Apex Zero - Drummer Warrior Storyteller, Pt. One (Short Film & EP) + 10 Questions
Originally from West London, Apex Zero is a multi-disciplinary artist who works as an emcee, beat-maker, filmmaker, photographer, and writer.
An incredible lyricist, he creates multi-layered experiences that inspire people and provoke change with his insightful sense of vision, unmatched flow, and atmospheric sound. Apex’s new project ‘Drummer Warrior Storyteller’ is his most ambitious project to date, it was created over five years, the project incorporates music, film, dance, photography, painting and immersive live theatre performances that engage audiences through multiple mediums.
The multi-layered visual album aspires to encapsulate Nigerian author Chinua Achebe’s perception of storytelling. While the Drummer calls and gathers the people and the Warrior fights the war, the Storyteller recounts the events, creating history, embodying the memory of those who survived, giving their survival meaning. In this album, Apex explores linear and non-linear narratives, cultural perceptions of time, and his personal experiences as an African-Caribbean diasporic growing up in London. In addition to illustrating some of the struggles and pressures faced by people of migration, displacement and diaspora, the album also highlights moments of liberation, joy and growth.
Apex worked with Village 101 Studios and creative producer Steph Be to adapt the album into a short film, with funding from Arts Council England. Throughout the filming process, numerous pieces of contemporary art were created by collaborators. Impressive portraits of ‘The Ancestors’ depicting Apex’s family and pillars of the African Caribbean community were taken by the photographer and academic Dr Ekua McMorris, whose work ‘Black Light’ had inspired one of the scenes. Jonzi D, founder of Breakin’ Convention, Omowale Pert-em-Hru, founder of Ukombozii Ancestral Drums, and Shezal Laing, founder of Sank of a Day were among those portrayed.
Apex Zero 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?
That’s a good question, I need to go way back. My house had a lot of music in it growing up, a real mix. My Dad is Grenadian so a lot of Soca, Calypso and Reggae, but The Wailers and Linton Kwesi Johnson was mixed with heads like Tracy Chapman, Tom Waits and Carol King that my mum loved too. I remember my Dad listening to Kiss when it was a pirate and Choice FM - Daddy Ernie show was always on in his car. I got into bate pop music that targeted my generation in primary school and would listen to tracks over and over to learn the words. When I was about 10/11 I remember my tastes changing and got into heads like Brandy (through Moesha) and my uncle bought me a tape called New Soul Grooves that had Erykah Badu on it…that changed everything! By secondary school ages it was Tupac, DMX, Busta, Nas then quickly Heartless, Pay As You Go and So Solid in the Garage days. Plus I played the Steel Pans, so that was a big influence on me playing music and blending notes and sounds, even if I can’t really read sheet music properly.
2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?
Too many. Like I said, listening to Erykah Badu was transformative, like she’s been to so many. When I was starting to spit it was Wu-Tang (and all the Killa Beez), Nas, Dead Prez, Lauryn Hill, Big Pun, Immortal Technique, Klashnekoff, Skinnyman, The Roots, Jill Scott that really shaped my sound and over-standing of Hip Hop and music. I’m quite eclectic in my listening, so heads like Beres Hammond, Sizzla, Bjork, Raphael Saadiq, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Little Dragon, Slayer, Cold War Kids, Massive Attack, Portishead, Nina Simone, Otis Redding, The Psycho Realm, Rage Against The Machine, DRS would all be mixed in together.
I love all them, but heads who inspire me a lot right now are Kendrick of course, Tobe and Fat Nwigwe, cktrl, Valerie June, FKA Twigs, Kokoroko, Leon Bridges, Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, Ghetts, Black Pumas, Nubya Garcia, Touching Bass, CoN & KwAkE, Sons of Kemet, Tems, Nala Sinephro…so many. And beyond music Ivan Michael Blackstock’s Traplord is one of the greatest pieces of art I’ve experienced in any medium.
