Ctrl Meets Scorcher

Not only has he been nominated as one of the best newcomers at this year’s MOBO awards, but more importantly, Scorcher is going to be part of a powerful line-up of the hottest names on the UK underground for the inaugural MOBO Tour this October, headlined by fellow MOBO nominee, Skepta. Here he talks music, growing up in the industry and poverty with Ctrl.Alt.Shift:

Hi Scorcher, thanks for joining us, can I just ask, do you know what we do here at Ctrl.Alt.Shift?

No not really, to be honest I've been really on the go, I usually try and check out the press before I speak to them but I haven’t had a chance...

We basically talk and engage people about their views on global injustice, poverty, climate change... stuff like that.

Wow, pretty cool, like the real world...

Yep, but we’ll get onto that, so for anyone that hasn’t heard you before, how would you describe your music, is it grime or UK hip hop?

I think I make street music, I represent the whole new UK sound, I got loads of influences from both grime and hip hop - to me it’s all the same, it's just music.

"I think having those battles, coming through them and living to tell the tale or strengthening my fan base has helped determine where I stand..."

You're going to be taking part in the MOBO tour with Aggro Santos, Donae’o, Mz Bratt, Jodie Connor, Skepta and others - do you think the industry is honouring them in the right way by giving them this project?

I think the UK music scene is stronger than ever, the artists coming up now are people that I remember doing underground raves with, so to be together to do the MOBO tour and be up for awards together is special. Sometimes I have to step back and think wow, this is how far things have actually come.

Do you think the clashes and the dubs that you did at the beginning of your career have helped to elevate your status amongst your fellow musicians in a positive or negative way?

I think it was more of a case of letting people know and solidify where I stood in the scene 'cause when you're swinging with the big boys you either have to step up to the plate or get put down (laughs). I think having those battles, coming through them and living to tell the tale or strengthening my fan base has helped determine where I stand if I'm being honest.

How do you feel about your debut single charting at no.38? Did you expect it to be better received?

Not really, it was my debut single so it was like a warm up single to let everyone know I'm coming, and I'm definitely gonna come a lot stronger on my second single within the next few months. It's just the introduction of myself to the outside world who don’t know about the underground music that I've made.

The MOBO’s have partnered with Urban Development, PRS for Music Foundation and Arts Council England, who aim to shine a light on new talent and unite people within the black community. Is it important for you to have a message in your music that unites people?

It's not always about having a positive message. I don’t feel like a preacher or anything. The main thing for me when I write songs is for people to feel the emotion that's related to that song, sometimes if it's a heartbreak song, I want people to really feel and touch nerves. I think the key to making music is to make people feel something, whether it be the pain or love...

We heard that you like to direct your own music videos? Why is that so important to you?

I really enjoy directing for other people the most, I've done stuff with Skepta and Wiley already. Last night I done a show in Portsmouth and came back to London at 3am and I was out looking for locations until 6am in the morning; because I get into it that much. Ultimately, I’d love to direct my own film one day.

Oh wow, and who would you cast in a film?

Do you know what, that's probably the best question someone’s asked me, ah, you got me... Maybe Jude Law, somehow, if I could as I think he's pretty cool. And maybe someone that doesn't act at all, someone like Lily Allen for some reason, but I'm not sure why. Just as long it’s someone that doesn’t act, not someone that can't act (laughs).

Who would you say influences your craft, be it directing, producing or making music?

I don’t really draw inspiration from people, I draw inspiration from life itself.

Is there anyone on a more conscious hip hop level that you are interested in collaborating with? There’s been some talk on Twitter of you collaborating with Lowkey?

A collabo with Lowkey is definitely going to happen, that’s a big for me. I personally think Lowkey is on another level, he's just a legend. To be respected enough to work with artists like that is special.

Onto one of our core issues at CAS, have you ever experienced poverty or been anywhere that has been significantly poor and affected you at all?

I haven’t personally been affected by poverty but I've seen things in other countries that have made me very thankful for what I've got. Also it makes you wonder how one place in this world can be so run down and deprived and one can be the exact opposite. I'm not a world leader but I find it strange how countries with natural resources struggle on their own land, and other countries, which seemingly have nothing to offer the world, can live so well. But I'm not a politician or like Lowkey or anything like that, (laughs) but it does make me wonder.

What attracted you to the MOBO tour?

Obviously being a black man and being acknowledged for a MOBO is a nice feeling. Being able to stand out whilst making music of black origin is an even better feeling. The MOBO tour is most definitely a good thing for black music, it makes people aware of the positive effects black music actually has on people.

Words: Maleena Pone

Scorcher is nominated for Best Newcomer at this year’s MOBO’s, to vote for him visit www.mobo.com/voting [1].

For more information about the MOBO Tour, click here [2].

Follow Scorcher on Twitter www.twitter.com/@scorcherslife [3]