26 December 2010

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW - EKLIPSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Gravity EP is an EP with no choruses, every tune is freeverse. Production features from Anish Bhatt, Jelacee, Cee Major. 7 tracks. Is out for free download on the 1/1/11. eatst london Rapper, MC and Poet Eklipse. The Cover was Designed by MinezDesignz and the picture was taken and edited by Jessica Morante

1. what inspired you to get into the grime scene?

Initially I never had an interest in grime I was a poet. I moved to s different school after being home schooled and grime was a prominent thing and I wanted to be involved but I never wrote anything. But took a MCing course in the summer of 2007 once and it all kicked off from there.

2. How old were you when you first heard grime? and where were you?

2. When I was about 12, it was at school. Everyone was in the playground just playing tunes off their phones and I liked what I heard.

3. If you could collaborate with anyone in the scene who would it be?

3. In grime? Probably Dot Rotten, every time I listen to his music I feel like I have so much work to do. So working with him would really force me to try and experiment to take my music to different levels. He also spits about a lot of stuff that I can relate to so I definitely think it would be a great collaboration

4. Where's the strangest place you have created bars?

4. The strangest place has to be in the shower. Most of the time I try and sit down and give myself time to write.

5. What is your favourite tune you have created?

5. I don’t really have one to be honest, one of tunes I’m feeling at the moment is my verse on Mary J Blije’s ‘The One’. I feel like I really flowed well with the beat and the concept. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMsIrrnfqzE) In terms of grime, My vocal of Cee Major’s ‘Predator’ is a real favourite of mine too (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL08HYSEgNQ ), which is also the first track off The Gravity EP.

6. Who are your influences?

6. I have so many influences. In terms of grime it’ll be people like Dot Rotten, Ghetts, Scorcher, Wiley, J2K, Wretch etc. However The people around me also influence me. In terms of Hip Hop, people like J Cole, Joe Budden, Jay Z, Eminem, Vado and Nipsey Hussle. But singers and whatnot also influence me such as Jazmine Sullivan.

7. If you didn't get into the music scene what would you rather do?

7. I’d be a poet 100%. I still do poetry; I just find music is my preference.

8. How much of your life and background influenced what you spit and write?

8. My life is what I write about. Aspects of my life or what I’m thinking will be in every tune I write about. Its very difficult to write about something that you cant relate to.

9. What tunes would you recommend to someone who has never listened to your music?

9. I would recommend they download The Gravity EP on the 1/1/2011. But in till then just check out the stuff on my youtube account www.youtube.com/themreklipse or to download and to download the Love Struck promo I did which is just 3 remixes of R&B tracks http://www.filefront.com/17362156/Eklipse-Love Struck (The Remixes).zip.

10. Have there been any women in your life that have been an inspiration to you musically?

10. My Mum, as a single parent she inspires me a lot through all the sacrifices she’s made.

11. What advice would you give to anyone who wants to get into the scene?

11. Don’t copy anyone; you should do it for you and your love of the music. And also, just to work as much as possible, even if you’re talented. Consistency is more important.

12. Is there anyone in the scene you respect and anyone you also hate?

12. I respect all the people I’m working with like Cee Major, Jammz, Shemzy Jelacee and Anish Bhatt. I try not to hate anyone but I cant lie some people do annoy me lol.

13. Do you think that grime could survive if MCs didn't spit about violence and the degradation of women?

13. I think it does need more range in terms of what people talk about. But half of the riches rappers in the world ONLY talk about violence and degrading women, so I dont think its down to that 100%.

14. Do you think that drugs play a major role in the scene for instance spitting about weed or even posing with a joint?

14. Partially, Grime is the street and that’s what happens on the streets. You can only rap about what you know about so it’s natural for us to talk about those things.

15. What do you think of the grime artists who have gone commercial like NDubz, Titchy Stryder, Plan B, Chipmunk and Wiley? Do you think that has helped grime or killed it?

