Village Live Records are proud to present 'Time & Tide', the new album by Mancunian poet and emcee, D'Lyfa Reilly. The 12-track album is entirely produced by Village Live artist Aver and is the last release to be overseen by the label's co-founder Joey Deez, who sadly passed away earlier this year.

D'Lyfa burst onto the UK hip-hop scene in 2011 aged 19. After releasing a slew of mix tapes and videos he gained notoriety across the UK, most notably being featured on BBC Introducing and Charlie Sloth's 1xtra national radio shows.

It was during this period that D'Lyfa befriended fellow Mancunian hip-hop producer Aver. The two had a shared vision of an alternative, no-nonsense approach to music and worked together for years on a number of projects that never saw official release. 'Time & Tide' is a combination of reworked tracks from this era and new music the pair created in 2019.

1. So tell me, how did it all begin?  What sparked your love for music?

It's hard to pinpoint the moment in which something sparked, it's not like I come from a family of musicians or anything, everyone before me was good at digging; roads and fields. But as far back as I can think I've had a zone within music, of different forms - playing instruments, singing and rapping, I just didn't stick to the former outlets.

2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

I grew up in all sorts of genres, somewhere between Trad/country music and Garage/RnB, contrasting culture and background with modern settings. I would say a mix of stories told by Christy Moore met John Cooper Clarke in 2000’s Manchester and got clout around the ear by Skinnyman to encourage the train of thought I was having to depart the station.

In the future I would want to work with artists who differ from me yet balance the tone I bring, regardless of who they are.

3. Tell me about your creative process when you make music, do you have a particular routine or do you just write when the feeling takes you?

Honestly, I just write one liners here and there throughout my day, then when it comes to create a full song I use these lines within the structure of my message. Some of the lines could be 10 years old and they just sit there, waiting to be cultivated.

 

4. How would you describe your sound?

Northern Realism.

 

5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

Throwing tennis balls off stage with KRS-one.

 

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

 Make music for yourself, nobody else.

7. Are there any artists on your radar at the moment that we should check out?

Mobb Lords : Tommy Marx with the bars, Noiapara with the beats. Manchester Phonk. Digging For Kanky, a duo making what I will call Dark matter-gravedigger-Trip Rap. Both using the art of the city and culture to create their own sound, not often heard up here at the moment.

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

Maverick Sabre - When I wake up.

Ka - Decendants of Cain.

DRS - Playing in the dark.

9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?

Be around Family and good people, eat good food. Fundamental life aspects.

10. Name Three things you can't live without when you’re in the studio?

Inspiration, desire, vibes.

Words - Ed Lindsay