggest inspiration is ‘life itself’ and the things he experiences.   

He would say that is biggest sacrifice has been ‘spending time on things other than  music’ such as more time socialising, reading, or just relaxing but he’s continued to work on prioritizing the different aspects of his life. ‘Because I’m an independent artist I can’t rely on other people to get me airplay and gigs, making tracks isn’t enough. I have to spend time making sure the music is heard, and this means I have to sacrifice other fun things I could be doing, but its all to achieve the end goal so its all  good! Making a sacrifice to make sure the music pushes forward will only serve to benefit my career in the long run’.

He believes that in the current UK industry ‘there's a space for everyone and everything, and depending on your goals, you can be successful as long as you persevere. The UK Urban scene has really risen and more rap is being heard in the mainstream which is great. There's always going to be different tastes and preferences but if someone is in the charts, or selling records, then there must be a demand for that so u can’t hate on it! The one thing I don’t think is correct from a moral perspective is when the industry exploits certain topics that aren't positive, just to sell records. I think people should remember their principles and if the message in the music isn’t something you would agree with yourself, avoid supporting it.’

In the future we can expect ‘a lot more tracks, music videos and performances, so watch out for all the new material’

You can now check out his Official Site, add him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Mikel Ameen - Backside

It’s not often you hear musicians comment positively the human derrière, especially in the case of females, but after hearing his latest release ‘Backside’, I was compelled to get in touch with the musician himself to find out more. Mikel Ameen is musician and social entrepreneur from North West London who began pursuing his music 4 years ago, since then he has gone from strength to strength accumulating over 900 follower on twitter and multiple video hits via Youtube.

I thought I’d catch up with Mikel to find out his motivations, inspiration and where it all started.

‘I got into music naturally when I baby. It has always played a big part in family life. Music got my dad to this country so it was kind of inevitable that his children would be into Entertainment’.

He would say the best place music has taken him is to ‘a higher level of consciousness’. He explains ‘I can’t describe how much listening to the right music has taken my mind to a better place of thinking’

When Mikel’s not making music or reading he’s involved in social events, such as Dance 4 Life UK, a nationwide initiative that uses media, music and dance to educate, empower and unite young people in taking a stand against HIV and AIDS.

In the same vein he is also involved in the youth organisation Get Familyar which is a branch of his father’s charity ACDF – African Carribean Development Foundation – that specialises in entertainment and arts, that aims to develop social, personal and communication skills for young people, as well as provide them with productive training via workshops.  

Music for him is literally therapy; he says ‘reciting my pains and loves to a rhythm is refreshing. If something is on my mind for a while then usually, I’m compelled to right about it.  My song backside is a question to men and women about the obsession with the females BUM, is it natural or is it perverted. Like most of my songs I’m trying to get people thinking.’

His inspirations include Bob Marley, he likes the way ‘he delivered his music, his love and his mission to the people’ and he feels ‘he did so much through his music for the lives of others’, he wants to do the same in the future. 'Michael Jackson', he says ‘he is the LORD of music entertainment what cant you take from him’ and lastly ‘Hon. Min. Louis Farrakhan’ he says ‘as a man I look up to him. He is the greatest example of how to conduct yourself with morals, strength & discipline. He has spent over 50 years dedicated to the uplifting of black people and is still going strong. I follow him on twitter.’

He would say the right time for a musician to take the transition from music to a profession in comparison to it being a hobby is ‘when you’ve whole-heartedly decided that, that’s what you’re going to do, but he still understands that ‘it’s different for everyone, he explains 'I know more doors are opening for me. I just got to continue doing the best for me and my time will come’. He would advise up and coming musicians to ‘go in’, with their music and ‘don’t look back’.

He thinks ‘the industry right now is the best it’s been, especially for UK artist', he says 'we are hitting the top of every chart’ so he’s happy.

For more of Mikel you can now contact him personally via his Facebook, Twitter and Myspace  as well as check out the GetFamilyar Official Site. 

Saffron Parker - GoldmiineLABEL

'I didn’t think I earned the right to be called an artist so I didn’t promote myself.' Says Saffy the South London designer who owns and has been running her own label GoldmiineLABEL since April this year. She creates and deigns a wide range of items from logos to wall paintings, posters and clothing and has had the pleasure of working artists and designers such as Mista C'mon, Boost and James Rotimi and hopes to design for Mishka in the future.

I thought i'd catch up with Saffy herself to find out more about where it all started.

