As part of our 10 Questions, we wanted to dig a little deeper into some of the UK's finest labels and collectives, finding out more about what's going on the land of UK Hip Hop! With this in mind, we decided to touch base with Millennium Jazz Music. Next up - Bare Beats.

Contestant, what’s your name, chosen craft and where are you based?

'Bare Beats' - Producer / Composer from East London, UK. 

How would you describe your sound? 

A little all over the place; Lately, I’ve been producing a lot of chilled hip-hop / soul / lo-fi flex. I've sort of done a full circle and I’ve come back to where I started, with a lot more sample-based beats. 

Who / what do you consider to be the biggest influence on your music? 

Hip-Hop is my biggest influence: the indie stuff; the make the world a better place stuff; the old school stuff. Through all the different bits I put out, you can still hear the hip-hop influence running through it all.
 

What’s the proudest moment to date for you as an artist? 

The fact that I’m still doing it after all these years; never thought I’d still be at this, but the music is always getting better and better. 

Do you have any advice for our readers who maybe trying to play the mad game of music? 

Gain knowledge, be a sponge to everything around you and never stop learning; be humble. 

Name 3 people you would love to work with and why? 

This is a hard one, there are so many artists I would love to work with, so I’ll keep it UK with: Beth Gibbons, Tricky and Roots Manuva. Would be a dope collab featuring all three.

What have you got planned for the not so distant future? 

I've got my solo album ('Sometimes LP') dropping on MJM. I’ve been putting it together for a while now and it mainly comprises of composed beats and a couple of features. I also just finished a demo for 'The Bare Dusty Beat Tape Vol 2', dropping with my label brother 'Dusty Ohms'; straight up raw sample-based beats.

What’s the album you’ve played more than any other? 

This changes a lot. I usually play albums to death and leave them and then come back to them. I listen to a lot of music! EDiT - 'Crying over pros for no Reason' is one that I always turn to though.

What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to? And where? 

'Beastie Boys', Reading Festival 1998, with Mix Master Mike; it was just one of them completely "lost in the moment" kinda sets. 

Name 3 things you can’t live without? 

Be able to listen to Music; not be able to make food; love of everyone around me. 

Any last words/shoutouts?

Shout out to Gadget - the man works so hard on this label business. My family (music and blood), all my friends who have put up with me over the many years when I’ve been shut away doing this, and especially the ones who come through with beers and just jam for a bit!