Lady Sov's first release So Human, from her follow up album Jigsaw which will be released on her indepedent label Midget Records. This track could so easily have come from the Skins soundtrack ...
Monday, 16 March 2009
Lady Sovereign Interview
Victim to an era unsure of how to market a white female rapper from North London, Lady Sovereign was not so hotly received in the UK when she first released her debut album Public Warning back in 2006. It was not long however before she became part of a very small pantheon of UK artists to make a bigger impression in the U.S than here in the UK.
Being discovered by Jay Z, Lady Sov soon signed to Def Jam and went on to become the first ever UK artist to reach the #1 spot on MTV America’s video countdown with ‘Love Me Or Hate Me’. Across the next couple of months her career continued to escalate, performing on David Letterman, touring with Gwen Stefani, recording sessions with Pharrell and the The Beastie Boys and headlining Times Square on New Years Eve 2007. However as quickly as she shot to fame and stardom, her career began its downward spiral. Leaving Def Jam and drifting off the music scene, Lady Sov had reached breaking point.
Two years later and she’s back and ready to do things her way, releasing follow up album ‘Jigsaw’ on her very own label Midget Records. Flavour caught up with the 23 year old who detests interviews and managed to have a good conversation about where she’s been, where’s she’s going and what she loves and hates.
1. So why the alias Lady Sovereign?
Lady Sovereign: You say it like it’s a really bad name. Only kidding! Well there’s two reasons, one’s a bit stupid and the other one’s just a bit whatever. Basically I was smoking sovereign cigarettes at the time and then I had loads of sovereign rings. Seriously that’s the reason why. I’m not going to say I looked in the dictionary and sovereign means power and that shit, because that would be a lie. It was all down to lifestyle I guess and it was just iconic at the time.
2. What’s so love or hate about you?
Lady Sovereign: I don’t know really. A lot of people have this assumption that I’m just any girl and I’m just trying it, but I’m better than a lot of people think. You can’t really categorise me and I guess that confuses people.
3. What’s the story behind Jay Z discovering you and your being signed to Def Jam?
Lady Sovereign: I’ve banned that question because I’m fed up of answering it. Seriously, the best thing to do would be to go on google.com and look up and old interview and just copy and paste the answer.
4. Fair enough. So why do you think you managed to break America where other British artists have failed?
Lady Sovereign: I’m likeable and I’m genuine. I’m not saying anyone else isn’t, but I went out there quite early, even before Def Jam picked up on me and people just took to me quite quickly. I guess when you look at me, you expect something and then I do something else, so it was all brand new and fresh for the Americans and they’d never seen or heard anything like it before. I love it over there, it crazy, I’m so much bigger out there than I am over here and it’s weird because I want things to work out more over here and it’s a shame that it hasn’t but things are looking good at the moment, so we’ll see.
5. Why did you leave Def Jam?
Lady Sovereign: I was tired and fed up. I just felt like I was doing the same old thing over and over again, you know, interviews, interviews, interviews, promo, promo, promo, all for the same song! I was rising so high at that moment that I think they could have at least released more songs off my album then I would have been a bit more excited about things. I just felt like I was repeating myself all the time, I didn’t have any time to make any new music, I felt like I was letting down ,y fans and myself and I just got depressed and walked away from it really.
6. Is this why you disappeared for so long?
Lady Sovereign: Yep
7. How did you pick yourself up after such a low time in your life?
Lady Sovereign: I just locked myself off from everything really. I wasn’t going on big holidays and trying to get all up in the media or whatever because I kind of stay away from that but I was just living a normal life. I had to get back into a social circle again and I needed to see my family and my friends and just sort my life out really
1. How did you come to start your own label, Midget Records?
Lady Sovereign: It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. The whole Def Jam thing was great, it got me out there and did good things for me until it went pear shaped. Me and my manager set Midget Records up and EMI approached us about distributing for us. We only set it up at the end of last year and it’s going well already. We don’t have much of a budget but industry people are amazed.
2. What has been the most rewarding thing about beginning your own independent route?
Lady Sovereign: Having more control, and everything just seems more relaxed and I’m more enthusiastic about things now than I used to be.
