27 December 2010

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW - KAIZ LA KAZIE

This is a long awaited interview with one of the big stars of 2011 - Miss Kaiz La Kazie of East London. Enjoy and feel inspired because its nice for once to have an interview with a female grime artist and my favourite at that.

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

 

I make my own genre, bubble grime, and it is totally based on the old school early noughties grime when I heard Kano, Wiley and Dizzee.. D Double E.. the list goes on ☺ 

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

 

I was around 12, I got lent a mix cd with all the classics on there like "Birds in the sky"[D Double E], "Boys love girls"[Kano].. "pumpum riddim".. it totally fucked up my world I must say… then that kano mixtape was good.. beats n bars .. that was special..

 

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

 

Wow it would totally be Diz.. I play his 1st n 2nd   albums when I'm in the shower getting ready 4 work like every day.. trust.  

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

 

Probably that time I was sittin in the bathtub with some Baileys ;) but really? Anywhere possible..

 

5. What is your favourite tune you have created?

 

Erm… I like my real Bubble grime stuff.. anything that I have produced by myself im usually very proud of … I love making my own beats and knowing that its my own sound, not what someone else visualized.. if that makes sense

 

6. Who are your influences?

 

I love anyone that puts the work in, makes weird funny emotional sounds.. and writes about unusual stuff. I hate Clichés. When I hear a song, I want a verse to grow on me, so that when I sing it back to myself I realise the meanin of the words and go.. fuck! That's real clever..

 

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

 

Well I'm a catering assistant [dinnerlady] now.. and I'm doin a fuckin great job..

I did want to work as a loan manager, but I'm sort of useless with numbers..

 

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

 

Well.. it is kind of boring that I'm a working class kid that has been brought up with middle class values.. I'm sorry.. not many legendary tales of the ghetto in my life.. I keep it real.. and real for me is working all day.. writing, performing and recording all night.. but I put all of that in my bars. Everyone feels pain. Everyone feels happiness. So that's what I write about all day. I mean, when I lived in archway I wrote the most resonant stuff coz that's what surrounded me. The way it could have crack heads, chicken burgers and the BMW's all on one street. How can you not write about that? 

 

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

 

I would recommend that they listen to "Washing Powder" if they are in a blissful joyous mood, "Why Not" If they are feelin kinda lost.. "Tomorrow Morning"  if they are high in the sky.. [btw I don't encourage drug use [much] lol]

"Today" if they feeling insecure, "Invisible" If they are feelin broken, "I Like You" If they are feelin in love .. and the whole of Failure if they're really depressed. Hearing my high ass voice whingeing about how awful life is will make anyone feel better lol

 

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

 

Miss Dynamite, Lauryn Hill, Jean Grae, Kate Tempest, oh my god the list goes on for years.. They all inspire different aspects of my creativity.

 

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

 

Just keep going to events, pushing, promoting, calling, performing, even when it feels like no-one wants you.. they will eventually. And never doubt yourself. Coz if you do, then they will.

 

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

 

Loads of people have my respect… I do have to give it to the female artists that work so hard to be equal whilst appearing composed, immaculate, flawless, when the harshest comments are dealt, or when the biggest discriminations are apparent. I think that everyone deserves their voice to be heard, I don't think hating on anyone is relevant..  

 

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

 

Well.. it seems nowadays people are realizing that spittin like that doesn't get them ratings and they look a lil bit silly.. so they're movin on from topics like those.. grime has been around for just under 10 years now,  so I believe grime will survive and make it big.. lets just hope the right people carry it on their backs!

 

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

 

Sometimes. Earlier in like 2003 etc, it was just standard to have a leetle spleef n spit a few bars wid ur mates in the block, but I suppose grime has grown up, its more gonna kick back with a glass of rum n coke now. Mmm rum n coke.. or Malibu n coke … yum..

 

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

 

Well I appreciate that they have made their journeys into the mainstream. This genre is being acknowledged and finally becoming a lot more established…

 

16. Describe your average day as an artist.

 

Ok. It goes like this. I listen to my existing mixtapes on the way to work, look at people around see if they would look like they'd enjoy it. Think about existing tunes and concepts I have already. Then I'd visualise bars at work, you know, between microwaving, mopping and laundry etc, repeat them over till I leave and find my phone to write it all down. Then I get home, record a version which I always mark as rough but then get lazy and mix it and call it finished, then ring my manager or my bestie to discuss plans for the newest mixtape and/or tune. I have like 350 unreleased tunes.

 

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

 

Yeah I don't think so, but I don't think I've experienced that problem blatantly..

 

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

 

CD Spinz jeez…. He gets the job done. Simple. My fave producers are HdN and Whyrez, without a doubt baybee… I love people who can just get things done without long excuses :D

 

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

 

Yes of course. I always explore different techniques and methods of writing n performing. Absolutely love it.. I mean I have been trained and challenged from a young age to experiment with form and so im constantly finding new techniques etc.

 

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

 

WOW. Big question. I think female MC's, and im not just saying this because I'm one, usually back themselves up with some substance, some real metaphorical bars, some emotional bars, and they got something to say. I mean im sick of that stifled rudegal shit that girls get compared to, angry, or stupid, or sketty, or quiet. I admire females that say what the fuck they want to, what needs to be heard. Fully got Lioness, Lady L, Envy, Shystie, Nolay, Miss Dynamite's tunes on repeat. The list goes on really, there's so many that I know of, but there isn't enough space. Guys, be warned, we might just steal that thunder lol!

 

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?

 

I've moved house too many times to care. Its pointless and if you're gonna be repping a lil code that people put on letters, then u need to let that go. London's to live in. How can someone say if I can or can't go somewhere? What if I need to buy toilet paper?

 

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

 

3 people, my bestie.. and ill figure out the rest later..who needs too many people? and 5 possesions, my dvd player, my peepshow dvd[and ill hide the inbetweeners inside the case so its still one item] my lyrics oh tons of lyrics, possibly a boat so I can get back n go sainsburys and a damn kitten. Why wont anyone buy me a kitten?

 

23. What is your secret musical guilty pleasure?

 

Oh don't tell ANYONE but for a treat ill watch MTV then be forced to listen to rihanna or even at a push nikki minaj at a really low volume. Then obviously punish myself for weeks.. The real Kaiz La Kazie would die before playing them.

 

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

 

Well.. uh, an eccectic bubble grime MC and up-coming artist etc..

 

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?

Yeah all the time lmao.. I try not to dumb down my [pretty sharp I must say] content. I mean when it comes to censorship, fine, but I don't feel I should change things to make my tunes PG or something. If I say "pussy" or "twat" in a tune, its probably coz it needs to be there. Why alternate it with "heart" ? I don't mince my words because im 100% real and if you need me diluted, drink some fucking OJ.

 

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

No.. I dress most days as a catering assistant, I haven't seen an MC wearing latex gloves n whites lol.. I just try not to be too much "like a mandem" coz im a girl. Obviously. But I'm not a slut. I'm right in that sick slice of middle. There's me.

 

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

 

Choose my wifey all the way mate. Erm..on a real? Nah. I'm not a wimp but I don't do fights.

 

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

 

Yum, perfect Saturday night.

 

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

In an elevated position from where I am now. Hopefully still with that same ambition, that same passion to also enlighten others with what I do as well. I have big plans.

 

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

 

Wowwwwww…… Lets be mysterious now…

 

Kisses…. Kaiz La Kazie <3

Look out for her next mixtape Bricks which is out next year amoungst other big projects like working as my music producer on the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This girl is big news and follow her on twitter.com/kaizlakazie and Kaiz La Kazie on facebook.
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