Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: Yeah, I’m an artist and a writer. My family and I have lived experience of being homeless. We were housed in Rose Hill, a council estate in Oxford. I grew up there, and in various children’s homes in and around the city. Being given up at a young age (and not taken back) massively influenced and shaped the music I make. My writing is a reflection of the life I’ve experienced up until now, and it will continue in the same vein.
Q: Can you describe the musical style of Deeq x Mankub in three words?
A: Dark, innovative and poetic.
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey?
A: I stay connected with my fans by relentlessly releasing diverse projects that challenge the listener and myself, while providing a great deal of insight into the subject matter – keeping my love for the art of writing at the forefront of everything I do.
Q: You have just released your new EP, ‘Rose Hill’. Is there a story behind it?
A: Not really, I just wanted to make a collection of tracks inspired by my childhood, and Mankub was up for creating and curating the soundscapes! I kind of wanted to make a concept album… snapshots taken on an old camera, late 80s-early 90s… some in focus, some a little bit blurred.
Q: What is your favorite track from the EP and why?
A: That’s a tough one, but I’d probably say Fool’s Errand. And I think I’m right in saying it’s one of Mankub’s faves too. It’s a comment on feeling like a social pariah – through choice, but also through feeling like you don’t quite fit in. The hook is a celebration. It consolidates that feeling of difference. This was how I felt growing up in Rose Hill.
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the album, “Rose Hill”?
A: It was created organically, with quite a bit of forethought, across a number of years. I usually work faster, so it was a learning curve for me insomuch as taking more time to consider the collation of beats, ideas, and the overall concept. We didn’t force it. We let it move at its own pace, as we got to know each other and our different ways of working. We tested and tried things, and pushed each other in the process.
Q: What has been the most memorable concert or performance so far?
A: Well, I have a seven month old daughter, so live performances are on hold for a bit. My most memorable performance was supporting Redman, Method Man and M.O.P. at the O2 Academy in Oxford, a good 10 years ago now.
Q: Reflecting on your body of work, each song holding its unique significance, could you share a particular track that stands out to you personally? What makes that specific tune special, and why does it hold a place of pride in your musical journey?
A: There are a couple tracks on the album that, on first listen, don’t seem to fit the narrative – Talisman and Toulouse-Lautrec. They both stand out for different reasons… but I’d say Talisman (featuring Raz Ghoul), because of its raw energy. It’s aligned with the essence of Hip-Hop, the skill of emceeing. And it reminds me of starting out as a young rapper.
Q: Exploring the diverse creative processes within the music industry is always fascinating. Could you provide insight into your unique approach to crafting music? From the initial spark of an idea to the finished song, how do you navigate the creative journey and bring its musical concepts to life?
A: It starts with the music. So for instance, when Mankub sends me a beat… I have a listen and let it ruminate. Ideas usually start flowing quite quickly. I tend to come up with a title first, so I’m thinking about what I’d like to write about, themes, metaphors etc… what is the music making me feel/think about? And I name the track with this in mind.
The name then inspires and focuses the writing. I naturally write very quickly… typically I will have written the whole track within a couple of hours. For me, writing is therapy. I plug into the celestial wireless (as I call it), and the words pour out. It’s a spiritual process. My songs are highly poetic and extremely honest. I try to evoke vivid images with the words I choose.
Q: As we wrap up our conversation, looking ahead, what aspirations or dreams do you have, and what message would you like to share with your fans as they continue to accompany you on this musical journey?
A: For those yet to discover my music, I’d urge you to immerse yourself in my back catalogue. If you already know and support my music, I’ve got some very special albums dropping this year and next. But yeah, check out Rose Hill. Then go and follow my supremely talented friend, Mankub.
I’ve been doing this for 30+ years, so I’ve achieved most of what I set out to… I still plan to release a collection of rhymes in a book (like a collection of poems). And I’m currently writing my first novel (a work of fiction).
I’d like to be remembered as a true artist. Someone who dared to be different, who pushed the boundaries of lyricism/poetry, and did so with honesty, in an extremely unique way. I’d like be referenced in conversations about elite lyricism, in Hip-Hop and beyond it.
