Interview: Skott 3ree
Yorkshire rapper and producer Scott 3ree became renowned after independently releasing his debut project ISO-SZN in 2021, in recent years he also featured on projects alongside Jack Danz, Hush One & twentysix. Before this interview took place, Skott 3ree had just returned from working his day job for a careline, where he handles emergency ambulance directory. In his free time, he indulges his passions through art and music alongside his partner, an artist called Cody Frost. On November 26th, Skott 3ree released his labour of love for the past two years - Permafrost, an 8 track EP which runs for 23 minutes and is a precursor for an upcoming album in 2025. The title stems from Skott 3ree’s inspirations of coldness, living up north where conditions are often wintery, but also; “To be perma-frozen is to be permanently frozen,” explained Skott 3ree. “So I was just saying it as if I am cold forever basically.”
Created alongside Jack Danz, a veteran rapper and producer that formed the legendary Leeds based collective Defenders Of Style, Skott 3ree explained that after linking up to jam on a regular basis, he sent Danz the stems to the first song he made for Permafrost, a single called Ordinary which Danz then flipped. “We made a lot more music around that 2022 era,” continued Skott 3ree. “Permafrost was just curated from the best ones that showcased my abilities over his production.” In-between then and the release of Permafrost in 2024, Skott 3ree had been busy making visuals for each single alongside camera aficionado Rob Searle, as well as merchandise - ensuring this would be the most fully-formed project he had put together thus far. The visuals would only be available via a limited edition VHS, which Skott 3ree plans to release on the 2025 anniversary of Permafrost. “Basically it is going to be every track alongside a visual all filmed and edited by Searle,” revealed Skott 3ree. “I am aiming to do a screening of the film around the same time.”
Boasting multiple features, the first collaboration besides Danz who Skott 3ree brought onto the project was a Scottish artist called Tzusan, after meeting him in Brighton. “Not too long after this me and Danz had a session where we made the track Super Dark Times,” recalled Skott 3ree. “I sent it to Tzusan and he sent me the verse back in a couple days, it happened fast - it all proper fits with the sound of what we're trying to do.” Another artist who features is Philomenah, a female vocalist - making an appearance on the single Big Blue House which was semi inspired by the old children’s show, Bear in the Big Blue House however the lyrics are nothing about it. Skott 3ree took the idea of the big blue house and flipped it as a metaphor for depression, the concept was thought up during another creative session with Danz. “Philomenah is someone I have known for ages over the internet as internet friends and we always wanted to put a tune together,” continued Skott 3ree. “So when I had the concept for Permafrost I knew that it was time, so I sent it to her then three months later I had that verse and that track is my favourite on the whole project.”
The third feature comes from Joe Snow, an elite emcee who emerged from Leeds alongside his homegrown collective Defenders Of Style over a decade ago, but now resides in Australia. Skott 3ree was a huge self-confessed Defenders fan back in the day, before he even met Danz, so he was admittedly excited after Snow reached out to him and bigged him up after hearing Die Living, the last collaboration project Danz and Skott 3ree released in 2022. “I had a Joe Snow feature on my bucket list for years bro, for years,” confided Skott 3ree. “So when I made the song Options… It was only in the last couple of years where I really felt confident enough to even approach someone like that. I just kind of asked him one day, I DM'd him the tune and he said 'Yeah, I'll jump on this,' - two weeks later, I had that.”
Finally, Jack Danz also features on Permafrost lyrically on a single called Climbin Trees, as well as co-producing the EP’s entirety. According to Skott 3ree, who considers Danz to be amongst the best beatmakers he ‘ever had the pleasure of meeting,’ there was no in-between when it came to working with him again. “Up until recently, recently being the last 4/5 months,” Skott 3ree revealed; “The only people I only ever focused on working with was myself producing my own stuff or Danz, just because Danz to me is one of the best - there is no-one else who I know that really understands me more as an artist than Danz.” The project climaxes with the outro, Rolling - a single which leaves the listener craving more. “I just kind of wanted to end it on a banger,” continued Skott 3ree. “Some people always do that thing where they put on a sad tune but the whole project is like, melancholic but hype. I just wanted something that was just gassed to go out on it because Permafrost really is just like a taste of what is to come in the following year, so with that I was just like, 'I'll give them the most extra thing for the end.'
On the year anniversary of Permafrost’s release, Skott 3ree plans to release limited edition VHS copies containing videos for each single listed on the project. “There is videos that are out on Youtube and socials but we are going to keep the majority exclusive to the VHS,” explained Skott 3ree. “We were just trying to create something special, you know, you put in the VHS if you have got one and then experience something intended for the select few who purchase.” Currently Permafrost is available to buy in CD format, which comes with a 12 page booklet and exclusive stickers - all funded from Skott 3ree’s own pocket. “Doing vinyls isn't even an option to me because it is just ridiculous money and there is no-one at this point in my career that has offered or is willing to fund a vinyl release for me,” continued Skott 3ree. “So the next best thing for me is CD's because I have never done a CD - anyone who has ever bought merch from me has never bought a CD.”
The EP’s artwork was done by Cody Frost, who is also a music artist as well. “I strongly recommend you check them out!” said Skott 3ree. “Me and Cody had a couple discussions about them potentially doing artwork for one of my projects and the time finally came when I had all the ideas for Permafrost, Cody offered to do the art and we went from there - the idea behind it all was inspired by the theories on Permafrost where if it melts, there is all kinds of bacteria and viruses inside of the ice that hasn't been exposed to the world in millions of years, and how it might kick off the end times on some craziness.”
Interview drawing to a close, Skott 3ree was asked if he had any more collaborations in store for 2025. “Yeah, I mean recently we have moved closer to Manchester sides just to link with more artists because I was in Leeds for a long time and just felt like I completed Leeds,” revealed Skott 3ree. “I wasn't going to extend the rank much higher than working with Danz around here. So yeah, I have got quite a few things that I've produced and done beat-making for that's dropping next year, KHI-P, Ducklin Curls, Cloudy Late… but then I have got an album with Danz where it's both me and him rapping called Die Living 2, Electric Boogaloo and I don't know the exact release date but I know it is coming mid-2025.”
Skott 3ree, thank you for your time.
Words by Evo
Photography by Rob Searle