Shivz Dot - Refuge

With 10 mix-tapes, 2 albums and a nationwide tour under his belt in addition to featuring on the MOBO’s Awards and BBC1Xtra Home-grown segment, and signing a management deal with The Rising Tide, we can only anticipate what’s next for East London musician, Shivz Dot.

I caught up with him to find out where it all started, who he’s collaborated with and his plans for the future.

‘When I was 14, I had airtime over both Urban Tings FM & Axe Fm in North London which were both huge internet Grime radio platforms back in 2005 and 2006‘, explained Shivz, when asked where his career began.’

This exposure enabled him to attract an audience, allowing him to rub shoulders with Grime Pioneers and most importantly get airplay across various London radio stations. He Recalls ’me and my friends started going to every radio set from Angel Whitelion to Dagenham, Redbridge and barking.’

At the age of 19, he  signed to a music management deal with Hackney’s , Rising Tide which specialises in training courses, creative apprenticeships, master-classes, and artist development , all of which provided Shivz with the skills and network base to pursue his music.

‘In 2008, I was selected as one of the final 10 to open at the MOBO awards, which was a great experience that I’ve used to better my craft.

During that time I did have to drop management due to a few shady movements, but I’ve learnt to NEVER mix family and businesses. ‘


‘I haven’t looked back since. They’re ‘no regrets’ - like Dappy says. But I’ve definitely sacrificed my social life, but it’s not really a sacrifice when I totally enjoy what I'm doing full time. I've been dominating the mix-tape scene with 10 releases, 11 on the way.

‘I’m sitting on 2 albums worth of material and I toured nationwide in 2010’ where he performed at the Big Chill, Lovebox, Indigo2, Hackney Empire and Bigga Fish. He recalls ‘It was a good feeling to see the crowd show mad appreciation for London talent.’ His 2nd tour is set to take place this summer.

‘At the end of 2011 I had my first national airplay on BBC1xtra on Target’s Home-grown show. In January I released my ground-breaking Refuge video which went viral and now has over 20,000 views to date.’

‘On my mix-tapes I say what I like and no one can tell me anything, but with the album stuff I tend to use my intelligence more than my ignorance,’ he laughs. ‘I appeal to all ages, all ages, but prominently 13 – 25.

'My influences are the old skool and just ground breaking moments in general in all types of music I tend to watch a lot of documentaries and archive footage of all the greats in music industry.'

‘I don't try and appeal to any audience I do the damn job and people just love what I do from all walks of life I don't go in the studio trying to get a certain sound anything you hear is just natural progression an I guess I’ve just proven I can do grime but easily switch up an go commercial & still sound damn good.

When asked about current and future collaborations he says ‘Let’s just say I've worked with some R & B Royalty within the UK when the album drops everyone will know.’

When asked who he’s inspired by he replies ‘me myself & I’ He continued ‘I have to aspire to better myself and that’s inspiration within itself.

I've turned down management deals from Crown Music who manages Jessie J not to mention a deal with Virgin so I’m not jumping into any contracts just yet, but expect an album sooner or later, more videos and just raising the bar worldwide.’

Shivz Dot's latest mix-tape Authentic is out now.

Also, you can follow him via Twitter and Youtube, as well as contact him personally viaFacebook.

Bamboss - The Revolution EP

After opening for the likes of Tinie Tempah, Kyla, Ms Dynamite as well performing at The Bigchill, Hackney Carnival and Lovebox he has continued to excel along his musical journey which he hopes will take him 'All Around The World'. Bamboss is a 21 year-old musician from East London who has recently released his second music video 'Wagwan' from his debut EP 'The Revolution'.

I thought i'd catch up with him to find out how he got into music, as well as what he has in store for us this year.




What is your stage name and what does it mean?