3. What have you learnt from your past experiences that will benefit your future career?
Lady Sovereign: To know when to draw the line. I’m not going to push myself as far as I can just because it’s going to make me a huge star you know. I’ve got to think about myself and my well-being. I broke down last time and I don’t want to do that again.
4. What genre of music would you say you make?
Lady Sovereign: I don’t know you know. I like so much that it’s hard for me to stick to doing one thing. I’ve never known how to categorise myself really. People try and throw me in the grime box but that’s just stupid because I’m not a grime artist and that would just be unfair for me to claim that.
5. What is the concept behind the forthcoming album Jigsaw?
Lady Sovereign: There is no concept. Seriously! I just write songs and I put them on an album, but I guess I do get a little more personal on this one. Just a little bit.
6. What can we expect musically from your album?
Lady Sovereign: Well I sing on this album, or at least I tried. There’s one song called Pennies which is a bit of a banger langer, but I like them all. I like So Human, the one that’s out now and then I like Jigsaw which is one I sing on. There’s something for everyone on there really, there’s electronic, there’s guitar based music, there’s hip hop and there’s stuff that I don’t even know what the hell it is, but its on there.
7. Why did you entitle the album Jigsaw?
Lady Sovereign: I don’t know. I really don’t know, it just made sense at the time to call it Jigsaw
8. Your album includes flavours of Britrock, electro, dance-floor, would you say you were pigeon holed into the hip hop genre with your last album?
Lady Sovereign: A little bit. That’s why I was getting a bit annoyed that in America they were just promoting Love Me Or Hate me because there was other stuff on my first album that could have defined me a bit more. Now I think people will realise that I’m a little bit more than what people thought I was
9. Do you think it will be easier to market your music with other British acts such as Lilly Allen and M.I.A around now?
Lady Sovereign: Yeah definitely. In the past year and a half since I’ve been missing, people like M.I.A have totally blown up and you can’t really define her either because it’s just a genre that doesn’t really have a name. I don’t think I really got the full appreciation I deserved when I first came out but we’ll see what happens now.
10. Do you think having acts like these around makes you less unique?
Lady Sovereign: No because at the end of the day I’m the originator whether people like it or not.
11. You received recognition from a number of international artists whilst signed have you maintained a good relationship with these people and are there any plans to work with them again in the future?
Lady Sovereign: Yeah I would work with Gwen Stefani. I’m actually trying to get her on a remix of something right now. I spent like two months with her when I was on tour with her and we get on, and it’s not pretence, we honestly get on. At the end of the day, I’m only going to collaborate with people I get on with and people I like really
12. Are the signature ‘chav’ side ways ponytail, gold rings and baggy tracksuits making a comeback with you or have you had a whole image revamp?
Lady Sovereign: No that’s all gone I don’t even wear side ponytails anymore, that’s gone. I like to crimp my hair these days and use a bit of colour. I wear a hat a lot but that’s just a comfort thing I suppose, so no side ponytails just a hat to the side.
1. Are you happy to retain the ‘chav’ label?
Lady Sovereign: No! I’ve never liked that label. I’m not a chav no way! A chav is just not me. Let’s not even go there.
2. What do you want people to take from you and your music?
Lady Sovereign: Maybe they can relate to it and enjoy it. I like to put a smile on people’s faces so hopefully my music will be able to do that.
3. What do you hope to achieve in the near future?
Lady Sovereign: I want Midget Records to be an established well recognised label, with great artists that come out on it. I also want to keep doing what I’m doing, and there are things that I’m not going to say right now because I don’t want to speak too soon, but I’ve made certain things happen so we’ll have to wait and see.
4. How do you think you’ll be received by the UK after such a long break?
Lady Sovereign: You know what I’m going to say don’t you. I don’t know. At the moment I’m just hearing reviews from the media and all that, but I just want my album to come out already so I can hear the true opinion from the people that buy it.
5. I read that you like to hear a new song every day, what new song did you listen to today?
Lady Sovereign: Yeah I do, but I haven’t been able to listen to one today because I’ve been doing interviews all day! But when I get home I will get on the iTunes Genius and see what it recommends for me.
6. Are you a rebel or a diva?
Lady Sovereign: I’m a rebel although I can be a bit diva-ish at times, it just depends on how I’m feeling.
