Asaviour - UK Hip-Hop MC / Producer
July 2008
Interview with Asaviour, Saving Grace Music label manager and UK hip-hop MC / Producer.
Asaviour
How old are you?
Er… old enough to know better lol!
How did you get into the hip-hop scene?
I dunno, kind of fell into it in a way, mean there's my peers who were obvious influences and got me listening to NWA, Large Professor, Biggie, Jay, Nas, Dre, Snoop stuff like that. I was always fascinated on how the shit was made and I guess I used to piss around trying to write the odd rhyme (with an American accent).
Then I started hearing artists from this country like London Posse, Black Twang, Gunshot, Demon Boys, Hijack etc. I'll be honest I didn't like all of it but what I did like I loved and that inspired me to get deeper in to the hip-hop scene and culture in this country so I wrote a few more rhymes (with a British accent) and started trying to make beats.
The rest is history, I hope!
How did you get the name Asaviour?
I kind of stumbled across it, chose it, dropped it and then came back to it for different reasons.
At first I chose it for very naive reasons - I was like "Yeah, I'm here to save hip-hop"… like it needs saving (or maybe it does?) but then it became more of an esoteric thing (about my life). It was more about saving myself, as I believe you can only really save yourself.
You have very distinct and instantly recognisable sound when you rhyme, has this occurred naturally or is it something you have developed over time?
To be honest I reckon a bit of both. I'm from Huddersfield and there aren't really that many rappers with a name within the hip-hop scene that come from there so I can stick out like a sore thumb at times, which is good and bad.
I've definetly tried to developed my own lane. Just like any artist you're inspired and influenced by artists you listen to and they can help you shape your own style but I guess I got into artists that did thier own thing. I don't really have an issue with commercial or underground artists, there's only really two types of music to me… good and bad.
So many artists just wanna do what there peers do, there's almost a fear to push the envelope a bit. I'll be honest… at times a lot of rappers can just blur into one style and it's a shame cos there's a lot of talent but maybe it's just a fear of being different? It's a human condition innit… wanting to fit and all that. You got manz using the same old flows and rapping about topics in the same way, don't get me wrong, I don't believe there's such thing as a totally original idea but you can have an original perspective and you can present an idea through your own eyes.
You got manz using the same old flows and rapping about topics in the same way, don't get me wrong, I don't believe there's such thing as a totally original idea but you can have an original perspective and you can present an idea through your own eyes.
Asaviour
What has been your biggest selling release to date?
Well I reckon it would be the Play To Win mix CD's, even though they weren't handled by bigger distributors like with my Album, EP or 12s I've managed to shift more of those CD's than anything else.
I sold copies at gigs, in independent record/clothing shops, in the street, through my site (Saving Grace) and with my man DJ Disorda through his site Suspect Packages. If you anit got it yet then go get that! It's the best mix CD in the world ever!!!
In 2002 you featured on Jehst's "People Under The Weather", how did you come to get involved with the high plains drifter?
We'll I'd know Jehst for while before we did that track. I got to know him through college, we were both into the same kind of hip-hop, he'd recorded a couple of demos and I was working towards my own shit. We both respected each others shit so eventually we stared working on a few tracks together with people like Usmaan and Tommy Evans. Eventually Jehst wanted to do an EP and he wanted me on it. From there we just kept making music and shit just developed till the point of doing "People Under The Weather".
Which other artists have you worked with in the past?
Er, a few I suppose…
- Jehst
- Tommy Evans
- Usmaan
- Beat Butcher
- Yungun
- Kyza
- Micall Parkinsun
- DJ IQ
- Gratzella
- Dubbledge
- TB
- Sir Smurf Lil
- Microdisiacs
- Konny Kon
- Skrien
- Verb T
- Ghost
- Kashmere
- Apatight
- Jack Flash
- Mama Said
- Ricochet aka Ric Branson
- Evil ED
- Braintax
- Mr Thing
There's a probably a few more that slip my mind!
You have made a number of guest appearances on tracks released by Low Life Records, how did you come to be involved with the Low Life crew?
I guess it was a natural progression from the success of "People Under The Weather". I was doing a few different things with Jehst and Braintax wanted to put more stuff out, he'd also heard some demos I'd done and he wanted to put some of that shit out so I gave him the "Savoir Faire EP" which also had a real good response. From there I just kept doing my thing recording with peeps and the release just fell into place really.