’I'm an artist from South London and I design a variety of different things for a range of clients; anything from logos to wall paintings, posters, clothing and fashion designs and story boards'. Saffy originally put her creative career on hold to study Sport Science at college, but she soon realised that 'art was something people appreciated'. She says 'I was always a good artist but never thought I was good enough to do something with it, people started coming to me for designs and after hearing a sermon in church about your skills and gifts making a way for you, GoldmiineLABEL began! I made a twitter and clients started pouring in, it’s been going well ever since!'

She feels her work has 'the ability to speak all languages and touch all people which she think is 'awesome' and the reason why she started GoldmiineLABEL. When ask what her names represents she says 'There's no particular reason, I just feel that art in general is like a pot of gold you find at the end of a rainbow, so i named it GoldmiineLABEL'. She says 'I think I follow a certain form of art, but my crazy imagination and personality make my artwork unique and distinctive. My collages are quite popular and I think have become my trademark. A guy I designed a logo for said he looked at my art and saw me which I thought was a really great compliment!

She says that sports, writing and having a good time are three of the most important things to her, but like many she has overcome a number of obstacles to get her to where she is now. The lack of confidence she had in the beginning as well as maintaining a steady image of what she wanted GoldmiineLABEL to be are two big things that held her back. She explains 'I didn’t think I earned the right to be called an artist so I didn’t promote myself which kept GoldmiineLABEL off the map, so no work was coming in. I overcame it by simply pushing that negativity to the side, taking on board all of the compliments and advice I was getting. I sat down and brainstormed until I figured out why I am doing this, what I want the outcome to be, what I want it to symbolize and who I want it to reach out too. I’ve realised we can sometimes be our own worst critic, so this definitely changed my mind set and now I’m confident in my skills and ability to produce dope artwork!

All in all she says, 'I’m a fan of small vintage shops but apart from them I really dig Mishka for their comical cartoony like designs. Supreme for their retro colourful apparel footwear and accessories and Obey is a really cool brand, I love their almost art nouveau type designs as well as their simple stencil prints and pop art pieces. Each brand brings something different and has what I call a real presence in your wardrobe which I think is what I admire most. It motivates me to create artwork that makes people feel like that! The mood I’m in definitely influences what I draw and my environment and lifestyle also plays a big part in what and how I choose to design things. Roy Lichtenstein has always been a big influence, I love the simplicity and boldness of his work and after seeing Chris Brown’s album cover (F.A.M.E) I’ve become a fan of Ron English’s artwork/prints.

In the past she has had the pleasure of working with loads of up and coming designers such as RedLust who specialise in retro plasteramic jewellery, she's designed logos for various dance groups and rappers such as Mista C’mon aka LOX, James Rotimi - who is the maker of College DropOut. She's currently working on designs for a rapper named Boost who will be releasing his Garshh T-shirt Line soon. In the future, she'd love to collaborate with Mishka and hopefully design some artwork for them even if it was for free. She thinks 'they’ve got a dope clothing line and my designs could totally fit in, Mishka people if you happen to see this give me a shout lol'

'I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by a lot of successful and motivated people who help promote GoldmiineLABEL to their fans, listeners and viewers. I think twitter is the best ever and if you ever wanted to start a project or business, it’s definitely the place to go! I’d also recommend you make a blog, I joined Tumblr five months ago and it’s become my online portfolio of art work, fashion and music articles. It’s a great way of connecting with people worldwide and promoting your talent'.

'GoldmiineLABEL is pretty much an artistic movement and the umbrella name for loads of different projects Saffy does. She has recently started work on a mini project called Tatted T’s, which are hand drawn vintage designs on white t-shirts - she'll basically design anything you bring to her - In the future she says we can look forward to 'a range of screen printed designs for T-shirt line ‘Goldmiine Tees’ soon out. I’m planning on customizing Vans and Converses which will hopefully blow up and get crazy attention!'

For all the latest on GoldmiineLABEL you can follow Saffy via Twitter where she says 'she'll definitely follow you back' as well as check out all her new designs on Tumblr.

Kingsley Nebechi - Pompey Plantet

His father was an architect, so he was always around art from a young age, but it wasn't until he enrolled in college on an Art and Design course 3 years ago that he chose to pursue a creative career. Kingsley Nebechi is a Graphic Designer and Illustrator originally from Italy, but now lives in North London. He recently launched a project called entitled Pompey Plantet down in Portsmouth, which has featured on BBC News reflecting the ‘iconic parts of the city’.

I thought I’d catch up with Kingsley himself to find out his inspirations, sacrifices and goals for the future.