7. And to end, a brief quick-fire love or hate session …
Dresses - Hate
Gold rings - Love
Def Jam - Love
Girl Bands – Hate
Jigsaw will be released on April 13th on Midget Records (via EMI). So Human will be released on March 30th. Visit http://www.ladysovereign.com/ for further information on the featured artist.
Words by Susanne Singh
This interview can be seen by visiting the Flavour website - http://www.flavourmag.co.uk/?p=1617
Saturday, 7 March 2009
Thursday, 5 March 2009
British Music Experience
So I went to get an exclusive sneek peek of the British Music Experience exhibition at the O2 in Greenwich yesterday (Weds 4th March) and I have to say it's definitely worth a visit. It is essentially a look at the history of music in Britain, from all the way back in the 1940s to the present day and it features a full and extensive timeline and information on all of the different music movements from skiffle, to breakbeat, to pop, to rock, to hip hop, to rnb, to garage. The exhibition officially opens to the public on Monday 9th March, and is held in the top floor of the O2 bubble. In addition to the features I just mentioned, there are tons of interactive features including the Gibson Interative Studio which is a room where you can learn how to play instruments from the guitar to the piano to the drums to a personal favourite of mine, Hey Mr DJ, which is essentially a duke box with tracks dating back to the 60's.
Check out some of the biiiiig tunes I came across whilst using this feature ....
Check out some of the biiiiig tunes I came across whilst using this feature ....
And these were just a few of the tracks that I heard that day thanks to an extremely friendly member of staff who was bubbling along to the music with me in the middle of the exhibition. What? What can I say? The music can take hold of you in the most random of places
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
SIZZLA KALONJI!
The following interview was carried out on behalf of Flavour magazine and will feature in the upcoming issue of Flavour magazine. For further information visit www.flavourmag.co.uk
Sizzla: That name come about based upon the attitudes people have of youths growing up in the ghetto. The youth got that feel for the music, that energy, that fire, and they just want to express themselves and be a part of the music and feel that vibe. Mr. Harris (jamstyle producer and mentor) is who called me Sizzla because he thought I was just too hot!
2. What types of things did you experience as a child growing up in the ghetto?
Sizzla: A whole lot of things. I seen my friends being killed, people suffering, people dying, people catching diseases, poverty, political warfare, and parents who can hardly find a good night’s dinner for their kids.
3. How did you succeed in your pursuit of your music career where others have failed?
Sizzla: Perseverance. You’ve got to be educated about what you want to do, about where you’re going, and about the music in general. So I really studied the music industry. I watched television and listened to a lot of icons like Bob Marley and all of the great icons. I knew early on that music was where I wanted to push my energy, so I started to go to live sound systems and working night and day in different communities. This is how people started to hear about me and they started loving my style and I started getting that confidence and that conviction. From there it just propelled!
4. You are an inspiration to many, growing up who were your inspirations?
Sizzla: My inspiration is from the most almighty, the Rastafari, creator of Heaven and Earth. And then my whole environment and experiences, and people around me like my friends and family and people in the music industry like Baby Sham also gave me a lot of inspiration.
5. Now that you are in a position to do so, in what ways do you give back to your community?
Sizzla: We keep concerts and we help out the school by paying the school fees, light bills and water bills. Then we have a number of community projects to help educate people and we belong to a lot of institutions who come together and we try to come up with solutions to the problems we see. So we do a lot in the community.
6. What can fans expect from your forthcoming album ‘Ghetto Youth-ology’?
Sizzla: More righteousness, more love, more life, more vibes, more Rastaman inspiration, more nice lyrics, more melody and a beautiful album to comfort the soul and help you see through the problems of today. Rastafari! More Love!
7. What is the reason for your album being entitled Ghetto Youth-ology?
Sizzla: The reason for the album is for the youth to have a better insight in their life, to see the world and see what’s happening presently. This album is for the youths to give them strength, to let them know that education is the key, to clear up all the corruption and to just look towards the future, heads high and just praise the almighty and believe in yourself and know that you can make it.
8. Your current single, ‘Black Man in the White House’ is obviously about Mr. Barack Obama. Do you believe that Obama will be able to solve the problems that deprived youths face?