After numerous releases on labels such as Low Life Records and YNR Productions you set up your own "Saving Grace Music" label in 2007, was this mainly to have more control over your own material or to release that of other talents you had found?
Yeah basically. Everybody has thier own vision for thier projects and I have mine, by the time I pushed the first "Play To Win" CD out I'd produced a stack of tracks with a loads of different artists that just wouldn't have seen the light of day if I hadn't made my own imprint…, so I just did what had to be done.
Saving Grace is about more than just beats and rhymes, I design artwork for releases and I'm dabbling in a little clothing. I've been working with lots of different artist from within the hip-hop scene and out of it, I'm looking into putting out releases from other genres apart from hip-hop.
Asaviour
How did you come up with the title for your debut album "The Borrowed Ladder" and was there a meaning behind it?
Well it's inspired by a book/movie called Gattica which is basically about been categorised as soon as your born and been told you can't do this and can't do that because of your DNA. The main point of he film is that there's no gene for human sprit.
I identified with the main character known as an invalid who refused to accept the cards he was dealt, he played the system and traded his identity with a person who was coincided in order to be valid and see the stars.
Asaviour is a character I created and I guess I traded places with him in order for me to possible play the system and see the stars (metaphorically), if that makes any sense?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not from the heart of the ghetto or anything but I'm not from a privileged background either. I'm a black male born in the post industrial north where its real easy to become a statistic and go down the wrong path. It's not black thing, it's disenfranchised thing. I guess I was trying to get the point across that you can achieve what you want if you put your mind to it… like I said there's no gene for the human spirit.
For those who didn't know you are also a talented producer and worked on beats for your "Borrowed Ladder" LP and "Savoir Faire" EP to name but a few, what equipment / software do you use?
Sorry man, I can't give any of my secrets away! Only thing I will say is the larger the range on sounds you're prepared to work with the better your music will be… don't close your mind to anything!
How did you get into the production and beatmaking side of things?
Well I've actually been making beats almost as long as I have been rhyming. I'm very critical of my production, just like my rhyming and I've always strived to have an original slant on my sound. I've worked for ages just trying to develop my own sound that can stand up to any producer not just within UK hip-hop but in music generally and I finally think I'm there now.
I was always intrigued on how the sound was made, I never got money from my folks for music or anything like that so I hustled for my first sampler which I think was an AKAI So1, it stored 8 samples which I triggered with a second hand Atari ST and I used that to learn how to make beats and do a few demos. Then I started going to college where they had a music room, I kinda hijacked the place even though most of the teachers hated me there. There was one teacher who helped me, let me in there at lunch time, after college and showed me how to record with the 16 track and in turn I taught him how to use the sampler.
From there I moved to Manchester to study Music Technology and just kept on developing and building my skills.
I've done production for Sir Smurf Lil, TB, Verb T, Jehst, Ricochet aka Ric Branson, Yungun, Kyza, Braintax, stuff on the DJ IQ album "Live From The Sofa" as well as working alongside DJ IQ on our new collaboration album "The A Loop Theory" and also a little bit of work on a track with his new group Mama Said.
Do you prefer the beatmaking or rhyming?
I'm not sure, I get different things from them both. Rhyming is more of a cathartic process and it's more from the heart, where as beatmeaking is more logical, it's like deciphering a puzzle… it's mathematics if I'm brutally honest but I couldn't really pin one down as they're such different disciplines. I enjoy them equally as much really.
Rhyming is more of a cathartic process and it's more from the heart, where as beatmeaking is more logical, it's like deciphering a puzzle.
Asaviour
You have reputation as a great live performer both here and abroad, do you have a favourite event or country you have played?
(Ha ha) I do my thing so I'm not sure if I can pinpoint one particular date but Manchester had a warehouse event, think it was in ex brewery… De la Soul played as well so that was big! Plug 1 said he was feeling the show which was nice. Festivals are always liveo, did some things in Europe like Lithuania, Spain and the Czech Republic… they were jokes! I'm the Jigga of the Eastern Block innit, well that's what IQ says.