3. What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?
I’m currently working with a lot of the artists who inspire me most on my latest project. I’m working on a multi-layered visual album called Drummer Warrior Storyteller. It’s made of music, film, dance, photography, metalwork, paintings, installation, immersive live theatre performance and more. We’ve been installing it as an exhibition and live performance around London and it’s growing. It’s a living project that’s still forming itself, and every time we exhibit it develops and extends. We’re building a beautiful family and community of collaborators that’s getting bigger with every development and event. There’s so many to mention and they’re all incredible:
Muti ‘Mutivation’ Musafiri, Steph Be, Theo 'Godson' Oloyade, Alethia Antonia, FUBUNATION, 3000CeanHill, Chiba Visuals, Alicia Warner, Informotion Worldwide, Village 101, GlobalFaction, Breakin' Convention, Slim Yearwood, Anna Beel, Akil Wilson, Ekua McMorris, Dora Lam, Roxanne Simone, Gregory & Tesseras Blacksmiths, Lucie Gledhill, Kyung Hwa Shon, Kyungmin Son, Pembe Tokluhan, Daniel Oluwasayo Olabode, Joey Baker, Kitmapper, Tilé Gichigi-Liperé, Poetikah, Guy Kelton Jones Sr., Moussa Dembele, Dembis Thioung, Ukombozii Ancestral Drums, Yemalla Drummers, Andre Bright, Corrie Onyx David King, Grace Ogundipe Akinbode, Charlita ‘Lita-Styles’ Hall, Honey Malaolu, Micall Parknsun, Al Lawson, In:Theory, RU1 Fam, Isatta Sheriff, Logic, Renee Soul, Big Cakes, Jazz T, Crazy Haze, Mazzi & S.O.U.L. Purpose, Raquel, Nilotika Cultural Ensemble.
4. How would you describe your sound?
It’s changed a lot recently. I used to call my sound neo-Hardcore Hip Hop. It’s definitely still a part of it but the music on the Drummer Warrior Storyteller is a mix of Boom Bap Hip Hop - some of that double time - Soulful Trap/Grime, Spoken Word, West African traditional storytelling music, East and West African Drumming traditions, Jungle/D&B, audio collage and interviews. It moves from a quite dark and aggressive sound to a more uplifting feel, tracing the journey I’ve been through my lifetime so far. It’s very lyrical, with quite dense and heavy subject matter, and a lot of complex wordplay and multiple meanings coded into the bars.I play with linear and non-linear storytelling, aiming to explore African and Indigenous perceptions of Time, Space and Spirituality, as well as how these manifest when confronted with colonial violence and the history of our people.
5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?
On October 29th 2022, we put on Drummer Warrior Storyteller in its most complete form so far. Supported by Arts Council England we had a full exhibition curated by Kyung Hwa Shon, Kyungmin Son and Ekua McMorris showing all the work we’ve made. We followed this by a full immersive live theatre performance directed by Muti ‘Mutivation’ Musafiri - I performed the tracks live with incredible dance performances, Dun Dun and Djembe drumming led by Dembis Thioung, live Kora from Moussa Dembele and visual effects by Daniel Oluwasayo Olabode and Joey Baker. We pulled the whole thing off in only 5 weeks, but it was the culmination of 5 years of work, and a lifetime of learning and experience embodied on stage. It felt like the Most High and Ancestors had guided me to this point, to be a vessel through which this work was being brought onto this plane. I made sure I took the time and energy to fully experience, take in and enjoy the moments. It was extremely beautiful and powerful, and the feedback we’ve had from the audience has been incredible; people saying that it healed them, that they saw their life played out on the stage, that this is needed for our people and community. It means so much and is more than I ever could have imagined.
6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?
It’s not a game. Music is life. If you really do this and it’s what you have chosen and have been chosen to do, it is your purpose, and one of your reasons to be. Take up that responsibility and take it serious. If you’re doing it for fun, to see the world, to meet people - these are all great reasons, but treat this ting with love, care and respect; it can be taken from you in a moment. Our people have been playing these riddims, telling stories - carrying the story of our people - for thousands of years. Through all the violence, genocide and monumental global shifts, we’ve made music and told stories. It’s a sacred, powerful thing, and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
The industry is a completely different thing. It exists to monetise and exploit artists, even if they sometimes benefit from it. You have to know that reality so you can go into it with your eyes open. However you choose to navigate those waters or roads, make sure you’ve got good people around you, who share the vision and that you can trust. Treat them with care, love and respect and stick together, have each other’s backs, protect yourselves and each other and make the most out of opportunities, even if that means turning things down - sometimes something can be looking to make the most out of you, chew you up and spit you out. Move with conviction, know yourself and the situation you’re in, be resilient and learn from mistakes and, like any artform, is a lifelong pursuit. You’ll get where you want to be if you envision it and take the necessary steps to get there.
7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?
Everyone I mentioned above - those involved in my project and the ones inspiring me right now.
8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?
CoN & KwAkE - Eyes in the Tower
Isatta Sheriff & Koralle - Eat the Kiwi Skin
cktrl - Robyn
Nala Sinephro - Space 1.8.
9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?
Make films, perform poetry, artistic direct, build this project! It’s kinda what I spend all my time doing now! I love it.
I love to travel. I live for it. It teaches me the most, keeps me stimulated and interested. Seeing things I’ve never seen before, doing things I’ve never done before is what life is for, to me.
10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?
A skilled engineer, a crisp mic and a serious vibe.