Kase Interview

Here's an interview I did with Hackney based MC and Producer Kase for http://www.mindie.co.uk/

Meeting people for the first time can always be tricky. Will you have much in common? What about awkward gaps in the conversation? I had a slightly apprehensive feeling when I arranged to meet Hackney based MC & Producer Kase. His team of choice Arsenal had just lost to Man Utd. With the latter being my team. He was running late and I’d just received a text saying “lgt kl bro” (??). This could be awkward.

My fears soon disappeared when we meet face to face. The first thing you’ll notice about Kase is that he stands out. We jump into the nearest pub for a chat and the first question I needed to ask would be what could someone expect from his music? “My music is live and loud. Like I’m live and loud!”. Ah yes purple, pink and bright green aren’t the colours you’d normally associate with the grime crowd. But after chatting with Kase you’ll realise he isn’t one to follow others. So hasn’t he faced any animosity for dressing different? "Not yet. First mates were like 'why your clothes so bright?’ But now they're catching up!”.

I decided to find out how he got into making tunes. After getting into the grime scene in his early teens, running home and taping pirate radio shows was clearly stirring something. So what artists wanted to make him start writing? "My biggest influence in the beginning was Michael Jackson. But then I took it deeper. I don't know where and how but I got into different genres". Anyone whose received a mix tape from him will agree, if you were to flick through his iPod you’d see some expected faces such as Timbaland, Neptune’s & Outkast sitting next to Chromeo, Hot Chip as well a wealth of 80’s electronica. The eighties clearly had a big influence on him, "I’m obviously 80's influenced but we're not in the 80's no more. I've taken it and recreated it". Years of honing his craft on his PC and keyboard Kase has taken his wide range of influences and has developed a sound which sets him apart from his peers. With his bright clothes and upbeat songs Kase has more in common with American acts such as Cool Kids. Is this something he’s done to distance himself from the scene? "You know what. People here are scared to be different, especially where I'm from. But I'm not like that. The concept of my tunes is different. A lot of the time grime sends out a bad message and I try to stay away from that. Like "Stay Fresh" is about trainers”. “Stay Fresh” is the perfect introduction to his sound. Moroder tinged synths with a M.I.A. beat soundtrack his lament to his essential accessory. His is a welcome voice in a scene that’s pre occupied with attitude.

Setting himself apart from the crowd is an important ideal for Kase. I ask he compares himself with in the current UK hip hop scene. "You know what? I'm not the first person to MC, but I'm trying to do something different. I want people to compare themselves to me, take it in a new direction. This is my motto. New words and a fresh sound. That's what I'm about".