The October issue of Sweet and Sound is now up. There are great features, art contributions and articles there so check it out HERE.
Below is an interview with Jammer. Enjoy!
The beginning of grime is over. now the transition from an underground scene that people a few years back treated like ice-cold water is getting a bit warmer, but not so hot that you don’t want to get in to this fresh lake of originality. Grime’s slow but consistent progression has stayed true to it’s ethos from the beginning and one of the main elements of this budding music phenomenon is Jammer; producer, MC and all-round pioneer of the music at hand. I went to see him at a cafe in Leyton where we ate fish and chips and talked about his new album soon to be released on Big Dada, time-wasters in grime, his biggest achievements and the new Lord of the Mics DVD.
What have you been up to in the last few months?
I just signed a deal with Big Dada, so been back and forth sorting it out. So now I’ve been getting singles ready, planning videos, working hard, working a lot with Skepta for a new single and video, it’s the next big Boy Better Know single. Been running with Dizzee and touring with him… I did Ibiza with him, that was heavy. I’m going back on Saturday till Wednesday.
What’s going on for the next album, any new influences?
It’s more dance style… A lot of clubby stuff. It’s more intricate and more about me as a person. It’s about good music, I’ve gone back to the production side of things and I’ve got a lot of beats on there. I stopped for a bit, coz everyone was copying my sound and there was no point no more. I thought ‘let me get away and leave that style for a while and then come back with a new sound’ which is what I’ve done.
How would you describe the new sound?
Like my old one, but more intricate, all played with no samples. I’m naturally musical by ear, so whatever I want to make I just do it.
You started off as a DJ years ago playing at all the low-key parties in east London before grime got big. Since then you have obviously rised to fame as a producer/MC. Do you ever DJ any more? Is it something you still enjoy?
I haven’t DJ’d for ages, I’ve still got the talent, sometimes I think to myself I should do it, its good money. It’s an option for the future for when I want to relax a bit, DJ bookings would be good…
Is there any music or an artist out there right now that you’re excited about?
C Gritz. He’s just done a record deal with Big Dada, I pulled that off for him. He’ll be coming out with stuff the following year. He’s the thing I’ve been most excited about since Dizzee. Another person that rings a bell is P-money.
How do you see the grime scene right now? Do you think it is becoming more tame and diluted as artists become more involved in the mainstream?
All the time wasters have pissed off, the people who are sensible and talented and want to do something with their life are there, and that’s why you see different grime artists in the charts doing music, coz all the time wasters and all the prats are gone.
What did you listen to when you were younger, was there a particular song that made you think ‘I want to make music’?
Thriller. It made me realise that it’s a hype ting. He was the first man to bring motion videos to the game, Michael Jackson. Everything before that was just someone on the mic and some people playing drums in the background. When I was little I always wanted to know how you got on the telly. I used to go around the back and look in it, and there used to be a little orange light. And I’d say to myself “how did they get in there?” I think that had a lot to do with me wanting to get on telly. One time I got screwdrivers and opened the telly to see if I could get in it and there was just bare electrical things. I told my dad and he went sick and beat me.
So you’ve always wanted to be a star… What do you think is going to happen next for grime?
I think I’m gonna be the next biggest grime artist. I’ve been doing this thing for years and I’ve behind lots of things like lord of the mics, Nasty Crew… All the artists you see now, East London, we run this ting! East London brought the scene to the world. Remember that, all you man!
Is there anyone you think is on a par with you guys?
I think Dizzee Rascal’s the king of grime. He’s done exactly what you’re meant to do. He’s like a blueprint… You’ve got Boy Better Know, P-Money is coming through, a couple of other people are doing big things. Chipmunk and Stryder are doing what they’re doing and that’s great. But as a mandem, you know who’s making good music…
What‘s the best track you’ve ever made in your opinion?
Take You Out, realistically.
So you think grime will become as big as hip hop?
Grime is as big as hip hop. It takes time. Tomorrow, Dizzee could do a grime tune and it’ll be number one. You have to be clever… Dizzee’s got 3 number ones, Stryder’s got 2, Ironic is SWAG (sorry Ironic, but it’s true), Wiley had a number one spot. So therefore, yes it is as big as hip hop.
When’s the next album coming out?
May. I had a title but the label said I should change it, so I don’t brand myself. I can’t say what it was.
Are there any other artists outside the scene you’d like to work with?
Kings of Leon. I’ve done a tune with Basement Jaxx recently… Kings of Leon is what I’ve been listening to who I think are heavy artists. I’m gonna see if I can get in contact with them. I’m not really bothered about any American rappers. I might do a tune with Vybes Kartel, I can get him for decent money. He might make me look shit though. I’m still thinking about it. If your going in to the studio with Vybes Kartel you better have a good lyric pre-made to slew him with! I might get a few yardman in and make a video, it’s not expensive. I know I could get the video all wrapped up for a few grand. Other than that it’s gonna be shear home-grown artists I’ll be working with…
What’s the biggest thing you’ve done in your career?
I look around and there a few things, Lord of the Mics and the Murkle Man video. The whole of Murkle Man… Legendary. I did an 11 metre tall poster for Jean-charles de Castelbejac that was in the middle of Paris… Those three things, I look back and think “yeah, heavy.” With Lord of the Mics, we’re doing number 3 now, and I think it’s a serious thing because, without us realising it we’ve created such a successful business. Things took time to fall in to place; we created this sort of by accident. 10 years ago, if you told me that in 6 years time, Dizzee’s gonna have 3 number ones and his own lable, Stryder’s gonna have two number ones, I wouldn’t believe you. When we first started to do this there was a possibility and a dream that it would happen, that dream is now actually reality. I think it’s heavy to create a scene in the UK. Because when you look back in history it’s gonna be “there were these black guys, and in 2000 and whatever, they came out and they changed the music scene…” that’s why there’s so many successful black artists in the UK now. That’s the way it’s meant to be. When you go to other countries people know who you are, they know what you do. It’s bigger than just London and the UK. We’ve been to mad places where you shouldn’t be spitting, like Slovakia, and they shouldn’t know but they do. It’s sick to just think the whole world knows about it.
So any last words Jammer?
Everyone who’s doing music in the UK, keep what you’re doing. And go buy Dizzee’s album.
Interview and photos by Shane Connolly
