Backsy x OH91 - ESH91 (Official Video) + Interview
Bristol artists MC Backsy and producer OH91 collaborate on their latest single ‘ESH91’ out June 25th. Backsy tells Wordplay Magazine about the new track, its nostalgic video concept and his big plans for a future in music.
Backsy is already making steady waves within the Bristol Grime & Rap scene. Having self produced a number of his own creative content marketing campaigns he shows an entrepreneurial spirit rare amongst his peers. The MC played the Love Saves The Day festival last year, and since featuring on BBC Introducing in the West, has shown he has what it takes to push his talents and appeal to the masses with his infectious energy and catchy bars. With an unmistakable flow and cheeky hooks cleverly intertwined in his songs, Backys lyrics can often be heard being spat by Grime fans across Bristol’s most frequently visited student pubs and bars. With an already impressive catalogue of tunes, Backsy and OH91’s collaboration on ‘ESH91’ sets itself apart as a ‘clash’ banger sure to be played as Bristol cities summer soundtrack.
Backsy, what can we expect from the new release ‘ESH91’ made in collaboration with producer OH91?
The title ‘ESH91’ is a play on the adlib ‘esh’ that stems from beatboxing. When I wrote the tune, the adlib started coming through a lot. The track’s made in collaboration with Bristol based producer OH91, so the 91 part of the tracks title combines both the adlib and 91’s name. I just kind of threw them together, and realised it actually worked really well.
What inspired you to use a beatboxing adlib in the track?
I beatboxed years before I started rapping. I competed in the under 16s nationals. I wasn’t the best in the room by any stretch of the imagination, but yeah! Esh works in the way that the tune builds to the drop, and then I’d say ‘esh’ and the crowd chant it back, which sounds and feels really sick.
Tell us a bit more about the concept behind the music video of the new single?
I’m really excited for the music video to drop! It’s been animated to look like the old Street Fighter game. The person who created it, Sam Farrar @_sam_farrar_ was great to work with, he made it exactly how I wanted it. It’s framed like me and OH91 are having a fight, so it’s pretty cool. One day the idea just popped into my head. The lyrics have quite a ‘clashy’ style and quality to them, hence the Street Fighter theme. It’s a very aggressive sounding song. There are samples of sirens in the background and it’s just meant to be played very loud! It’s a bit of a hype track. There are parts where I say the adlib ‘esh’ over and over again. I’ve performed this adlib for about three years and that bit always goes off.
Tell me a bit about you as an Artist and what’s led you to this point?
Yeah so as I said, I used to beatbox, and I’ve ‘road rapped’ forever and then I got told by a lot of beatboxers that I should just rap instead. So I started putting out rap and then started putting out Grime. Now I don’t just do Grime, I do everything really.
What do you listen to most?
My top three genres are Grime, R&B and Neo-soul. Those are like my three favourite genres for sure. Brent Faiyaz is on my playlist like every day.
Who are your biggest inspirations?
It changes a lot. Any of the Grime originals are always gunna be there; D Double E, Skepta, JME, Ghetts, Wiley - those people. But then my inspirations also change in current times depending on what I’m listening to, what’s going on in the world and things like that. At the moment I’d say Jordy and Ghetts. If anyone ever asks me for my top three of anything, world favourites, UK Rap, Ghetts is always going to be somewhere in there, every time.
When you sit down to write, do you have those musicians in the back of your head and do you ever try to emulate them?
Sometimes I do. Sometimes I’ll hear a tune that will inspire me to write my own later on. Also, there's no real creative process for me when it comes to making songs. I just sort of sit there and whatever comes up, comes up. Sometimes I can go months without writing, and then I’ll write every day for three months. It’s just whatever happens. I look at it like this - sometimes I’ve got to learn from the world, and other times I have to teach the world.
Do you usually start with a hook?
I usually start by getting a 16 down or something. Then I decide whether that’s going to be a hook or a verse. Sometimes I’ll just say fuck it and freestyle the whole thing.
Where do you usually record?
Everywhere. A lot of the time at Alex’s at the moment (@alexcrossley_) and I go to Pirate Studios on Lincoln Street a lot. I’ve got a series that I’m working on in the background at the moment, which is like sitting in the studio with different artists every time, and we have three hours to make a song. Whatever comes out, comes out - that’s all done at Pirate.
As an unsigned musician, you run all of your own marketing campaigns etc, and I’ve heard you're quite a meticulous planner. Do you think that's crucial to your success?
Yeah, if I don't plan I would fail at everything! I live like a 12 week year, I’m building my next plan now. Literally every day I have like 20 things that I have to get done and then I score myself on how well I’ve done. I categorise everything; wealth, health, marketing, creative stuff. It’s really hectic! I forget things easily, so I have to keep notes constantly otherwise I’d just forget about things. Honestly, you should see my notes app right now! Right now I'm planning for the next twelve weeks. I set three goals for myself within those twelve weeks and I try to hit 75% completion through smaller goals. I split them into mini objectives, the most important things etc. There's a book called The Twelve Week year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington. I highly recommend reading it if you’re interested in being more productive.
Interview: Jessica Holmes