To be honest it's real hard to pinpoint one particular event, it's more of a city thing Like Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Brighton, London etc
Do you have any funny tales of adventures you can share from when you have been on road?
I remember DJ IQ and I had to pick a girl up by her legs and arms and throw her out of the hotel room coz she just wouldn't leave but I guess that's more annoying than anything. Er dunno… there's been a few mad ones wandering round the streets of Europe chatting to mad Russia girls. Oh yeah… leaving my wallet, phone and keys in the airport (Birmingham) before jumping on the plane to Prague then coming back to a different airport (Stanstead) and having to travel the length of the country to collect em! Fucking long! Funny when I look back at it.
Where was you first live performance?
I think it was in Leeds or Huddersfield. I remember one of my boys who was on stage with me was more concerned with the girls in the crowd than the show we were doing. He kept whispering in my ear about the gyal while I was spitting, kinda distracting.
What are your feelings on the UK hip-hop scene at the moment?
So, so. To be honest we don't really have a talent problem anymore but maybe an identity problem still, the press can hold us back too.
It's very London orientated, which I understand, but its not that healthy in my eyes. You've got some of the most hip-hop oriented magazines covering quite a narrow section of what's going on. You got some (not all) lazy journalists not really interested in researching into good artists, they're more into taking what's right in front of they're noses. A lot of magazines don't even have a hip-hop section anymore, it's just classed as urban which is good and bad really.
On one hand the lines are blurred now artists are more free to work with whoever they want which can lead to more interesting shit but on the other hand good hip-hop just won't really get any coverage because so many artists have been boxed off into one genre. Kind of devalues the music.
Don't get me wrong, the responsibility doesn't just belong with the press, artist's play there part too. I guess we go back to the whole pushing boundaries thing… not that many people are trying anything new and if they are then it's something somebody's already done… so does that count?
End of the day theres good music and bad music, you just gotta look for it.
Asaviour and DJ IQ
Asaviour
Asaviour
What would you say has been your greatest achievement so far?
I'm not too sure really, guess it would be the completion of my new album "The A Loop Theory" - it's a real leap forward lyrically and production wise. I produced it alongside DJ IQ. It's me rhyming and a whole heap of sick guests rappers, singers, musician etc.
Which other artists out there are you feeling?
- Andre 3000
- Kanye West
- Supa T aka Sundragon
- Dizzie Rascal
- Willy Mason
- The Neptunes
- J Dilla
- Jay Z
- Outkast
- Jay Electronica
- MF Doom
- Shy Child
- Cold Play
- Róisín Murphy
- Nas
- Kelis
- Mr. Porter
- Salm Remmi
- Timberland
- Damon Alban
- The Roots
- Pharoahe Monch
- Benga
- Burial
- Pete Rock
- LG
- DJ IQ
- Apatight
- Adele
- Amy Whinehouse
- Dwele
- Bilal
- Razorlight
- Athlete
- Sway
- Roots Manuva
- Erykah Badu
- De La Soul
- Arctic Monkeys
- Daft Punk
There's so many more! I could go on forever and ever…
Which artists would you most like to work with in the future?
Anyone creative really. I'm trying to bridge some gaps at the moment and I'm working with a few bands, different producers, rappers, singers in different countries and genres.
Who I'd really like to work with in the future would be people like that girl Adele - her voice is very, very good indeed. Er… I'm feeling what Benga's doing he's sick, Ebony Bones and Róisín Murphy. Can't front, I would love work with Kanye West or Salam Remi… I guess you should refer to the artists I admire.
Do you have a favourite tune of all time?
Nah, I don't. Music's a motive thing to me and shit changes depending on my mood. I could never lock it down to one track.
What was the last record / CD you bought?
Think it was Prince or maybe the new NERD album not sure.
What can we expect to see from Asaviour and Saving Grace Music in the near future?
It's all about …The A Loop Theory… LP, that some next shit yo! I've got other things in the pipeline but I reckon that's the next thing you'll hear from me.
Anything else you would like to add?
Check out the Saving Grace Music website… come visit me on my facebook and myspace lets be friends!
Oh yeah everybody buy the "Play To Win 2" Mix CD! You can download a free track from the CD here:
Mr. Me Too - Asaviour (free download)
Peace!!
