At midnight tonight, I will be releasing Addicted, my first solo album. This post is to really explain what the album is about, my musical background and my influences.
I’ll start with explaining the title. I had initially wanted to call it Nebula (Starchild, Nebula being the birth of a star, space, you get the idea) but changed my mind and ended up with Addicted, which was a “rumoured” title for Jamiroquai’s eighth album, which was eventually called Rock Dust Light Star. It was also the reason why my first EP was called Obsessed; I like to link my titles or give them some kind of meaning. Once that was decided, I had to figure out whether to make it another concept piece or just a culmination of my best tracks. I had an idea to have all the titles begin with “The” but as time went on and my newer beats became more improved, I had named them different things and scrapped the idea. However, a few of the original beats, including a few from the EP, will feature. Another reason for picking “Addicted” as a title was because it reflects just how addicted I am to music. I’ve spent nearly a year working on it, for hours a day and I’m really happy with how it’s turned out.
My musical background is somewhat patchy to begin with. I played recorder like most junior school kids in Year 3 and soon stopped. At high school, I played the clarinet for five years but never went past Grade 3. I had wanted to play saxophone but there weren’t any left, so I was left with its smaller black wooden cousin. By college, I had dreams of being a graphic designer, which turned into dreams of working in computer science and I went to university still holding onto that “dream”. Within months, the dream became a nightmare and what I was expecting wasn’t what I got. Days would go by where I would just stay in my room and not talk to anyone. Depressed and having no friends, all I really had was my iPod, my radio and a new secret passion for music. I transferred to study Mathematics in the new academic year, however due to financial difficulties, I had to drop out altogether and I was now at home, desperately looking for work. My passion for design had also been renewed and decided that was what I wanted to do, until a rejection from a university interview put me off entirely. As you can see, I’ve flitted from pillar to post quite a lot over the past three years but music always seemed to stick and that’s where I am now. Okay, I’m waffling.
My influences are quite diverse: Pete Rock, Madlib, J Dilla, ATCQ, Bonobo, Quantic, 4hero, Jamiroquai, Michael Jackson to name but a few. My sound is generally more “old school” than the kind of hip hop you hear in the charts. I like to keep an element of groove and funk in the samples I pick so you can chill and relax or just bob your head. If I’ve ever been stuck in a rut, listening to a few songs from these artists has rejuvenated my drive and I’d like to thank them for all their music.In terms of dedications, I’m dedicating the album to all the fallen greats of music and anyone who has died suddenly or tragically this year, may they all rest in peace and power. Thanks to Nyt Arcanum aka Blaise for all the help and support as well as everyone at RGS. Thanks to everyone on Facebook and Twitter for all your support, kind words and motivation. I’m sorry to be leaving but it’s just something I have to do.
All that’s left for me to say is thank you and I hope you enjoy the album!
EDIT: The link to download is here: http://starchildluke.bandcamp.com/album/addicted
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