‘I always draw not only as hobby but as a way to express my mood, visions and thoughts. My dad is an architect, so when I was younger I would always see him drawing houses, people and vehicles on a big canvas in our house back in Italy. He used to take me to this architecture studio', for Kingsley, this is where he found his love for art, he explains ‘I would find myself observing the other architects work on the variety of canvases and as I grew older, no matter what stage I was in my life, I would always draw’. He then made the conscious decision to make it a career in his first year of college, which is where he started an Art and Design course. 

When asked if he’s experienced any difficulties so far he says ‘there's been quite a few, especially when you're in the positions I'm in’, he explains ‘the biggest difficulty is how hard you choose to work and what you choose as a motivational source. I believe that if you want to go far in this type of field you need to be able to love what you do and work as hard as you can. During my journey, so far, I have come across so many designers who are motivated by money and you can clearly see it in their work too. At times this profession might get harder than usual and if you don't have love for what you do you might find it impossible to carry on'.

’My work means various things to me. I'm extremely fascinated by human emotions, life and poetry so most of the work I do has some sort of feeling and movement. My work helps me express myself a lot too and allows me to show a different side of me. He recently created a project called ‘Pompey Planet’ for the south sea gallery in Portsmouth', which he feels has brought him the most recognition and has been his biggest, project so far. He has gained a lot of positive  feed back and ‘the locals love it’ which has landed him with ‘some very interesting opportunities’. In his view ‘the illustrations show the iconic parts of the city. I've had the pleasure to contribute to great projects and exiting opportunities’.

'I'm influenced by a lot of things but my biggest inspiration has to be the town I grew up in’, in this case he means Poggibonsi in Florence; he recalls ‘the place is beautiful and the memories of my childhood are something I can never forget. It gives me inspiration when I need it the most. The company I would love to work for has to be Ilovedust down in Southsea. I've had the chance to meet the guys over there and I must say they are the coolest company around. From the work they create to their personalities as well'.

‘It’s important to think positive as it helps me to improve my work, set goal and achieve dreams’. In 5 years he sees himself working as an successful and established designer and illustrator with his own studio and a collection of ‘super cool works for super cool clients worldwide’. 

For more of his work you can now check out his Official Site as well as contact him on Facebook.

Infecta - The Bridge

He has had the pleasure of working with the BBC, Channel 4 and RWD Magazine and has also been described as ‘a young, talented, upcoming musician, an artist’ by Kiss 100’s DJ Logan Sama. You could even say he’s a media mogul considering his track list of achievements, which include designing, event organising, performing, recording and more. Infecta is a musician from South London who is set to release his debut single ‘Sometimes’ from his long awaited album ‘The Bridge’ featuring Oronde Bennett later this summer.

I thought I’d catch up with Infecta himself to find out where it all started his views on the current industry and more. 

Infecta initially got into music as he ‘just wanted to communicate’ with others, He explained ‘after arriving in London around the birth of the grime music scene I gained a lot more influence from everyone in the scene’ especially from artists such as ‘Dizzee Rascal, Kano, and Wiley. This  gave him the initial kick-start to 'actually spitting lyrics and joining in the playground cyphers' which where he says 'it all started’.

His alias 'Infecta' stands for: 'lyrically sick and influence others to spit' which was given to him by a close friend who passed away, yet he decided to keep the name in his honour. Sadly, he experienced prejudice in the form of bullying so music quickly became ‘a form of art therapy’ for him. He says, ‘I wanted to find a way to overcome my language barrier as I was a young black boy fresh from home so I couldn't speak properly’, in terms of homes he means Nigeria, where he lived for 10 years before coming to London.  

As a child he was ‘influenced by all forms of music’ and spent hours sat in front of the radio, he would say his three major influences were Madonna, Michael Jackson and Missy Elliot. He focuses mainly on vocals, so whether it be gospel, poetry, grime, spoken word, rap, singing or song writing he would say ‘he’s about it' he says, 'what I make is good music that has a positive theme to it. It carries meaningful messages most of the times, plus I try to keep it clean rather than dirty. I’m not here to take your money or win souls or do something that is silly, twisted or corrupt because I believe that music was made for expression and once you start using it for other singled out self gaining goals you add to the corruption which we all know exist within the scene today.’

‘My music represents myself firstly as I know I can't speak for others. It represents positivity, morals, originality. The things that play a part in my life like my surroundings. I convey this through my lyrics and reflect on them through what I record. My motivations are my dreams and my ambition is to make them a reality, by sharing my gift and not saving it to myself so that way hopefully I can influence others’.

When asked if he would choose fame or fortune he says, ‘If you mean fortune as in wealth then I choose fame because there’s a lot more with the favour you will gain from fame, than just having the money. I chase the rank not the bank so I’d rather leave my mark. Everything I do, I do it properly, or at least try to and I always say I only wanted fortune then, as far as music is concerned I would’ve been a songwriter or ghost-writer’.

