Bubbz Interview: SXSW 2010

NME has called him the UK's answer to Kanye West. Mark Ronson sings his praises, and he's been nominated for a BBC Radio 2 award for his performance on ... a traditional folk record? Spinner spoke with Bristol-based hip hop innovator Bubbz about his plans to take SXSW by storm.

How would you describe your sound, and who are your influences?

I guess I'd describe it as a mix of electronic experiment and live, heavily hip hop driven. I grew up to the sound of UK garage, so the likes of Wookie, Toad Edwards, Zinc. Then later, people like OutKast, Talking Heads. But I'm always finding new things I like, so the list always changes. Janelle Monae is awesome. I don't think people give her enough love, but she is really, really good.

Where did the name "Bubbz" come from?

The name Bubbz is just a nickname that developed over time, but it means "big baby." I guess I speak my mind, so it might be fitting? And my band's called the Black Notez.

Will you be performing with a full band at SXSW? How did you get together with your current band?

Yeah, it will be all three of us; Ghettozoid on her electronic equipment and Chelsea on drums. I've known Ghettozoid for a long time on the Bristol DJ circuit and had explained to her what direction I was trying to take my live show, and she was down with that. Chelsea joined later. I put the word out for a good drummer, and she's what the universe sent back.

How did you get started making music? Can you tell us a little about the Red Bull Academy?

I don't know how I got started, but music has always been around in the house. From my Dad's gospel to African music or even his soul and jazz records, and my older brother's hip hop records. I think the first track I made was on a Playstation game -- 'Music 2000.' It was cheap and affordable. Every year Red Bull take on approximately 30 participants whom they feel worthy and allow them to make music, network, listen to lectures and meet some of the greats. Past participants include Flying Lotus, Aloe Blac, Hudson Mohawke, Goldielocks ... the list goes on. This year it's in London; in previous years it's been in Brazil, Spain, Australia. It's been going ten years now. They've got a good thing going on, but I'll stop the ad for them there!

You mention your dad's African music. Your family is of Ghanaian descent. Is there a Ghanaian flavor that comes through in your music?

Yeah, both my father and mother are from Ghana. I think that would be fair to say. A lot of Ghanaian music is chorus-driven, and made to make you dance your sorrows away in some way. So although I don't think what I do is exclusively Ghanaian, there are clear spices of it in my music.

You were nominated for a BBC Radio 2 award for your performance on a folk record by Jim Moray, who's also showcasing at SXSW this year. Is there also a hint of English folk music in your sound?

No! To be fair, I know very little about the folk world. It just so happened that I had been asked to get involved in a project with Jim Moray, and that project went on to win an award, and our specific track got nominated for best traditional track.

Any chance we'll see a collaboration?

You've reminded me to call him, but yeah, he has been asking for it to happen, so I am sure it will happen. I like his live shows and have fun with it, so I don't see why not.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or done at a gig?

I'm not a fan of kiss-and-tell! I can tell you a stupid thing I did while performing a gig. We were giving out branded water [and] I got a bit too excited trying to throw a bottle out to the crowd. My aim was bad and it hit this poor man in his face. He was not happy.

What's something you always keep in your gig "survival kit"?

This will make me sound OCD, but a bottle of disinfectant goes a long way.

Biggest vice?

It would have to be rum. I guess rum is a disinfectant too, huh?

Do you have any musical guilty pleasures?

Ah, T-Pain. You're not supposed to like his voice, I guess, but it works every time.

NME has called you "the UK's answer to Kanye West." What do you think of the comparison?

I think I'm always gonna get compared to something. So as long as it's not a trash can, I guess I'm cool. I'll just keep on doing me. I'm a hip hopper experimenting; [Kanye West] was the easiest thing to compare me to. The most recent [comparison] I had was "somewhere in between Andre 3000 and Dizzee Rascal." Not sure I agree, but it is what it is. I'll just keep on doing the ever-changing and growing me.