sudders - 10 Questions + A Little Bit Of Me (EP)

Today 'sudders' released his entirely self-produced debut, seven track EP, A Little Bit Of Me.

After receiving support from BBC Radio 1 and BBC Introducing with the soulful single and video, Breathe and gaining international traction online for his singles Family, and Today It's Not Bothering Me, A Little Bit of Me promises to deliver vulnerability, honesty and of course, hard hitting instrumentals throughout. With features from Joel Robertson (MOTH), and Ed Vyvyan (Junodream).

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

Weirdly enough my parents never really played much music when I was younger, besides David Grey's, White Ladder and Mark Ronson's, Version. Despite that, I've always been picking up instruments since I was young. I started producing after my best friend from home and old rap companion Sam made a couple of beats, it was inspiring to see him do something I didn't think was possible at the time. We would regularly park up my little Hyundai somewhere in a field and freestyle to a small selection of ripped and downloaded Youtube instruments. I've always been into videography too. When I was younger I filmed and produced a lot of the earlier High Focus/RLD videos. After meeting and working with some of my favourite UK rappers, BVA, Leaf Dog, Fliptrix, Verb T, Ramson Badbonez and Res, it motivated me to buy my own equipment and start recording. I've been working up skills, both on the mic and on production, for over seven years. A few EP's here and there under different names, and now I finally feel ready to release my debut EP as 'sudders'.

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

My housemate and videographer Jack Gunn showed me Kofi Stone earlier this year. I think he's an incredibly honest and self reflective artist, but above all, he's a proper MC. He definitely taught me that you can write about anything that's happened to you no matter how personal. His track 'Stepfather' off his debut album really struck a chord with me. It inspired me to write 'Father In The Mist', which is an upcoming track about my parents breaking up.

There's a producer called 'edbl'. His beats are insanely good, literally every beat he puts out is a head nodder. He's been really supportive too. Before I released any of my music I sent my tracks to him and he gave honest feedback on every single track, what a gent.

Then there's loads of beat makers that influence me. Joe Corfield is incredible, everything he touches is gold. Smith The Mister is cold too, the list goes on and on.

3. What are some of the problems you have faced making and releasing music during the corona virus pandemic?

If I'm honest I really think without corona-virus I wouldn't have had this EP ready for release. Being stuck in the home, I know for many has been really tough. But it's given me far more time to work on my music. The money I've saved from not buying £10 rum and mixers, Ubers and six spicy wings, chips and two additional wings in replacement of the drink, I've spent on a new mic, a Microkorg and I got a couple of tasty plug-ins for production. The whole thing has stepped up massively. I've also looked at how to properly release music. Not just wack it on Bandcamp and hope for the best. I've made at least 100 beats over this year, about 40+ tracks too. There's only two singles on this EP that I made before corona-virus kicked in. And weirdly enough, one of them is about being alone. I'm very lucky to say things have been moving on nicely.

4. How would you describe your sound?

I'd say classic boom bap style mixed with a little indie sometimes for the choruses. I've tried to be as honest as possible on all my tracks, sharing family struggles, grievances and occasional anxieties. But there's some lighter stuff at the end, it's not all doom and gloom. It's all self produced, mostly jazzy / soulful instrumentals. This EP is kinda like a mixtape, with a range of samples, I'm experimenting at this point, seeing what works for me. I've got some amazing vocalists too, Joel Robertson on Moving On smashes it! And my friend Ed does some really smooth sexy sounding vocals for Pain too.

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

I'd say releasing my video for 'Breathe' and getting the single played on Radio 1. My housemate Jack and my videographer friend Toby Clarke helped me plan the video, which was shot in Scotland. We camped for three days, woke up for sunrise most mornings to get the light right. For some absurd reason, for the second scene, I wanted to get out of the Scottish sea at 6AM for the 'dramatic sunrise effect'. I did it. It was bloody cold, but the shot looks amazing. I'm so happy with how the whole thing has come together, lots of work, but definitely worth it. And for my second single to be played on Radio 1 was a dream come true. I was in my girlfriend's house when I got the news. I ended up going round telling all her housemates I'm going to be played on Radio 1!!

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

The best story you can write is your own. Always sidechain samples to the kick.

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

 I've been listening to a lot of Silhouettes Project recently. My friend Taurri, formerly Tok. from Pupils of The Clock, released a stella project in May. Tiece from Girlhood is an incredible vocalist, she's recently put out a project in October titled Girlhood, it's genuinely an amazing album. Plus some amazing bands I've been listening to a lot recently, Junodream are a vibe, perfect for isolation actually. Bamily's music is super cool, they're really nice guys too.

Finally, Khazali should be on everyone's radar. Such an incredibly beautiful, soulful voice, I'm confident he's going to blow up very soon.

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

Honestly I'm still bumping 'GREY Area' from Little Simz. What an album. Amazing for running btw. She's incredible. KIWANUKA is goldust. A masterpiece from start to finish. Kofi Stone's 'Nobody Cares Till Everybody Does'. My most listened to album though is still J.J. Cale, Troubadour. It's funky, jazzy and soulful. It's impossible not to like that album.

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

I've produced my own podcast series called Beautiful Strangers. It's a monologue style series, where people tell their life stories over high production. Three episodes are out at the moment, from a woman who is allergic to water, to a man who made millions selling furniture and then lost it all by eating cocaine. I interviewed and edited all the episodes which are out now. Currently working on similar series for a prison charity. I also produced music videos for people, if anyone's interested? Other than that, I like cooking.

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

Microkorg, RC-20 and air.