‘Aside from music my talents lie in acting and directing. I’ve featured in films and helped with some which have been on BBC and Channel 4. I design for my clothing label called 'i&i' which is in sync with HustleBucks which was recently featured in RWD Magazine recently. I also model, I’ve worked for Nike, Addidas, IFeelExperience, Urban Development, Box Frsh, Forreduci, and other fashion and runway Shows. I’ve recently started an Electrical Engineering Apprenticeship because I’ve always loved technology from a young age, I remember the day we were making my alias I wanted to be called 'Gearz' because I was interested in Electrics and Mechanics. I also do a lot of youth work with a number of companies such as; Prince's Trust, Black Police Association, Safer Southwark Partnership, Kickstart, and Foundation 4 Life'. 

‘I promote myself through any means necessary literally. Anything I can get involved, from flyers to posters. I’m always building contacts and networks when I go to music events, talent shows, music competitions, and other online opportunities. I also promote through all my social mediums and outlets which are on on my official site’.  

‘An example of promoting myself successfully was when I emailed Whtvr.org for around 2 years asking for support as a Southwark resident, so I thought that it made sense for them to support me. They just launched and showcased someone close to me so I though I’d have a chance instead of gazing at the stars go out and introduce yourself as one, so I did, but they never replied, but I never lost hope’.

'They eventually replied and contacted me through my boss Chloe Newman and the interview was done at last. At the time they were also a bigger magazine company so they gave me a two page spread and a front cover which was sent through the whole of Southwark and opened the doors to two more front cover opportunities and got me as one of the headlining acts alongside; Scorcher, Princess Nyah, Egypt, Akala, RD and many more.’

‘This all happened through persistence, it taught me something serious in music, that people only care when there is a buzz. When they where ready, they contacted me but only because I was still working hard in the background and pestering them. Then one thing or another came under their radar and they remembered me and the bookings and magazines opportunities followed. I learnt to be persistent not just on waiting for a bring in from someone else but on making the next big thing for yourself, which was kind of what I was already doing but it only came to my realization at that time’.

He would say that the current music industry ‘is very pretentious and corrupt, but music itself is evolving and growing, making new marks and breaking boundaries. He adds ’I love it, it's inspiring to see so many artist building empires with their supporters not just a fan base and seeing the way technology is adding to the evolution of music, it scares me a bit but also excites me. I have now learnt to support an artist based on the ethics, work rate and music not just music and this is due to the current climate’.

‘My future is bright, but not necessarily is it orange and that I can assure you! I do have an album called ‘The Bridge’ featuring Oronde Bennett aka The Bridge who is a producer and Singer so he produces the melodies and I lace them with words and together we grace them with wisdom mixing down then WALA, a finished product.‘

‘The first single 'Sometimes' from the album will be making it's début on television before August, also an EP with an established producer that does music for commercials by the name Yung Sir. I’m also working with one of the highest ranking female DJ - DJ Nikki From Beatnik on a project and also a whole heap of videos working with YouTube channels so you can enjoy audio visuals as I give freestyles here and there.’

‘Also the clothing will be available online soon for supporters. I wouldn't give it all away or there would be no show so follow on twitter to see what's in store, but know this when one starts it would not stop, the way I have projects lined up is to start and then keep going.’

For more of Infecta you can now checkout his Official Site as well as contact him on Facebook and Twitter. 

Shadez The Misfit - Misfit Maximus

His performances at I Luv Live propelled him to the centre stage of the Channel 4 EVO Music Rooms where he was described as ‘one of the best unsigned acts’. Since then, he has rubbed shoulders with the likes of Drake, Cee Lo Green, Kelly Rowland, and B.O.B, so his dreams of featuring with Andre 3000 or The Noisettes may soon become reality. Shadez The Misfit is a musician from South London who has just released his début mixtape Misfit Maximus.

I thought I’d catch up with Shadez himself to find out more about where it all started, who his influences are and what he has planned for the future.

'Everyone has music in them. Only the gifted have the ability to share it with the rest of the world. I always saw music as a way of venting my thoughts and feelings and story telling or creating scenarios with melody’, he explained when asked what music meant to him and how he initially got involved. ‘I found it hard to keep a diary so I saw music as a way to illustrating my journey but also adding emotion with beats. It was purely me knowing that I can bring something different to the table so I decided to pursue it' in which hie means his career in music

He decided to take his music professionally in comparison to just being a hobby because of the ‘response from the crowds and people in general, he explained ‘I started out doing open mics events, performing at I Luv Live. I wanted to see how the crowd would respond. From there people started asking me for more material so that for me confirmed it all'.