Sizzla: The problems people face were present way before Obama, but we just hope and pray that someone with a good heart has the people’s best interests in mind, and knows that the family is the basic unit of society and so you’ve got to keep the family together and let them get a good wellbeing. But the Government system has been corrupt from way, way, way before now, and because of the lack of resources and activities, a lot of people turn to drugs and guns and all other negative activities. We just hope and pray that Obama can be an inspiration to the youth and try to make things a little better for them.
9. How does it feel to be considered as one of the Dancehall greats?
Sizzla: It feels good. It’s honourable to know that you are accepted and recognised. That’s what we have been working for, not just to be physically recognised, but for our work to be recognised.
10. What key messages do you want people to take away from your music?
Sizzla: That is love, help one another, live good, share and be kind. Love is the only thing, there is nothing else Rastafari! Continue in your education, educate yourself, educate your family, and help those that are not educated.
11. Why do you use your music as a vehicle for your positive messages?
Sizzla: That is Reggae, that is Rastafari, that is our culture, that’s our life, that’s the way we life, and we bring it all out in the music.
12. You have been releasing good music since the 90’s why do you think you are still amongst the top artists in the Raggae/ Dancehall game?
Sizzla: Because I think I’m uplifting the spirits of people and enlightening the youth of the world. People want you to keep providing them with righteousness, and this is what I do so this is why I think the people continue to like my music.
Ghetto Youth-ology will be the fourth album to be released on Sizzla’s independent label, Kalonji Records and is produced by the Firehouse Crew. The album will be in stores nationwide on April 21st.
Words by Susanne Singh
Born Miguel Collins on 17 April, 1976 and raised in the ghetto community of August Town, St Mary by devout Rastafarian parents, the now 33-year-old man better known by his stage name Sizzla, is yet another prime example that anything is possible as long as you put your mind to it. Having experienced extreme hardship throughout his younger years, Sizzla is now considered to be one of the most prolific leaders of the conscious Reggae/ Dancehall movement.
I caught up with the Raggae/ Dancehall legend for an inspirational talk in light of his forthcoming album release, ‘Ghetto Youth-ology’.
1. How did the stage name Sizzla Kalonji come about?
I caught up with the Raggae/ Dancehall legend for an inspirational talk in light of his forthcoming album release, ‘Ghetto Youth-ology’.
1. How did the stage name Sizzla Kalonji come about?
Sizzla: That name come about based upon the attitudes people have of youths growing up in the ghetto. The youth got that feel for the music, that energy, that fire, and they just want to express themselves and be a part of the music and feel that vibe. Mr. Harris (jamstyle producer and mentor) is who called me Sizzla because he thought I was just too hot!
2. What types of things did you experience as a child growing up in the ghetto?
Sizzla: A whole lot of things. I seen my friends being killed, people suffering, people dying, people catching diseases, poverty, political warfare, and parents who can hardly find a good night’s dinner for their kids.
3. How did you succeed in your pursuit of your music career where others have failed?
Sizzla: Perseverance. You’ve got to be educated about what you want to do, about where you’re going, and about the music in general. So I really studied the music industry. I watched television and listened to a lot of icons like Bob Marley and all of the great icons. I knew early on that music was where I wanted to push my energy, so I started to go to live sound systems and working night and day in different communities. This is how people started to hear about me and they started loving my style and I started getting that confidence and that conviction. From there it just propelled!
4. You are an inspiration to many, growing up who were your inspirations?
Sizzla: My inspiration is from the most almighty, the Rastafari, creator of Heaven and Earth. And then my whole environment and experiences, and people around me like my friends and family and people in the music industry like Baby Sham also gave me a lot of inspiration.
5. Now that you are in a position to do so, in what ways do you give back to your community?
Sizzla: We keep concerts and we help out the school by paying the school fees, light bills and water bills. Then we have a number of community projects to help educate people and we belong to a lot of institutions who come together and we try to come up with solutions to the problems we see. So we do a lot in the community.
6. What can fans expect from your forthcoming album ‘Ghetto Youth-ology’?
Sizzla: More righteousness, more love, more life, more vibes, more Rastaman inspiration, more nice lyrics, more melody and a beautiful album to comfort the soul and help you see through the problems of today. Rastafari! More Love!
