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London’s Own, Meet RACONTEUR
What first drew you into music?
I think like most people what attracted me to music was the feeling and emotional response it conjured within me. I’m sure you’ve experienced that euphoric feeling that arises without you consciously realizing how and why, pure escapism. As I matured I twigged what particular tracks would trigger this emotion within me and it was always artists with thought-provoking lyrical content like John Lennon, Billy Joel for example as I connected with the story, I love to connect with a story, go on a journey. For me that requires lyrics, I became so focused on lyrics and rhyming patterns within music to the point where if I didn’t appreciate the lyrics I couldn’t enjoy the music.
Hence I see why my passion for music evolved into an appreciation of rap music, as lyrical content is fundamental to quality rap. However one artist in particular changed my life, Tupac Shakur. When I discovered him I listened to him incessantly, veraciously listening to certain tracks over and over again late into the night, buying album after album. I became a hip hop fiend, even though our lives were so different I felt I knew him. That is, in my opinion the key to being a rap artist of note, bearing your soul to the listener. I also love Eminem and am equally obsessed with his music as I feel I know him.
You are one of the best up and coming musicians we have encountered on the internet! And your track “Audacious” is probably your best track yet! Could you tell us more about the story behind this track?
You’re making me blush ;), that’s incredibly kind of you to say! The story behind it is where my head is at right this second. I’m bearing my soul, every single word is authentic, I am giving myself a counselling session. Rap for me is therapeutic, a selfish exercise, halving a problem halved by writing it / sharing it. Being more specific though regarding this particular track I’m at a crossroads in my life and if rap to be become a career it’s now or never so let it all go, hold nothing back.
Rap is my passion in life, however I’m held back from creating more content as I have to work mundane jobs to support myself. I want to be free to create full-time, 99% of current rap in my opinion is also awful, which additionally frustrates me as I feel I’m more talented, can offer more to the world, genuinely connect with people. Also I’m talking about the extremes in my personality, I have in the past been an all or nothing kind of guy. Prompting my now leading an sober life for two years now. I’m now on a path in sobriety which entails reflecting on how destructive some of my past behaviors can be, essentially being a self-saboteur. Perversely being your own worst enemy. A story so many people can relate too, which inspires me to write, as I believe I can help them overcome similar struggles.
Going over your Soundcloud we can tell you love experimenting with new sounds. Can you tell us more about your studio setup and some of your favorite plugins/instruments?
To be brutally honest with you a lot of the instrumentals I’ve used in the tracks on Soundcloud have been taken and bought from other producers, I just know what I like when I hear it. I spend many hours scouring the internet for instrumentals that make me want to write, which are generally simplistic instrumentals with a one musical instrument being prominent. For example an acoustic guitar, trumpet or piano which allows more attention to be placed on the lyrics, the focal point of the track. Once I’ve found what I’m looking for I write over the melody, take them to a producer friend of mine who has his own studio and we tweak the instrumentals to our specific liking, adding and taking away a few elements, record my vocals in his studio and he mixes it. He used to work for a big record label, has branched out on his own and we collaborate to create. I hope that hasn’t disappointed you too much, I’m very much a lyricist. But my taste in instrumentals is orchestral, melodic and emotive.
Your signature sound is already very professional and amazing to listen to! How did you manage to achieve such a professional sound in such a short time? Can you tell us more about your musical background?
I guess by answering this question I’d just be repeating myself sadly ☺
All of your tracks are very melodic. Do you play any real-life instruments?
Again, I don’t want to disappoint you ☺ haha, I’ve dabbled with the piano, acoustic guitar but only for a few years, I’ve very much a lyricist.
What are your goals for the coming months? Any upcoming projects we can get excited about?
My goal would be to bring some substance back to hip hop as I think in it’s a very sad state, as far as the unbearably bad rap being churned out and listened to by the masses. It’s painful to think of generations being brainwashed by this garbage, sorry but that’s how I fee. So if a record label is reading this, sign me up and let’s change the world. But personally I’m starting entering open mic nights in London to perform tracks to an audience, getting a music video made, having a photo shoot, but it’s all very expensive when self-fund. Aside from that just continuously writing, I have about another 100 tracks I’d like to record already and lots of producers sending me beats now asking me to write over them, but I’m yet to find one that fits my lyric. But when I’ve raised the funds I’ll buy more beats and record another album 100%.
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