|
|
 |
| |
Sway performing at Talacre Park, Kentish Town, last September,
after hearing he’d been nominated for a MOBO award
|
Sway does it all his way
INTERVIEW - SWAY
SWAY is the 22-year-old north London rapper who surprised
everyone by beating 50 Cent to win the MOBO for Best Hip-Hop
Act of 2005.
He is still unsigned today, turning down various record
companies offers to release his debut album, This Is My Demo,
on his own label. He will be performing at the Carling Academy
for Time Out’s On the Up showcase on March 10.
Q: Do you go out in Camden?
A: I used to go to Oh Bar (on Camden High Street) all the time,
Kung-Fu and Dingwalls. I’m in Camden practically everyday,
passing through, because I just live down the road. (He’s
from Crouch End, and went to Highgate Wood Boys).
Q: Do you know there’s a place in England and a bar in
Holborn called Sway?
A: A friend phoned me up once to tell me he was driving through
Sway, and I had my launch party for my album at Sway Bar.
Q: Did they give you free drinks?
A: No, I put a lot of money behind the bar.
Q: Are you planning any collaborations?
A: Akon approached me, because he wanted to sign a British artist
to his label, and I really respect him as a producer. I’ve
done a track with Basement Jaxx.
Q: What makes you such a canny businessman? (He’s turned
down label offers because they were not good enough).
A: Money upfront doesn’t excite me, I’d rather make
less and have artistic freedom. If they really believed in me,
then money wouldn’t be a problem. I’ve got faith in
my future.
Q: You’re a big fan of Michael Jackson. What’s your
take on what’s happened to him?
A: Pressure from the press. If people around you tell you you’re
great you lose touch with reality. He got treated like an invincible
angel. If he goes to a restaurant and takes a dump, people want
to know about it.
He’d be my number one collaboration choice.
Q: What advice would you give to others wanting to make it?
A: You’ve got to have a DIY mentality – don’t
wait around for something to happen. Get a small budget together
– even if you’ve got to work in Sainsbury’s –
and make a good video with a good idea. You can get a video
on Channel U, a Sky digital channel, and get nationwide exposure.
And there’s One Extra.
Q: There’s been a spate of murders in Camden, and some
kids have partly blamed the negative influence of rap music.
What do you think?
A: It’s the environment – if you stare at a brick
wall out of your window, you’ll have a trapped mentality.
If you have a messy bedroom it’s hard to get your homework
done. Look at situations in our environment before attacking
rappers – it’s easy to turn to the music. There’s
a demand in our society for this music, it’s a business,
it’s entertaining. If you want to be 50 Cent, go out and
get shot nine times and survive first.
Q: Any musical influences people would be surprised at?
A: One of my favourite bands is Madness.
Q: Favourite TV programme?
A: Catchphrase – I get most of them right.
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