He would say that one of his greatest achievements was wining Channel 4's EVO music rooms where he was described as 'one of the best unsigned acts'.  He explains 'this was a huge milestone which really impacted my career. It gave me a chance to perform alongside Plan B and the fun loving Criminals, music has taken me to a lot of places. I've been able to meet and be in the same room as people I consider to be great. I feel the best place is yet to come. I am still growing as an artist but  I’ve been fortunate to meet Jamiroquai, Drake, Cee Lo Green, Kelly Rowland, B.O.B and Tyler the creator.’

'I'm grateful to have worked with a lot of talented artists in music. Most recently I've worked with Ski Beatz who has produced for many US stars such as Jay Z , Curren$y and Jim Jones. I've also worked with Toddla T on the Redbull Mixtape.'

So would you say you've made a lot of sacrifices and if so there are any regrets? 'Yeah I have. I've made many sacrifices in life and in pursuing my music career. I feel my biggest sacrifice is sleep. It can be hard balancing music with your studies and living your life on a low battery. What's worse I'm a workaholic so I don't know when to stop or rest. I don't really have regrets or don’t see it as regrets, I call it learning life's lessons really. I strongly feel that if I didn’t go through those lessons, then I wouldn't be where I am now, knowing I have the opportunity to become something bigger than myself.'

He would say that is main inspiration is 'God', he explains 'I feel I owe my all to God after coming from a place where people doubt you and don't believe in you, to doors now being opened and being seen as a new influence in UK music scene. I feel that my prayers are being answered one by one'. He feels that another inspiration is 'life itself' although he has faced struggles, hurdles and negative experiences; they've each contributed to him as an artist giving him something to write and say. Also, he can't forget the' support from friends and family who always have his best interest at heart and inspire him to be better, especially his Mum!

Some words of advice he would give to up and coming musicians would be 'to understand yourself, there's no rush. In such a competitive market, knowing what you stand for and your niches are key for people to understand you as a character and as an artist. Always aim to do what has not been done, there's no point living your career being compared to others. Most importantly be yourself, don't try to be something your not, there's no need to live a lie   People like sincerity and knowing that the music is coming from you.

In the future he would love to work with Andre 3000, The Noisettes, J*davey, Muhsinah and Everything Everything. He says 'their sound and what they bring to music is very unique and I would love to see what we could make in the studio. This year has been great so far and there's still a lot more to come from the misfit in 2011. Expect more music and more visuals. I'm just trying to represent something which is not heard in the UK, good experimental music. 

You can now download Misfit Maximus via his Official Site, add him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Dzham - I Like It

Dzham is recording artist from Smolensk in the Russian Federation who has been pursing a music career for as long as he can remember. He has been described as ‘one of the biggest Hip Hop stars of the Eastern Bloc’. Although he has release 4 albums in his native tongue, he is looking to develop his style and craft by taking his music to international level performing in UK, Europe and the rest of the world. In the past he has collaborated with the UK’s Sway and Ironik as well as the US’s Jim Beanz, Onyx and DJ Whoo Kid.

Earlier this month he released his debut single ‘I Like It’ ft David Todua which has received over 10,000 views. I thought I’d catch up with Dzham himself to find out the concept behind his début single as well as what he has planned for the future.

‘About 8 years I started organising Hip Hop parties which allowed me to get more involved in music. The UK music scene had a major influence on me as an artist as it pretty much shaped what type of music I make right now. My latest single ‘I Like It’ aims to take my listeners thoughts away form everyday problems and make them remember what they like to do in their life and provide them with a positive attitude’.

A typical day in the life of Dzham starts off like this, he wakes up pretty late, more or less lunch time which he says ’is so typical for artists, because we spend nights in recording studios’. If he’s not recording himself,  he spends his day attending and scheduling meetings. He syas ‘I like being me I travel a lot, and perform in different cities. Everyday brings something new and different’.

He explains how his collaboration with Sway on the track 'Redhanded' came about, he says ‘I met him in UK studio and we decided to make a song together the same day. It was so great to work with Sway, I enjoyed every minute of our work. He is very easy going and professional.’ Aside from Sway he has had the pleasure of working with artists such as UK’s Ironik, American producer Jim Beanz, who works with Timbaland, G Unit member DJ Whoo Kid, Hip Hop legends like Onyx, and their front man Fredro Starr. Although it was his first experience collaborating with American artists, he described it as being very ‘epic’.

