What inspired you to first start making music? And how did you come to be in your current incarnation? Or if you prefer, a brief bio about you.
I guess my parents really. They inspired my love and curiosity of music and I think if life had worked out differently, they would have loved to have been full-time musicians. Certainly my mum. She often tells a story about how she and some friends were due to appear on a British TV talent show of the time called Opportunity Knocks but weren’t able to last minute because of some family complications. I’ve always written music and played in a couple of different bands but I’ve decided it’s time to seize the moment and finally release some of my own music.
Provide us with some info about your latest release…
I wrote the song (‘Take Your Leave’) about my first proper long-term relationship. In black and white, it’s about being with someone for longer than you know you should be but not having the maturity/strength/balls to know how to finish it. Sort of asking someone else to make the decision for you in a way.
It was a song that I’d sat with for a while and I finally took it to my Producer Alex – who is also one of my oldest mates – and he completely breathed a life into it. For me the core of the song is reflective and melancholic but with an inevitable movement in a particular direction and he really made sure we nailed that atmosphere.
Which ones would you consider your main influences both music-wise & non-music-wise?
Amy Winehouse is right up there for sure. Firstly she was a North Londoner so that already puts her ahead of most others! Of course stylistically we’re both very different (and obviously I’d never even make a comparison because she’s more or less godlike!) but lyrically and musically, she’s always a barometer for me. If I’m unsure if a lyric is any good I wonder if it would be good enough for her – although I’m still a way off that yet. She’s just breathed emotion and soul.
James Blake is another North Londoner who has definitely influenced my musical style. His voice is just ethereal and the way he blends and juxtaposes it with his musical experimentation is off the scale. He’s also a prominent voice encouraging men to express themselves which is so so important.
Outside of music I’m also a director and one of the first directors who formed my love of film is Alfred Hitchcock. He was the master of suspense and atmosphere – and so often in a brilliantly minimal way.
In what way does your sound differ from the rest genre-related artists/bands and why should we listen to your music? In other words, how would you describe your sound?
Well I suppose I should let other people make that call! But I’m trying to fuse my favourite musical genres of Soul, Trip/Hip-Hop and RnB. I think it sits somewhere between James Blake, John Legend, Michael Jackson and The Style Council. I’m trying to provide my own modern spin but I’d take being 1% as good as any of them!
Please name your 3 desert islands albums, movies & books…
Albums:
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
Amy Winehouse – Frank
Michael Jackson – Off the Wall/Thriller/Bad (I know that’s three but I honestly can’t pick)
Films:
Raging Bull
Psycho
Whiplash
Books:
On the Road – Jack Kerouac
Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem – Peter Ackroyd
The Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck
Do you prefer studio or performing live and why?
I have to say you can’t beat the feeling of live performance. I also play as part of an 8-piece Hip-Hop collective and that is just pure energetic fun, so playing solo couldn’t be any more different – it’s a lot scarier! I also, though, love the feeling of crafting something in the studio and being able to thump out the latest mix in the car on the way home, before anyone else has had a chance to listen to it – that’s an exciting feeling.ha.
Is there any funny-unique story you would like to share with us, always in relation to your music ‘career’?
Just yesterday a mate of mine caught me humming one of my own songs in the queue at Starbucks. It was genuinely incredibly embarrassing. And then he let the whole queue know hahaha.
Which track of your own would you point out as the most unique and why?
Well as this is my debut I suppose I have to say this one! So far! But some of the ones I’ve got in the works I’m pretty excited about.
Would you like to share with our readers your future plans?
The next thing will probably be an EP. I’ve got the material, I just need to decide what to go with and get it finished. As I’ve been promoting this single, the music production has gone a little bit on the back-burner so I can’t wait to get back to it. I think probably an EP in the New Year.
Free question!!! (Ask yourself a question) you wish to answer and haven’t been given the opportunity…
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Curated by: Christos Doukakis
Recommended listening:
***Stay tuned with Last Day Deaf, for the exclusive track premiere of David Alxandr’s debut single ‘Take Your Leave’ on October 18th***
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