15. I think it depends, for me artists like Skepta and Wiley have really helped the scene by trying to chart with songs that still have a grimy feel to them. Songs like ‘Cross My Heart’ and ‘She Likes To’ have really contributed to the scene, not to mention the ‘Hello Good Morning Grime Remix’. But I do feel like some artists have tried to forget about the scene, which will only hinder it.

16. Describe your average day as an artist.

16. Well I’m still at 6th Form so most days I go there and then I come back and try and write.

17. Do you think that within the scene there is a lot of racism or do you tend to stay away from it?

17. I don’t think there’s much racism at all to be honest. If you’re a good artist you’re a good artist.

18. who is the favourite MC/Producer you have worked with?

18. Cee Major, we started around the same time so we’ve grown together, yet we’re very different artist so when we come together to work on a tune its always a madness.

19. As an MC do you see what you write as a form of poetry/spoken word? Does poetical devices even gt thought about when your writing?

19. Yeah 100%, as I said before I started as a poet so poetics take a huge part in my creative process. I feel like if I write something that practically anyone could write then I’m not doing enough.

20. Are there any female MCs that you think could be bigger than some of the biggest male MCs at the moment?

20. There are loads of wicked female MCs like Lioness, Lady Leshurr, No.Lay. I hope there’s more up and coming ones because they really do go in!

21. What's your opinion about postcode wars in london, does it affect your music in any way shape or form, like who you would collaborate with or clash with?

21. Post code wars are nothing but damaging. Everyone has a connection to someone in a different area so its just never ending. In terms of my music, yeah it has an impact because if I work with certain artists I know people they have beef with may have an issue with it, so it can be difficult.

22. If you were stuck on a desert island which 3 people and 5 objects/possessions would you take with you and why?

22. I’m gonna be dumb and pretend there’s electricity on the island lol. My iMac, so I have music and I can write, my headphones so I can ignore the other 3 people when I need to lol, and unlimited amount of KFC chicken, a blanket for the winter and a microphone so I can record. The people? 2 of my closest friends and Meagan Goode lol.

23. What is your secret musical guilty pleasure?

23. I don’t really have one you know, apart from junk food before each session lol.

24. if you had to be described as anything what would it be?

24. Hardworking. Hopefully lol.

25. Most people would consider grime artists as ignorant due to their target audience, do you find that because of this people are actually surprised when you talk because you have a wider vocabulary than expected?

25. All the time, people have such a warped perception of grime they find it shocking that I can actually read. But as the genre expands its getting better.

26. Do you think that the way you dress makes you look predictably like a MC?

26. Not really, I have quite a varied wardrobe so depending on where I’m going I’ll dress accordingly so nobody could really guess that I’m an MC.

27. If you had to chose between your wifey or your mandem if there was a fight who would you back and why?

27. Well I’m single at the moment so my mandem 100%. But if I had a girl friend it would probably still be my mandem because when my guys are fighting its serious. With girls a bit of hair might be lost but that’s it lol.

28. What are your views on the following - Women, drugs, violence and the police?

28. Women, I don’t trust the majority of them but as a man I can only love them lol. Drugs, weed is the furthest you should go. Violence use it appropriately when need be. Police, lets not get me started.

29. Where do you see yourself career wise in the next 5 years?

29. Signed to an independent label hopefully. If I’m lucky maybe a mainstream label.

30. If you could be signed to any mainstream/independent label on a recording contract who would it be and why?

30. Probably Island because of the freedom that they give to artists like Tinchy, NDubz And Devlin. But as long as a label is willing to market you correctly and give you direction alongside enough creative freedom its all good.


People I suggest you download the Gravity album when its released, but in the meantime go download the Love Struck promo because it is awesome. WATCH THIS SPACE for the Gravity download link!!!!!!

Unable to upload images onto blog so check out this link - http://s1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc440/JazzleDunne/Work%20-%20EKLIPSE/

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