Words By Joey Rochert.
Hello, Artinho, Let’s talk about your new single, ‘Carnage’, what is the meaning?
The meaning of ‘Carnage’ to me is about expressing different situations that lead up to carnage, from growing up in North London I’ve gone through so many things and seen a lot of things that have shaped me to be who I am today. There was a time in life between 16-20 that nearly everyday to me felt like a
punishment.
I was also sent to Angola for 1 year in the year 2011 due to the life I was living and be around the wrong company that almost costed me my life. I take you through my life in the lyrics set in different times in 3 decades.
Which artists in the current industry inspire you the most?
Stormzy, Dave, PlayBoi Carti,, Solange, Burna boy, Metallica, Doja Cat. They inspire me by reinventing themselves and staying consistent in the times where in. Never breaking away from what put them in there position, just tweaking the faults. The music they are creating is beginning to stand the test of time, and T gradually gets better, from stage presence, to Merch, how they perceived in the public as well.
What is the best thing about being a musician in 2023?
There’s more tools to help independent artists, working to what’s best for you, what’s helped me is having a studio in my house, so I can record when I want, I have more time to tune my craft.
Is there a certain place you often go to write? E.g a certain room, or environment?
I write out of no where sometimes, words come up, and I start rhyming and I find myself writing either in Front Room or the studio are the best place for me to write, the studio because, if there’s other writers there, you want to be better than them or get there approval, and if I’m at home I’ll write in the front room and then head to the studio after I wrote down an 8 or 16 bar to record the idea.
What is your first memory of music?
My first memory of music, growing up in an African home your custom to listen to African music such as Koffi Olimide, Werrason, Magic System. My parents would play all different type of music, from Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, Whitney Houston, UB40, Karyn White, Mario, Brandy, Marvin Gaye, The Gap Band. The older I got I starting discovering more music like Heavy Metal (Metallica, Iron Maiden and Slipknot) Rock (Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Nirvana, Green Day) Pop (Madonna, The Crowded House, Simply Red) Rap (Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes). I also member hearing Return of the Mack by Mark Morrison on radio all time.
The music video I can remember watching was The Fugees – Ready or Not and The Notorious B.I.G.- More Money More Problems as I was doing my Maths homework, I was very intrigued in what they rapping about, but I knew I was too young to know until the age I turnt 11.
Photo Credit: Artinho.