Ryan Hawaii

Name, where are you from?
Ryan Hawaii, from Catford, South East London.

Describe your style in three words?
Otherworldly, nomadic, HAWAII©.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Ray Fuego, Appelsap 2016.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley. I would get high with Jimi and talk about women and theories on life, actually, I’d do the same with Bob too! But I feel like we’d have a deeper spiritual link up. Jimi would be more a party partner, Bob more a big bro.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Punk culture is a huge influence on me. I’ve always had a DIY and disruptive energy about me - however when a friend put me onto punk, their ethos aligned with everything that I believe in - so it was a natural fit - I would say I have taken this energy and infused it with the black experience and hip-hop culture to give a fresh spin on things.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Jean Michel Basquiat, I feel like we’re kindred spirits, he seems like loads of fun too. A lot to learn from him, he seems wise in a kind of naive, childlike way. 'Beat Bop' by Rammellzee and K-Rob. Basquiat did the artwork for the vinyl and also funded the pressing and release of the record.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
Efes Snooker Hall (now EartH) we (Neverland Clan) played there in a support slot for NTS 5th birthday, Playboi Carti was the headliner - safe to say we turned that place upside down, mosh pits, crowd surfing the works.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Tony Bontana. He’s putting a lot of artists on with his Splayworld movement, also super prolific and talented producer/musician/artist.

Ryan Hawaii is an artist, designer and musician from London. You can catch him at Peckham Audio on 28th February 2022 and a new mixtape is on the way.

For updates and details follow him on Instagram @ryanhawaii or head to ryanhawaii.co.uk.