edbl - 2010 Mixtape (Album) + 10 Questions
Picture Credit: Annie Tobin (@annietobinphoto)
Following the luscious ‘edbl & friends’ series, the multifarious creative continues his unique collaborative approach to music. This time round, the project is firmly rooted in edbl’s love of Hip-Hop and boasts an impressive list of featured artists and collabs from across the UK’s flourishing alternative Hip-Hop, RnB and Soul scenes.
Brimming with mellow grooves, vibey keys and jazz-centric chords, ‘2010 Mixtape’ sets the stage for edbl to showcase his love of Hip-Hop, and acts as an ode to the impact the genre has had on edbl’s sound today. Titled after the year it all began for him, he explains: “2010 was the year I went to university and was exposed to, and fell in love with, jazz, soul, RnB and crucially Hip-Hop,” edbl says. “Something about the tempo and the beats and the groove just really resonated with me and I’ve never looked back.”
‘2010 Mixtape’ is vividly interconnected through edbl’s distinctive and soulful sonics and each track with its layered and classy production. From collaborations with Guvna B on the cool and lyrically pensive ‘Symbols’, to the summery yet hard-hitting ‘Arcades’ featuring MANIK MC. With every track, edbl provides the luscious backdrop and velvety tones for each artist to chronicle their individual experiences.
Tracks like ‘The Scene’ featuring Jelani Blackman and Iyamah hear the duo’s head bopping flows atop a vibrant saxophone, and edbl’s electrifying guitar solo. While, ‘Too Much Shit To Do (Outro)’ slows it down, with Manchester rapper KinKai’s gentle flow, perfectly intertwined in the track’s serene keys.
edbl began teasing the full length project earlier this year with the the forward-thinking, textured ‘Never Stops’ featuring Turt, Quinn Oulton & LA-based Jazz Keys Virtuoso Kiefer, followed by ‘All Me’ featuring Superlative and penultimate single ‘Lena’ featuring Kofi Stone.
edbl 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?
I grew up with three older sisters and they all played instruments so from a young age I wanted to play one too, just because they did haha. I chose guitar and as cheesy as it sounds I’ve never looked back. I can actually remember playing it for the first time, and took to it straight away, from there everything else was a natural progression - started songwriting and playing covers with friends, set up a band, and the rest is history! I think what really made it click for me was performing live though - when I was on stage and looked out at a captive audience for the first time I was hooked and that really cemented the feeling that I wanted to try and make a career out of Music if I could.
2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?
So many in both categories! I think influence wise its a real melting pot of stuff that I’ve been listening to for the last ten years - artists like D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and Stevie Wonder, hip-hop like A Tribe Called Quest, J. Cole, The Roots, and also more recent artists like Anderson .Paak, Knwxledge, Tom Misch, Hiatus Kaiyote, to name a few. I don’t have set favourite artists or influences I kinda just like what I like then make what I make! But I’m sure subconsciously I am influenced by a lot of the above in my decision-making.
In terms of artists to work with in the future, there are so many amazingly talented UK and US artists in Soul/R&B right now, and I actually have a physical list of dream collabs that I made back in 2020. Some off the top of my head are Korey Radical, Sasha Keable, Sinead Harnett, Loyle Carner, Mahalia, Maverick Sabre and Amber Mark.
3. What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?
As an artist, particularly an independent artist, the release schedule can be pretty relentless so even though I’ve only just dropped a 13-track project I have started working on the follow-up. Its in the very early stages yet so can’t share too much on that, but I have another collaboration with a Japanese instrumentalist in the works that should be out this year!
4. How would you describe your sound?
A mixture of hip-hop beats, jazzy chords and soulful melodies.
5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?
Being invited to Tokyo to perform two sold-out shows in one day at Blue Note Tokyo in March this year.
Picture Credit: Annie Tobin (@annietobinphoto)
6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?
Best advice I can offer is to keep at it. I wrote and worked on so much music and so many different projects without anything really going anywhere before I started the ‘edbl’ project. So if at first you don’t succeed, try again! You never know what people are going to connect with but I’m a firm believer that if you keep working on something and put your heart into it and make some music that you yourself love, then others will love it too. And more than just making some music you love I think the really important part is doing so regularly and consistently.
7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?
On the more jazz side I’ve really been enjoying ‘jazzbois’ and ‘moses yoofee trio’s stuff. Beyond that, IYAMAH (one of the collaborators from the 2010 Mixtape) put out an album earlier this year ‘In Two Worlds’ and its super dope.
8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?
Truthfully as I spend most of most days making music I don’t actually spend that much time just listening to music. Some albums I’ve been enjoying recently / that I keep coming back to are ‘On The Inside’ by Gotta Street Park, ’Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’ by Little Simz and (though technically an EP) ‘We Go Again’ by ENNY. I’d also highly recommend checking out ‘Xin’s Disappearance’ from 2023 by Nix Northwest - phenomenal album.
9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?
My happy place (outside of music stuff) is probably on my sofa watching crap TV with my wife, a glass of red wine and our three cats. Outside of that I’m quite into my fitness - enjoy running, swimming and playing squash - as well as watching footy (esp Newcastle United) and just generally hanging out with mates - got a really great group of friends in London, we see each other so often it feels like a family.
10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?
A guitar, cup of tea & inspiration.
Photographer: @annietobinphoto
Stylist: @peter.sj.watts
Styling Assistant: @jamiebaptiste
Studio: @blackgoldsunstudios