For the second time in as many days, i'm back with another interview.
I did this the same time as Remarks from yesterday. As they have been working closely, it seemed the natural thing.
Being a south coast native I really want to push interviews with those acts from the south coast. Places like Brighton, Southampton, Bournemouth, Exeter and so on have an awesome underground Hip Hop family from the days of way back to the present.
Today I bring you Graphic Bars.
This guy has a wicked future ahead of him. Infact since a recent live gig in Worthing things have really blown up for this guy. So, trust me keep your Ears open and your Eyes peeled for Graphic Bars cos the future is gonna bring pure dopeness for sure.
Thanks for letting take some of your time to ask a few questions.
1. What have been the biggest musical influences for you?
When I grew up my house was full of music; The Beatles, The Stones, Motown, Irish Music, ABBA, The Police.
I was also naturally drawn to dark, eerie electronica, so I liked Kraftwerk, Ashes To Ashes-era Bowie, Depeche Mode, Kate Bush.
Then Hip-Hop grabbed me, particularly Ice T, Public Enemy, NWA, Eric B & Rakim, BDP, and PHP (who then became Deliverance later on)
So all of that sparked and excited my early mind, and then I started writing rhymes and creating loops with my double-tape deck!
After that I started up crews, and we listened to Hijack, Hardnoise, Above The Law, Geto Boys, Gunshot, London Posse, Blade, 2 Tone Committee, Mell'O', The Terrorists, Killa Instinct etc.
Since then I got influenced by all sorts of things, but latter-day music that lights up my soul includes AOTP, Immortal Technique, Araab Muzik, Kavinsky, Radiohead, James Blake, Frank Ocean, SOAD, Kool Keith, Nirvana, Sigur Ros, Brotha Lynch Hung, Mogwai, loads of the lads doing Grime, Vinnie Paz, Bad Meets Evil, CES Cru to name a small portion.
2. How do you relax?
I like to lie down and write rhymes, listen to music, watch comedy, watch drama, read.
Also love spending time with my Daughter, and weight-training is a huge part of my zen!
Hitting town and letting loose is also highly enjoyable.
3. What drew you to Hip Hop?
Hip-Hop hit me like a fucking thunderbolt!
It spoke to me immediately; it was so visceral and visual, painting pictures with words and vocal patterns.
And each rapper used a different paintbrush and palette... it was the rappers that transfixed me, and I started writing rhymes and making loops at 11.
Graf and graffiti artists were all around me too, and it added to the excitement and feeling of belonging.
Hip-Hop is everything to me, one of my first loves along with football, and it will be with me forever.
4. What would be your Craziest hip hop story?
I was in a crew in the 90's called Acumen, and we were getting some nice attention.
We were going up to catch The Beastie Boys in Brixton, so we did some raw versions of five of our best tracks with the 4-track the night before.
As soon as they opened with Sure Shot I got into a fight (I didn't start it, I'm not that type of fella) and a big dude sucker-punched me in the back of the head.
My head was swimming, and when I shook it off there was a full-on crowd crush, with people being pulled under and all sorts! Mental stuff!
We then chucked our tape on stage, and Ad Rock picked it up, looked through the holes like a pair of glasses, gave us the thumbs-up, and put it on the side of the stage, and intimated he would get it after, and gave us an 'OK' sign.
We were chuffed, man!
Anyway, they were rushed off stage at the end, and the tape was still at the side of the stage.
We told a member of security about it, and asked if he could get it to Ad Rock. He picked it up and said "you mean this tape?"
Then the prick snapped it in two!
We hurled insults at him and he chuckled and went backstage. Gutted, man, totally uncalled for...
I hope that nobend has had a disappointing life!
I don't really, but it was a real dick-move, you know!
5. Do you have a favourite track you have written for a particular reason?
I have two.
The current single, 'Behind The Blinds' and the next single, which we are filming the video for next Thursday (20th April 2017) called 'Is There Enough?'
They are both open tracks lyrically, 'Behind The Blinds' being about the battles we fight within ourselves, and the first verse serves to suggest I feel comfortable on the mic, but not really anywhere else!
'Is There Enough?' is about feeling good and content, and how if that essence could be captured, the 'powers that be' would steal it, distill it, bottle it, and start profiting from it!
It's metaphorical, and I lyrically display what it is that makes me feel good, and what makes my light shine like a spotlight for the leeches and foxes to come and chase!
6. What would be your favourite non hip hop album?
I have loads of non hip-hop albums that are close to me.
But if I had to chose one it would probably be 'Hounds Of Love' by Kate Bush.
Outstanding production, instrumentation, melodies, hooks, lyrics, vocals, concepts.
It's the sound of an artist on top of their game, in their own world, pulling you in and keeping you mesmerised.
She's kooky, man, the female Bowie.
Shame she ruined her mystique recently and gave her respect to Theresa May, though! Wtf!
7. You can select 5 bands/artists (hip hop or non hip hop) for a one off gig... who are they?
Well, every artist/group I'm going to select will be them in their prime (e.g. Kate Bush would be from 1985, not the one from today who likes Theresa May! Still can't get over that shit!)
The Beatles
NWA
Radiohead
Eric B & Rakim
Immortal Technique
(Nearly made it: Public Enemy, BDP, James Blake, Hardnoise, and Frank Ocean)
Oh, and Kate Bush is eliminated due to her love of Theresa May!
8. Outside of hip hop I research all sorts of paranormal and supernatural subjects! Do you have any thoughts on such things?
Well, I don't discount the existence of anything beyond my frame of comprehension.