My stage name is Bamboss which is basically my nickname. Everyone’s called me that since secondary school. I didn't like it at first, but then it just stuck. There's no particular meaning. My real name is Adebambo which is a bit of a mouthful LOL. People would call me Bambo for short but in school the two s's were added. My teacher back then went on holiday to Greece and he said everyone down there had a name ending with 'Oss' so every time he called my name - which was at the top of the register - he would say 'Bumbus Arelius Abumbus' LOL. That's me trying to spell it, but yeah, that's what he would say. Then from that Bamboss came about.

How and why did you get into music?

In school I had a friend who was sick at MCing so as a joke I clashed him and he demolished me so I thought I should write a couple 16's and done his dance. From there I was writing 16's and partly participating in showcasing bars to the mandem in school. When I got to year 11 I made a ‘Diss Track’ about some guys I had a problem with, this eventually circulated around schools in Hackney which allowed me to made a name for myself and just took it from there. Since then, I’ve been banging out studio learning how to do songs. There was a period I stopped making music, but then found my way to ‘Rising Tide’ where I progressed more. From there I learnt to master my style and learnt to produce.


What music labels you would like to sign to and why?

So far the only label that looks interesting to me is ‘All Around The World’ label which N-Dubz and Skepta are signed to, they are doing things. Creative control is giving to the artists, videos are not cheap looking. Overall it’s a good look. I would sign to them any day.

Could you briefly describe your music-making process?

If it's me producing it, I would make a template beat, write a verse, keep repeating that verse then finish the song. The beat will remain the same until I finish recording the song. After it is recorded I export an acapella then edit the beat around the song to make it special and unique. If it is by another producer and the beat is already made I'll keep playing the beat then chat a whole load of nonsense until something makes sense then I go with it. If I'm with the producer making the track - which is how it’s been I have been lately - we would start everything from scratch. I'd hum out a melody think of a drum pattern then while the producer is messing around with sounds I would just write whatever comes to mind even if it's stupid then go along with it. That way it's more enjoyable and real instead of having rules, pausing and all that malarkey. After all that is done it always surprises me every time I hear the tune because it's not remembered until I play the tune back to myself.


Where is the best place your music has taken you?

It has taken me to underground radio stations such as Deja Vu, Flames Radio. I’ve done opening performances for Tinie Tempah, Kyla, Ms Dynamite, Scorcher, Akala, DJ Ironik, Bashy and Kele Le Roc. I’ve performed alongside Mz Bratt, Griminal, Fundamental, Aggro Santos, R.D etc. I’ve also Performed at LoveBox, Big Chill, Hackney Carnival, Waltham Forest Carnival, Barbican and so forth. I've made a lot of connections just through these performances alone and this was all just in one year. Imagine the other years down the line.

What sacrifices have you made to pursue your career?

I've cut a lot of unserious people out of my circle. I’ve only made time only for important people and important things in my life.

What mediums to you used to promote yourself as an artists and how effective have they been for you?

I've been using Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Radio, Shows, Word of Mouth, Blog/websites as well as using my songs as ring tones on my phone, so far it's been alright. Now the next step is television and daytime radio. I've got the music to achieve that. I’ve got a plan., it’s just putting it all go into motion now. Giggidy LOL


How important is it for you as an artist to buy music and what was the last album you bought?

I generally think if the music is good then buy it. No harm in it. I bought Skepta's album because I like his music. I hope if people like my music they would buy it as well.

What can we expect from you in 2011?

I’ve just opened up a new Youtube account which is strictly music videos from me. I’ve also recently dropped my second video called 'Wagwan' coming off 'The Revolution EP' produced by me. I’m going to be banging out more video's and I’ll definitely be on TV music channels. Bigger and better shows then hopefully an official single by the end of this year or next but we'll see how things go this year.

For more of Bamboss, you can check out his music videos such as Introduction (Let's Jive) and Wagwan via Youtube, or you can download his debut EP, The Revolution. Furthermore you can also contact him personally via his Facebook and Twitter pages.