Planky is a music producer and DJ, hailing from Hampshire in the South of England, whose musical roots stem from the UK garage scene back in 2002. He was originally part of a crew called The Looney Toon Kru (L.T.K), who played shows across Southern England, supporting major acts like The Dreem Teem, Pied Piper & The Masters Of Ceremony and DJ Luck & Mc Neat. But while he explored and experimented within various genres, it was hip hop that transformed into his true passion. Having been influenced by legendary artists such as The Wu-Tang Clan, Jurassic 5, J-Dilla, Jazzy Jeff and DJ Premier, Planky began producing with an open mind in terms of inspiration from other genres – something that has been a staple part of hip hop since its inception. He would draw on the sounds of blues, soul and Motown, which he heard growing up as a child, as well as bands like Rage Against The Machine, Limp Bizkit and Metallica for some of his more heavier creations.

In around 2008 Planky joined forces with DnB producer, Zen, and the pair began collaborating on new tracks. The first- Your Shout - was released in June 2009 on Grid Recordings and was part of Zen's Land Of The Giants EP. Next came, Show Me The Love, which was released on Zen's label, Flip Audio, in October the following year. After that Planky began concentrating on getting his studio off the ground, as well as building up his knowledge of new software, advancing his scratching skills, playing the guitar and returning to his drumkit after a 10-year hiatus.

That return to the drums led to plenty of new career opportunities, as Planky upped the levels on his production with a number of collaborations alongside some legends within the UK and beyond. The most notable of those included his 2020 boom bap single, Today’s Life, which featured Chester P, Micall Parknsun and Carasel, as well the more recent Soul Plane, which saw him take his production into new territory, with the assistance of Harry Shotta, PAV4N and Dynamite MC.

The magic they found together on Soul Plane is soon to be rediscovered on Adrenaline Rider, while Planky, Shotta and Dynamite have also been working on a number of other tracks together, which are set for an early 2022 release.
There will also be collaborations from further afield, as Planky sets his sights on the next generation of Wu Tang MC’s. Tracks with iNTeLL and Pxwer, the sons of U-God and Method Man respectively, are already in the stash, and there is also another stateside partnership with Akil the MC of Jurassic 5 fame.

Planky sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:

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

My Dads love for his music was definitely the starting block for the love. He is a huge blues fan so growing up we had a lot of B.B King and Eric Clapton and early Fleetwood Mac played in our house. Clapton was the first live artist I saw when I was nine. My parents took me to see him perform at London's Royal Albert Hall which I think was probably the start of my real love for music.

I can also remember as a kid we all used to travel down to Devon to stay with my parents close family friends and for me it was always so exciting because Nick, who was (and still is) an absolute wizard on many different instruments, and had the most amazing music studio. It had so many instruments - guitars on the walls, a little old skool beat machine in the corner which was the first thing I went to every time we visited. This is definitely the main spark that got me on this journey.

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

Hmmm, I have so many influences, some artists I guess I have built a style around and been heavily influenced by as a producer are people like, Jazzy Jeff, Dilla, Preemo, Jurassic 5, Dre, DJ Numark and a lot of the old skool hip hop. Proper hip hop. One of my present influences are "The Allergies". I have been following them for years and love the energy and positive funkiness they bring. They are sick DJ's and seem so humble with it. I would love to work with them in the future and if we throw Jazzy Jeff in to the mix I think we would all make some amazing hip hop!

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

I think along with every other artist on the planet it was the problem of not being able to perform live or DJ out. In all honesty I got a lot of time to produce more make more beats at home and get my ideas down.

4. How would you describe your sound?

Tasty Hip hop

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

Playing London's Ministry Of Sound was probably the biggest DJ set I have had to date. Production wise, getting my last six tracks all picked up by BBC Introducing and played across the UK has been a real proud moment and to have their constant support over the last few years is pretty humbling. Because of this, it's helped me focus and put everything back into building my music back up after a fair few years of no self confidence.

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

Just stick at it and be yourself when being creative. I have been walking this road for about 25 years and will continue to walk. It’s a journey of ups and downs mentally but the end results can be so positive if you stick with it. I have seen so many give up because either they feel people don't dig what your doing but you've just got to be true to yourself and to the music you're creating. There will be so many that will dig your music and building up your fanbase is an exciting thing.

I had a good chat with Pavan from the Foreign Beggars recently and he hit the nail on the head when we discussed the anxiety suffered around music. he said " We love music, the whole creative ride us as artists take on and build over the years is a learning process, music should always be fun, whether we are making it or performing it.....".

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

Straight off the bat is The Allergies....... If you don’t know them you are seriously missing out.....I've been listening to a few different artists recently and had Hak Baker on flat out for the past week. I have also linked up and been chatting with a talented rapper from New Zealand called 'Local Elements'. He has a really good flow and puts a lot of his raps down on tracks which have that old skool feel which I love. He has just teamed up and released a track with 'The Settlers', also from New Zealand called 'Elohim' that old skool style.

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

Constantly on play, I listen to so much music from all genres. This week I have been hammering Hak Baker's album Babylon, Fleetwood Mac Rumors and Nas, Illmatic, which for me is possibly the greatest hip hop album of all time!

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

I'm a family man nowadays. Being with my wife and kids is all I need.

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

Can I have four?.... So sitting firmly at the top of the list at the moment is my MPC rolling alongside my Moog Sub 37, although my mate Tanker has had this for about a year, actually, come to think of it, he has most of my stuff including my Virus Indigo. Reason being I have moved from my cabin studio in the garden so a lot of my equipment has been boxed up until my extension and new studio room is built at home. Last but by no means least my 25 year old Technic 1210's. "The holy Grail"