On the UK music front, he would say ‘right now the musicians in the industry are here at the right tine. You can see a lot of artists growing and bringing their own thing today, because of the social media boom, listeners now have the ability to choose and support artists that they like and make them bigger and greater. But he feels an artist should ‘stay true to their music and style’. He continues ‘some people take life too serious I want to bring positive vibes to people. I want to make the type of music that will let them forget about their domestic problems and concentrate on fun stuff’.

All in all,  Dzham would say that his music ‘tends to reflect both the good and bad sides of the Russian way of life such as the dark suburbs, luxury clubs, family problems and criminal atmosphere all of which are vacant in his hometown. Every experience has influenced him to become a better artist as his bases his poetry is on the things that surround him every day, thereby reciting the struggles of life he knows. 

His ambition for the future is to ‘become an internationally renowned Hip Hop artist’ touring and performing his music overseas and most importantly releasing new videos and music. He says ‘I want to be able to share my thoughts and music with the rest of the world. I plan to release my new album in the end of 2011’.

For more of Dzham, you can now watch is latest release 'I Like It' via Youtube as well as contact him personally on his Official Site and Facebook

Writeway - One Way

Writeway are a gospel music collective from East London that consists of singers, rappers producers and songwriters. As a collective they are determined ‘Lead the world to live the right way!’ by making music with a positive influence entwined with their beliefs in the Christian faith. They have had the pleasure of working with commendable gospel artist such as Victizzle, Guvna B and Dwayne Tryumf in addition to performing at events in the UK and overseas.

I thought I’d catch up with Tunday, one of the four members of the group to find out where it all started.

‘My Names Tunday, I’m a gospel rapper, songwriter, and sports fanatic, I love gym and football. I released my 1st album ‘Identity’ on 13th June 2009 at an album launch with the MOBO Award winning Victizzle who won the Best Gospel Act 2009 which attracted 2000 people the event. I also won an award in 2009 from the Christian Broadcast Council which gave me the chance to tour the UK and abroad sharing my life experiences at youth seminars in countries such as New York, Florida, St Lucia and India. I have also worked with men from prisons and Youth institutions. My style is a blend of Hip Hop, Indie Rock and R&B.’

‘I wanted to use music to influence the people around me to live a life that was in direct contrast to the negative lifestyle celebrated by so many. I understood the impact that music had on the growth of a person and felt there was a gap in society that an organisation with the right manifesto could fill. Luckily, I came across individuals who felt the same way and liked this concept. So we all started this Journey together.’

‘The name Writeway is taken from Proverbs 3:5-6 meaning for God to direct our steps and lead us in the right direction. The names spelt that way because we want to lead the world the right way through our writing’

He feels that it’s very important to buy as an artist as ‘It’s a symbol of empathy and support. With the amount you invest as an artist, you wouldn’t want to see it go down the drain when someone could have easily bought your material. We all bought Triple O's album, a UK gospel artist who released his small project called ‘Come Home’ in December 2010.’

‘As a group we'd love to collaborate with Mali Music. His qualities are so diverse, a producer, a rapper a singer. He'd compliment our sound on a track because he sounds like 3 different people in one! Our music is aimed at young teenagers aged 13 and upwards. Our siblings are those ages, and even though we are in our early 20's, we haven’t forgotten what its like to be in our teens and we obviously know what its like to be a young adult in this world. We appeal to this age group because we relate to them.

                    

He’d describe the journey so far as ‘a roller coaster ride in the dark. Thrilling, fun but a scary ride because you just don’t know what’s going to happen next. I’ve got a sophomore album out soon, but I’m not going to reveal when it will be out just yet’.

The collective consists of three other members who go by the name of Presha J, Leke and Rhema, this is what they had to say.

‘I'm Presha J, im a 22 year old is a rapper. I released a single in 2008 called “No More” featuring Tunday which pushed me to start my first project which was my EP named “Changes” in 12th December 2008. I also released a music video named “Whose Side Are You On” that has gained over 31,000 views so far and was also featured on Channel AKA playlist. On the 10th December 2010, I released another video called “Changes” which was taken from my EP, which has prepared me for my release of my 1st album in 2011. My style is a mix of Indie Grime, Hip Hop and RnB.  

Aside from music he ‘goes to the gym’ and ‘writes a lot’. When asked about his journey so far he says ‘This for me has been exciting, I can’t complain, I love music so I'd say it’s a privilege! Im currently finishing up on a few singles planned for the year and my 1st album.’

‘My names Leke Akinyemi I’m a 20-year-old worship leader, singer and songwriter, I’m also an official worship leader in my church. I’m currently working on my EP and a music video for 2011. I have collaborated with the likes of Dwayne Tryumf who is an International Gospel Artist, Victizzle who won a MOBO Award for the Best Gospel Act in 2009 and Guvna B who aslso won a MOBO Award for Best Gospel Act in 2010. My style is R & B, Acoustic, Indie Rock and Worship.