7. What is the reason for your album being entitled Ghetto Youth-ology?
Sizzla: The reason for the album is for the youth to have a better insight in their life, to see the world and see what’s happening presently. This album is for the youths to give them strength, to let them know that education is the key, to clear up all the corruption and to just look towards the future, heads high and just praise the almighty and believe in yourself and know that you can make it.
8. Your current single, ‘Black Man in the White House’ is obviously about Mr. Barack Obama. Do you believe that Obama will be able to solve the problems that deprived youths face?
Sizzla: The problems people face were present way before Obama, but we just hope and pray that someone with a good heart has the people’s best interests in mind, and knows that the family is the basic unit of society and so you’ve got to keep the family together and let them get a good wellbeing. But the Government system has been corrupt from way, way, way before now, and because of the lack of resources and activities, a lot of people turn to drugs and guns and all other negative activities. We just hope and pray that Obama can be an inspiration to the youth and try to make things a little better for them.
9. How does it feel to be considered as one of the Dancehall greats?
Sizzla: It feels good. It’s honourable to know that you are accepted and recognised. That’s what we have been working for, not just to be physically recognised, but for our work to be recognised.
10. What key messages do you want people to take away from your music?
Sizzla: That is love, help one another, live good, share and be kind. Love is the only thing, there is nothing else Rastafari! Continue in your education, educate yourself, educate your family, and help those that are not educated.
11. Why do you use your music as a vehicle for your positive messages?
Sizzla: That is Reggae, that is Rastafari, that is our culture, that’s our life, that’s the way we life, and we bring it all out in the music.
12. You have been releasing good music since the 90’s why do you think you are still amongst the top artists in the Raggae/ Dancehall game?
Sizzla: Because I think I’m uplifting the spirits of people and enlightening the youth of the world. People want you to keep providing them with righteousness, and this is what I do so this is why I think the people continue to like my music.
Ghetto Youth-ology will be the fourth album to be released on Sizzla’s independent label, Kalonji Records and is produced by the Firehouse Crew. The album will be in stores nationwide on April 21st.
Words by Susanne Singh
Michael Keith (Formerly 112) Interview
Hardworking and passionate, since then his untimely departure from Atlanta Georgia based RnB quartet 112, Michael Keith has been working on his career as a solo artist. Promising to offer the same high standard RnB that fans worldwide came to associate with 112, but with an added hint of individuality that couldn’t be accessed before, Michael has now released his debut album.
Ambitious Heights caught up with Michael to talk about his self-entitled debut album, leaving 112 and being a rock slut!
Ambitious Heights caught up with Michael to talk about his self-entitled debut album, leaving 112 and being a rock slut!
1. For those that don’t know, how did 112 come about?
Michael Keith: We all lived in the same neighbourhood growing up and we went to the same school and realised we had a natural connection and an affinity for music. We started building our name doing talent shows in Atlanta Georgia and winning them, and we finally met our manager who introduced us to Puff and we became 112 at that point.
2. How did 112 sign to Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Bad Boy record label?
Michael Keith: Basically Puffy gave us an opportunity that nobody else was willing to give us at the time. Puff was serious about 112 and wanted to sign us as soon as we met him, so we were ready to rock and roll.
3. If you had never became an RnB singer is there another career path that you would have followed?
Michael Keith: I’d probably be out selling drugs. It’s that real. The people that grew up in my neighbourhood didn’t really have too many options, you either played sports, you were a musician, you tried to rhyme or you sold dope. I was fortunate enough to have people that believed in me.
4. Do you think Obama’s appointment will change that, and present more opportunities for the unfortunate?
Michael Keith: Absolutely, I feel like him being the President has opened up a lot of people’s minds and hearts. The mind set over here in the States is that we were always second class citizens and now for the first time it’s like we can say ‘I’m a part of this country’. It really speaks volumes to the nation about how well we have evolved as a whole. I’m very proud as an African American because we’re more than just rappers, we’re more than just athletes, we’re more than just singers, we’re also politicians, we’re also leaders, we’re just as much a part of this world as anybody else.