I have felt changes in temp and vibe that could be caused by something other than my own state of mind.
I don't think I'm psychically-tuned enough to ever have a visual representation of spirit or whatever, but it doesn't mean I would deny the possibility of it being plausible.
9. The South Coast is producing some dope talent right now how does it feel to be a part of that?
Nice of you to lump me into that category, cheers!
Being part of anything due to my music being appreciated is cool by me.
And I'm very open to all genres.
10. Hypothetical Situation. You’re stuck on an island for 1 month and only have 1 Album, 1 Single, 1 book and 1 Movie? What are they?
Album: 'Nostalgia Ultra' Frank Ocean (don't want too much Hip-Hop, because I would use the time to write, and I can't listen to Hip-Hop when I'm in writing mode)
Single: 'Serve Tea Then Murder' Hardnoise
Book: 'Perfume' Patrick Suskind
Movie: 'Shogun Assassin'
11. Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Many things.
Anger.
Injustice, especially social and political injustice.
I'm very proud of my Working Class roots, and I feel there is a power-play in motion to create an old school Serving Class out of the Working Class, what with destroying the welfare state, empowering private landlords, and slashing education and NHS budgets.
My Daughter... her innocence, joy, and wicked sense of humour!
Nature, especially sea, sky, and hills.
Dark art: whether that be music, TV shows (like True Detective first series), films, books.
Comedy. Partridge, mainly.
12. Who would you pick to collaborate with for one track, if you could pick any artist?
Probably Immortal Technique.
He's an immense lyricist, emcee, and an important figure in that he is a rare combination of conscious and aggressive.
Too many liberals and left-wingers are passive these days.
Tech fights fire with fire.
It's the only way I know, too.
13. You have been working a lot with Remark. How much of an inspiration has he been?
Remark (or Ryman as I first heard of him) was one of my earliest emcee influences when I was a kid.
From the same town, and being energetic and aggressive on the mic, which was how I approached my vocals, he was a beacon of what I could do.
He was a validation for the way I naturally rapped (even from the very first time) and approached writing.
When I was a kid in '93 I drunkenly rapped at Remark and the rest of Deliverance in a club (before I'd ever been introduced to him) and he was really complimentary!
I then met him properly for the first time after he performed three years ago, we chatted, we Facebooked it, then he asked if I was still writing.
He liked what I'd penned, so he sent me a Merlin beat, and we tore it to shreds https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KeyvR-v2mHQ
Then Merlin sent me nine more beats, and I wrote and recorded 10 tracks in 12 weeks!
Remark has featured on another track 'Like Swords In Water' and recorded me for all the sessions.
He's also doing all my Music Videos with real passion and flair.
So, I owe Remark and Merlin everything, for their faith and belief in me.
14. I really want to give local/South Coast artists a voice. Do you think there is good support out there for newer artists coming up?
Thank you, man, that means a lot.
The truth is, I've no idea if there is good support out there.
I've only just come back from years out, and I've just been writing and recording in a bubble.
I hope there is!
15. Getting to where you are today. What has been you biggest struggle and you greatest achievement?
My biggest struggle was walking away years ago, when my crew disbanded, and I was then asked to do a solo track but 'tone it down a bit' to appear on a much-lauded label.
Fuck that.
I regret that sometimes, but never when sober!
My greatest achievement is now, and coming back with an album that is totally me.
I can't wait to unleash it.
16. Do you think that social media has its place in the way people can now connect. Especially for connecting with other artists, producers etc?
Absolutely.
It's way better than it was back in the day.
I'm sure I could find a negative in it if I searched for one, but I'm not going to!
17. What does your music say about you?
Everything.
It's the colours of my soul, the heights of my mind, and the depths of my loins.
You can listen to my music and know that it's me.
All my idiosyncrasies, obsessions, fears, loves, beliefs, and hopes are laid bare.
As they should be.
Sometimes you've just gotta scratch beneath the surface.
And once you've done that there should be something interesting, real, and engaging.
If not, then that artist just ain't worth bothering with!
18. Where do you think you would be if you had not taken the music route?
Prison.
Haha, not really!
I'd be a Dad, and working with improving and helping people, but my soul wouldn't feel as nourished as it does now.
19. Other than music, what else do you enjoy doing?
Being Dad, working out, immersing myself in the art of others, watching football (although that would come under art as well... The Working Class Ballet!)
Going out and socialising, and getting silly ...
20. What is next for Graphic Bars?
3rd Single 'Is There Enough' is being released along with the Music Video, and then dropping my album
'It Wasn't Love....It Was Sport Rapping' before the end of the summer, produced by the magnificent Merlin.
Graphic Bars, thanks for taking the time to answer these questions for me! I really appreciate it. Although, I don’t live in Southampton now, I still work there and have family there and really want to push some of the lesser know local, South Coast artists. Let me know if you would like me to do a review, it would be a pleasure to help get your music out there.
Thanks again, Steve.
No worries, Steve.
All the best
Graphic Bars
Since we did this interview, which is based on a standard set of 20 questions, Graphics 3rd single is out and his Album is on the way. I am really looking forward to this one. The three singles all show a great diversity of flow and style, with lyrical content that is placed firmly in the now.
Graphics lines hit you like a sledgehammer but, catch you on the way down to make sure you don't miss anything.
Don't take my word for it, check out his singles for yourself...
Check out the links below for everything you need to know, see and hear about Graphic Bars.
I'm Outta here.....
Graphic Bars Website
Graphic Bars on Bandcamp
Graphic Bars on YouTube
Graphic Bars on Facebook
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