When he’s not making music Basketball is his hobby. He would describe his journey so far he says as ‘a motorway journey, some what of a tour of Life, making many stops and progression along the way. I’m working on various things but focused on my E.P. and a single! The Writeway Short-film is also due to be released soon!

‘Yo my names Rhema and I'm a 21 year old rapper and youth leader in development,

I've always desired to use music to spread my testimony. I am a newly recruited artist on this firm. I released my first music video & Downloadable track with Writeway on 31st January 2011, which received 5,000 views nationwide & over 1,000, downloads within the first week. My mixtape is set to be released in later this year.

Aside from music he also I loves basketball and writing! He says that his experience so far has been ‘Awesome’ he explains ‘I've met a lot of people, this time last year I’d never think I’d be doing what I’m doing now, I’m just very grateful, a very awesome journey. I have a free mixtape coming up this year, please look out for that! I'm working on it as you read this lol!

According to the collective  the ‘Impact is more important than music but music will be the foundation for WriteWay to expand and create an open door for the youngsters of this generation to use their gifts whether it is singing, acting, photography or to represent the youth in politics to continue in the “right way’

For more of Writeway, you can now contact them via  their Official Site or Facebook.

Xploder - Line OF Fire

From being the centre of attention at family function to taking his music abroad to The Czech Republic and Italy as well as receiving major support from radio stations such as BBC 1Xtra, BBC Radio 1, Kiss 100 and Choice FM after the released of his EP ‘Line Of Fire' as well as being described as ‘an artists to look out for in 2011’ by BBC Radio 1 DJ Ras Kwame you could say this musician is destined to succeed this year.  Xploder is an up and coming musician from East London who has been pursuing a music career for just over 4 years.

I thought I’d catch up with Xploder himself to find out more.

Similar to many artists, Xpolder started, rapping and producing his own material underground. He then joined the infamous ‘Highly Rated Camp’ alongside Beckz Winter and his brother DDark as they shared the same ambitions to further their music careers, individually as well as a collective. The camp was a huge success and became recognised as an underground company, which then gave them the chance to appear and perform on UK pirate and internet radio stations such as Mystic FM, Deja Vu, Rinse FM, Heat FM and Axe FM.

Since then he has released two singles ‘Don’t Trust You’ and ‘So True’ which have both accumulated mass support and following in addition to being selected as an ambassador for the “I Am Awards” which aims to offer unsigned and self-releasing artists a platform to share their music. His name alone may come across as intimidating to most, but it’s simply an expression, that represents his unexpected talent.  He describes himself as ‘quite a reserved individual’ yet he is ‘known to astound music lovers with his explosive lyrical energy and musical abilities’.

’I'm a grime musician from East London, so I write and perform songs’ says Xploder  ‘From a young age I always used to be the centre of attention when it came to family gatherings whenever music was played. I remember singing and dancing around with a small toy cassette player that had a microphone attached to it. So music has always been part of my life.'

He would say that the best place his music has taken him has to be ‘abroad to Italy and the Czech Republic. He explains ‘seeing hundreds of people being able to connect to my music even with the language barrier, it's amazing trust me! He would say that he’s more interested in that fortune rather than the fame as ‘as it gives you the power to invest and build.’

‘My inspiration is my mum as she is such a hard worker, and has always made me believe that anything is achievable with working hard’. He is also inspired by a range of artists include Dizzee Rascal, Coldplay, Jay-Z, Ludacris, Michael Jackson, Nas, Outkast, Stevie Wonder and UB40. 

Four qualities he feels a good musician should have are ‘Consistency, organisation, focus and versatility. He says 'all these go hand in hand. Once you leave one of these elements out, you end up falling short. In the UK I think we’re all finding ourselves within the industry and understanding the infrastructure behind it. This is helping to boost the music we love and make to the forefront of the UK.  This definitely helps me as an artist, as it creates many avenues for me to get my music heard.’

’I promote myself in many different ways. For example, I have a good team consisting of a plugger, PR and booking agent. I also make sure my social networks are always buzzing with something. He says 'The most effective way to promote yourself as an artists is the internet.  You allows you to have unlimited access to a wide range of people instantly'.

Although his Line of Fire EP is out now via iTunes, in the future we can expect him to be ‘pushing a few single from the EP with visuals’ as well as a ‘single release and video for HYPE SHOW’

You can now contact Xpolder via his Official Site, Facebook and even follow him on Twitter. 