5. I read that you have an operatic musical background, what is the story behind this?
Michael Keith: The story behind that is really crazy, like I said I grew up in one of the worst areas of Atlanta Georgia and I grew up in one of the hardest schools in the district, so opera is the last thing that anybody would have thought would have come out of a kid from there. But I used to watch Tom and Jerry as a child and they always used to have operatic songs in the background so I’d always sing it. One day when I was singing in school, my music teacher who was operatically trained pulled me aside and she wanted me to start training under her. I tried everything I could to avoid her, because I wasn’t ready for the backlash I’d get from my homeboys but she made sure I didn’t waste my potential.
6. Do you feel that this has influenced your music throughout the years?
Michael Keith: Yeah, I mean I always loved listening to classical music growing up, but I just never thought I could apply it to anything. I have a song on my album entitled ‘Off Up In His Bedroom’ and if you listen to it, you’ll hear that its very operatic and that’s all me, it’s not a sample, it’s not Pavarotti, it’s all me, and it’s definitely influenced the music.
7. Which artists inspired you?
Michael Keith: Kurt Cobaine from Nirvana. In terms of RnB it’d be pretty much the ones that everyone says, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Donnie Hathaway, James Brown, Michael Jackson, but I think my writing style, ability to sign and my production skills started from the rock side of things. I’m such a dichotomy it’s ridiculous, because I sing RnB and I have a real soulful, gospel voice, but I grew up listening to rock music.
8. So what stopped you from becoming a rock singer?
Michael Keith: My colour. There’s only one Lenny Kravitz man, you know what I mean. We haven’t evolved enough in my opinion to expand on that type of music though it’s getting better. I definitely want to expand and be more of a universal artist, so if that means being called rock or pop I have no problems with that.
9. Do you have a favourite 112 song?
Michael Keith: I would have to say Cupid is my favourite 112 song.
10. 112 is often directly compared to Jagged Edge, what do you think of this comparison?
Michael Keith: They were fair comparisons because Jagged Edge and 112 at the time were the only groups that were out there doing something and we pretty much grew up around each other. I respect their craft and they put some great records out there, but if I had to choose between 112 and Jagged Edge I would say 112 all day long.
11. You left 112 in 2007, now I must ask, there was a rumour about a publishing cheque, can you tell me about that?
Michael Keith: Yeah absolutely. One of the main reasons why I had to leave and go do my own solo thing was because there were some discrepancies about a publishing cheque that was meant for Slim and myself. Basically Daron and Q felt like they were entitled to more of the money. Overall I felt like we had done so much as a unit that there shouldn’t have been a discrepancy with the cheque to begin with!
12. So what made them think they had more rights to it?
Michael Keith: In the beginning under the philosophy that neither one of us would be where we were if it wasn’t for the other person we would split everything four ways, regardless of who did what and we signed a contract to this effect. In the beginning when everything was even keel it was cool. But once everyone started branching off and doing songs outside of the group and producing outside of the group that’s when the discrepancy started.
13. Are there any plans to get back together for a follow up album to Pleasure and Pain?
Michael Keith: I’m going to be honest with you and say I’ve grown and lived long enough to never say never, so if that was to happen in the future I will welcome it under the right circumstances. I never felt like we had accomplished all that we could have, but right now I’m so focused on my solo project and everybody else, from what I know is focusing on theirs, so I don’t see it happening in the near future.
14. Other members of the band are also working on solo projects, would you ever consider collaborating with any of them in the future?
Michael Keith: Absolutely! Like I said this is a business and one of the main things that prohibits us from being like Bill Gates or Donald Trump is that we have an inability to work with somebody that we may disagree with. I have a tonne of disagreements with Daron, Q and Slim, but I can look past all that as a businessman to talk about what’s going to make the 112 brand and our solo projects bigger and better. I can definitely see myself working with the others, but it’s a four-way street.
15. You recently released your debut solo album, what can we expect from it?
Michael Keith: You can expect pretty much my soul and pretty much everything I’ve wanted to say for the past 13 years as a member of 112 and as a solo artist. This is something which is from the heart. My album is basically an album full of questions that I feel we as a people are too afraid to talk about, like why does love hurt or why is it that I love a girl who is promiscuous. Then I have a song on my album entitled ‘Father’ that Daron helped me to write, and I’m talking about the fact that like so many people I grew up without a father. So if anything I feel like the album could be a learning tool for people who have the same kind of questions that I have had through my life, because despite the fact that I’ve been successful, I still go through the same issues as everybody else.
