Hi! What inspired you to explore avant-garde and experimental production techniques in “CLAP”?
A: I composed the track during the first year of my Masters in Popular Music at Goldsmiths University in London after a workshop on genre experimentation. I had never delved into Trap music before and it simply started with me laying down a beat with a similar tempo to Trap and during the process it was more about deleting musical elements such as synths and electronic percussion, as opposed to adding to it. I found that less was more on this track.
Can you elaborate on the political themes addressed in “CLAP” and their personal significance?
A: I just get too dizzy sometimes watching Labour and Conservative shouting over each other in Parliament when I have the TV on. There’s been many times recently where myself and others, with whom I’ve had political conversations with, feel as though while the parties are competing against each other there is a lack of care towards communities such a the working class and those who struggle with mental health and sometimes it feels like groundhog day, as though history is repeating itself constantly.
How did you approach blending electronic and trap influences to create “CLAP”‘s distinctive sound?
A: I love listening to Trap artists like ASAP Ferg and Kilo Kish. The day I started composing CLAP, I knew I wanted to lay down a Trap beat but that I also wanted the kick and snare to be heavy af in some sections of the song, hence the distortion in the chorus sections. I’ve been a fan of Dance music and Industrial bands like NIN for years and Industrial, specifically, creeps up in the production of my songs from time the time.
How does “CLAP” reflect your evolution as an artist over your nearly 10-year career?
A: No regrets on the Indie, Pop-Rock music I was making previously, but I would get bored if I continued to make the same music over and over again. Delving into different genres challenges and excites me as a musician. Some of my favourite artists like PJ Harvey and David Bowie switched it up with genre experimentation and image on nearly every record. It inspires artists like me to be as fearless, and just have as much as fun as I can when making music. I just want to get better and better all the time and CLAP is just the start of a new era for me.
What challenges did you face while writing, performing, and producing “CLAP” independently?
A: I’ve been quite spoilt with the new music I have made over the last few years because I had access to a free studio at University and for the first time I became the sole producer of my own music and also engineered a lot of the sessions on my own. The challenging part was the engineering part. I found the studio intimidating at first, especially when I was in the sound room. Time builds confidence. I’m yet to perform CLAP but once I have gig dates, rest assured I will be going bonkers on that stage.
How does “CLAP” set the stage for your upcoming second album’s themes and direction?
A: The overall themes of the album is about class and money. I felt that CLAP would be an ideal teaser for the new album, as it is one of the shorter songs on the album and I think it makes a clear statement as to where I was at when I was recording this album. Anxiety about where our political system is heading, depression about costs and how policies effect the class system were just some of the issues I explored within the narrative and concept of this record. I feel as though CLAP briefly refers to some of those issues.
How do you balance creating music that’s both attention-grabbing and suitable for casual listening?
A: I don’t think too much about how the music will be classified or received on the other side. I just love making music. I have loved it since I was a child. Depending on the inspiration of the song, the result of a jam session, or what appears in my mind’s eye, the song could come out as something that’s more suited to casual listening or something which is a bit more in your face.
What do you hope listeners take away from the experimental elements present in “CLAP”?
A: Literally that they just have fun with it. Whether it inspires a musician listening to go “fuck it, I’m just gonna experiment for the fun of it,” or if it makes a listener start moshing, I just hope people listen to it and feel free to express themselves.
Can you share details about upcoming projects or tours in 2025?
A: No one actually knows this yet, but the new album is titled THROW OUT THE CLASS. So whoever reads this will no now. Lol. There’s no release date yet, but I plan to drop another teaser track from the album on YouTube in April called UNKIND. The official lead single is yet to have a release date too, but that will be announced in the next few months. If anyone wonders why all my new music is written in caps, it’s cause’ it’s gonna be quite a loud record.
Listening to songs so you don’t have to! Just kidding :D, you totally should. Music blogger by day, nurse by night
