Claude Money & J Littles - Interview

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

JL: I’m from a lineage of musicians. Rappers, DJs, Musicians. My Dad is still a musician to this day and my uncle is Ice MC from back in the 90s on the Eurodance scene. He actually gave me a lot of game on Hip-Hop.

CM: I’ve always been a fan of all kinds of music. I’ve lived all over the world so I got put on to all types of genres as a kid. I remember going to the WOMAD festivals with my family when I was really young and that was my first impression of live music I think.

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

JL: Royce, Erykah Badu, Kano, J Cole, Robert Glasper, Griselda, Nas, Andre 3000, D’Angelo, Moonchild.

CM: Khruangbin, Alchemist , Ka, Roc Marciano (ideally together as Metal Clergy), Weyes Blood, Hiatus Kaiyote, Quelle Chris, Billy Woods.

3.    How did you and Claude Money end up working together?

CM: We were put in touch by a mutual friend Parisa who’s a pillar of the grassroots musical community in Nottingham. Big shout out to big sis.

JL: Yeah she put us in a group chat and said we’d be a good team. That was in Autumn 2018, I asked to come to his studio but he said he was busy until next year!CM: Hahaha, I did say that. We got around to it eventually though.

4.    Your new track is currently doing the rounds and we at Wordplay love it, is there plans for an album from you and Claude at some point?

JL: No, but we have lots of EPs in the vault. I guess one of them could turn into an album, or maybe not.CM: We don’t really plan things like that. We have dozens of tracks in the vault and we do have a sort of folder system with ideas for releases but we’ll know when it’s album time. Right now I feel like we’re in a good groove and building up plans with our live band.

JL: We just did the Joyce Live recording and that’s really exciting for everyone involved. The whole process felt natural and organic so we’re leaning into that.

 5. How would you describe your sound?

JL: Rich, soulful, jazz infused Hip-Hop. I feel like this allows me tap into all the thoughts and feelings I try and convey on my tracks. I want to take people to the place I’m coming from when I write.

CM: Quite diverse, I mean people have heard this EP and potentially the Raoul Moat release I had with Vandal Savage, but I make so much other unreleased stuff. I couldn’t really describe my music, you’d probably get a different answer from every one of my friends you asked haha!

6.    What’s your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

JL: Creating this EP. Joyce is definitely my proudest accomplishment. I’ve met a lot of people and been to a lot of places but this moment is mine. A lot of my other music reflects on things in society and the world whereas this is about things near and dear to me.

CM: Probably the live version of this EP, seeing my beats played by a full band. Creating such a personal and delicate backdrop for Littles’ lyrics on Joyce was a real privilege but then having a group of friends come together from all over the country to play it live at Mount Street studios was unreal. On top of that I hadn’t been to a gig in months (for obvious reasons) so it was a real honour. Also, when me and J opened up for Children of Zeus in Spain at my boy Alto Blues’ night. Hold tight Thiiird Culture! That’s family.

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

JL: Do it because you love it. Don’t measure your success by looking at what other people are doing or what they have.

CM: Definitely get organised. If you want this to be your job then treat it like a job. Be organised and plan things out. There’s a lot to be said for taking opportunities when they present themselves to you but I find that the more organised I am, the more opportunities appear.

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

Both: Pete Beardsworth, Rudi, Melonyx, Jack Wolff and Karizma, 2tone, Stan, 3Body Trio, LTMT, Vandal Savage, Jake Mehew, Space Dolphin.

9. What albums is on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

Both: Joyce, The Robert Glasper Experiment, Mach’s Hard Lemonade, Elmatic, Descendents of Cain, Marcberg,

10. Name Three things you can’t live without?

JL: My Daughter, Hip-Hop and Arsenal.

CM: Sirkus Studios and the crew, Gazpacho and my headphones.

Thanks for taking the time out to talk to me guys and the best of luck for the future.

Words - Ed Lindsay