16. Are there any tracks that you particularly like from the album?
Michael Keith: Each one of the songs represents me at a particular point in my life. So the first song is an emotion, the second song is an emotion and so on. So tomorrow you might ask me which is my favourite and I would say ‘Love’ and then the next day I’d say ‘Off Up In His Bedroom’ because that would be how I was feeling at that time. The album only has 11 songs for the specific reason that I didn’t want to extend on who I really was to just try and sell a record, but there is so much depth to it.
17. How have you found being on an independent label?
Michael Keith: It’s fun. I have more creative freedom, I know exactly where my money is going when it’s sent out which is definitely a good thing and I don’t have to go through the middle man. I don’t have to go through the A & R, I don’t have to listen to this executive and that executive, I am the executive along with my manager/ label head Carlo Farina, and so we just do what we feel.
18. Has the response to your debut album been what you expected?
Michael Keith: It’s been more than what I expected. I actually thought I was going to get more of a mixed review about the album, but from all the reviews that I got about the album, everybody loves it. I haven’t got one negative review, so I’m just really excited. The more I do interviews and radio the more people are going to hear about this album, so I’m really proud of myself.
19. How are you finding being a solo artist?
Michael Keith: Its weird, because if something goes wrong, its my fault, I can’t blame it on somebody else, but at the same time if everything is successful then that’s me too. For years I have been saying that I need to figure out who I am as a musician and becoming a solo artist has really given me that freedom.
20. How is your style as a solo artist different to 112’s style?
Michael Keith: Well I’m singing more! I think that’s the biggest difference. I’m a lot freer as Michael Keith as opposed to Mike from 112. I’ve introduced rock and operatic themes into my album which are genres I really enjoyed growing up but I couldn’t really experiment with them in 112 because we had a particular sound that people were accustomed to.
21. Describe Michael Keith’s musical style in three words?
Michael Keith: Soulful, eclectic and legendary.
22.What inspires your music & lyrics?
Michael Keith: I’m a big rock music dude. Since my first introduction to Nirvana in 1991 I’ve been a total rock slut. I just love the freedom that those guys portray in their music. We have so many confines in the RnB world, where you can only talk about love or how fly your clothes are.
23. What do you think of the state of RnB today?
Michael Keith: With the exception of maybe Kanye, Will-i-am and Timbaland, everybody else is just cookie cutter and it drives me crazy because we are so much more brilliant and so much more evolved than we are portrayed. As artists, we’re stuck in a catch 22 because the record labels want you to be an artist that sounds like everybody else, and being the ones that hold the cheques, artists pretty much have to do as they say. This was something that I had a real issue with because 112 had always been at the forefront of music and I just can’t see myself being anything else other than a trendsetter.
24. Back when Bad Boy came out, were there as many rules then?
Michael Keith: We had a lot more freedom as opposed to what’s going on with Bad Boy right now, because we were all just learning as we went along, and everybody started from the ground up. There are a lot more opportunities now, but there was a lot more freedom back then because everyone was just grinding. Now we can’t really give the new cats the freedom that we had because their coming into a situation that’s already built.
25. Are you familiar with any British artists that you like the sound of?
Michael Keith: I’m familiar with Dido, I love Dido. Everyone is familiar with Amy Whinehouse. I’m a big Sting fan because I’m old school. I’m a fan of Craig David, I loved his first album, and then Floetry. Them girls are incredible, I’ve seen them live and oh my God. Also I have to mention Oasis and Coldplay.
26. What’s next on the agenda for you?
Michael Keith: Just making sure that the world understands that Michael Keith is here to stay. You know how 112 did it and with me you can’t expect anything else.
27. Would you ever consider managing your own band?
Michael Keith: No. 112 was a special breed. A situation like that only comes around once in a lifetime for an individual, and there will never be another 112, or another New Edition, Boyz II Men or Jodeci. So as far as I’m concerned I couldn’t do it because if they couldn’t do a tenth of what we were able to do, then I’d be disappointed. I’m always going to have what we achieved as my bar and if you can’t live up to that then I can’t work with you.
Visit http://www.michaelkeithonline.com/ to buy a copy of Michael’s debut album.
Words by Susanne Singh
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