Platinum - K Sounds

‘Our music has always been about channelling energy through whichever instrument or source is put in front of us’ says Planitum the CEO of  the collective K-Sounds.



The collective broke into the music scene back in 2007 with their first underground release ‘Next Up' which was a huge success. It held them as number 1# in the charts on Channel AKA for several weeks as well as receiving immense airplay on Choice FM, Kiss FM and other local radio stations.

I thought I’d catch up with Platinum the CEO and Founder of the collective to find out where it all started.  

                                        

K-Sounds originally began in 2000, with members Platinum and Dmac from South London. What started for them as a hobby soon became a potential career path that they began to take more seriously. So they decided to expand their collective and recruited two new members which where Drastick, and Chaser.

They began distributing music locally and hosting at house parties, youth clubs and any other social event possible. As their fan base grew, so did the will to maximise their potential as artists, provoking them to take their music to an even bigger and better professional plateau.

They group began to release their music officially, starting with their underground hit single 'Next up' which sold over 500 copies on white label vinyl. They also shot a video with Mastermind productions which held number 1# spot on Channel AKA for numerous weeks, in addition to them receiving immense radio play via Choice FM, Kiss Fm and other local station. This exposure they received enabled them to perform both nationally and internationally in countries such as Cyprus and Germany.  

'In a small group it's hard to imagine people being so similar but also individual in different aspects' Says Platinum. Me and Drastick provide the energy and love for music, while Chaser possesses the business skills. He has a more structured approach to music. His willingness to push things forward, as well as mine, Drasktick's and Chaser's musical passion fuels the group and our success.’

‘Our music has always been about channelling energy through whichever instrument or source is put in front of us. As kids from an urban background our lyrics are always sourced from experience and life’s challenges. Every year since we were young we've been faced with different situations but we always manage to portray that in our music.’

  

Platinum speaks on behalf of his gang when he says ' K-Sounds are entertainment. Some artists forge a career from acting in front of the camera and creating tracks that over hype their career. K-Sounds give you the truth in music, but with careful thought and precise beats to accompany our stories. Everything from the thought to the final project comes from us, our ideas and our lives so if people still have an appreciation for real music then they should be following us.'

  

Showing love to other artist's is a must for Platinum, he says 'If I see something I like in an artist I make sure I listen to them however big or small they are. During my years in music I’ve showed interest in a lot of artists and tried to help them further their career, most notably Smart kid aka Smartz and Tinie Tempah.  The last single I purchased was by Twissman ft Dotstar. I got in contact with Twissman via Twitter and saw a couple of his tweets. I decided to purchase a song or two and I enjoyed it. Dotstar is an amazing artist as well and after listening to two tracks I knew I had to purchase his songs.'

Four qualities he thinks a good musician should attain are ambition, determination, honesty and diversity. 'The 1st two qualities are self explanatory, without those you'll never succeed in anything. Honesty is important for an artist as I believe that it separates you from others and your honesty will be picked up on. Artists such as Eminem and Nas have used their life experiences in their music and have gained a strong fan base purely on the back of their honesty. The last quality for me is diversity. When I first entered the music scene I didn't want to do anything but grime but over time I realised I had to adapt my style to suit people's musical tastes in order to increase my fan base. Some people may call this selling out, but the more people you appeal to the more successful you are. The main reason for people doing music is to reach people emotionally so I see no problem with it.

Their alias K-Sounds, actual stand for Charismatic sounds; it represents them collectively making good music with a positive influence. They've been fortunate enough to work with the likes of  Splurge , Lioness, Kadey James, Ghetto, Tinie Tempah, Messy, Raharma, Nico Mills (F.A.T) and Erico (Sony) just to name a few. Plantinum says ‘In the future, we would like to work with more singers and artists similar to us. We’re interested in artists such as Davinche, Cleo Sol and Loick Essien because of their love for their craft and beauty in music.’

‘This year is a make or break for us. We’ve already completed a mix tape which is currently in its mastering process and we'll be releasing 5 or 6 videos for our mix tape tracks. We’ve also recorded a track with Splurge entitled Drunk remix which is due to be released before the summer. People can expect to see us doing freestyles for Grime Daily and SBTV and many other media sources. In a nutshell, we aim to do as best as we humanly can. We’ve been in touch with many labels and management companies and if putting pen to paper is what finally pushes us to where we wish to be then that’s the next step we’ll be taking.'.

"South Circular”, “The Freestyles" and "All or nothing" are their earliest material. Ontogenesis E.P is their latest release which is now available on ITunes and various outlets now aswell as their newest videos Guns & roses and Wave control . So keep your eyes peeled for what they have yet to come. You can now contact via Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Youtube.