Theodor Black

Musician — London

01Profile

A Theodor Black Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Theodor Black, London.

Describe your style in three words?
Ambidextrous, Baggy and Flowy.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Every time I used to go to Steam Down, it would be the best gig ever. Steam Down’s a group of young black jazz musicians from south east London and they used to do weekly shows in a couple of venues in Deptford. Every show would be amazing, and they’d bring so much energy to each night they’d perform, never lacking. Big ups to the Steam Down family.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
The Jimi Hendrix Experience and The Isley Brothers would be two bands I’d love to be on a line up with. It would be the perfect mix of psychedelic rock, blues and funk. The crowd would be a wild mix of strung-out hippies and Motown boppers it would be like the evolution of black music happening in one room, and then there would just be me, I think even the hippies would think I’m a bit too far out, but it would still be all love and appreciation.

Which Subcultures have influenced you?
I grew up skating, and it’s definitely had a huge impact on my outlook on life. From young you’re instantly put onto the coolest shit, all the things that skating has introduced me to have influenced the way I dress, how I treat people, and just how I live my life in general. Even with music, growing up watching skate videos you’re always discovering new and different types of music.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I would love to spend an hour with Jean-Michel Basquiat. Maybe go somewhere and get a drink, or a maybe even a meal or something. I reckon we’d have a very interesting conversation. I’d just sit and listen to all his insight, take it all in. Then after the meal, we’d fry a fatty.

Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
The Jazz Cafe I would have to say is a definite favourite. It’s got a lot of history and I’m so fortunate to have had the opportunity to grace its stage. I played support for People Under The Stairs in 2018 and it was an amazing experience, the layout of the venue is designed to make it intimate, and the sound quality is banging. The sit-down terraces really make you feel like you’re in a '90s jazz club, just less smoke.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Frank Ocean for sure, like he really did that shit, he really finessed the music industry, an industry that’s been finessing young black artists for decades. I also like the way Frank moves, he’s bare lowkey and out of the spotlight and doesn’t really interact with the media too much but still has such a strong and alluring presence. That’s the coolest shit to me, and I kinda what I wish to attain that myself.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'Locked Up' by Akon. 'Trouble' was the first record I ever got, I must’ve been like five or six and my sister just gave it to me along with her old CD player, I think she must’ve gotten the new iPod or something. But because it was the only record I had at the time I would play it all day every day.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Portrait in Black and Blue' by King Krule. Me and my first girlfriend would rinse this song on repeat, and it was also the summer when I left secondary school so it was quite a transitional moment in my life.

One record you would keep forever?
'Illmatic' by Nas. It’s just a classic rap album, it can’t be flawed.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
"A&R said I use too many catchphrases"

From '2000 Seasons' by Talib Kweli. Each lyric is like a carefully pieced poem. I can’t really choose one lyric but I really resonated with Talib when he said this. My late homie banjo put me onto Talib, so it’s a song that has a special place in my heart.

A song you wished you had written?
'Complexities' by Daniel Caesar. The production on that track gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it, and the way Daniels vocals have been mixed just hits so different.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Crew' by GoldLink. Whenever anybody’s playing this song out loud you know they’re having a great day, probably on their way to link a ting they’ve been chatting to, or probably on their way to a motive or something.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'A Punk' by Vampire Weekend. I went through an indie phase when I was 13 or 14 I absolutely loved it, I was listening to The Wombats, Foster The People, Animal Collective and whoever else was popping at the time. But vampire weekend just had that sound that reflected my disjointed youth.

The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
'Droogs' by Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge. This tune is the biggest and most underrated bop of all time. The bass line is so fierce and fiery and the vocals just go above and beyond. Bigs up Knxwledge and big ups to Paak.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
'Polo Jeans' by Mac Miller ft Earl Sweatshirt. I love this song so much. The summer of 2014 I went to Breda, Holland and all I did was cycle around all day and listen to polo jeans, I think this was around the time that Mac dropped Faces. The whole project is perfect for the comedown after a long evening out in town but polo jeans especially, it just makes you feel like you’re floating. R.I.P Mac Miller, one of the greatest to ever do it.

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
I haven’t really been listening to any new bands, but I’ve fallen in love with Ojerime’s music. She’s so fire and so underrated. So I just wanna take this time to say, go listen to her, and run that up.

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Theodor Black, London.

Describe your style in three words?
Ambidextrous, Baggy and Flowy.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Every time I used to go to Steam Down, it would be the best gig ever. Steam Down’s a group of young black jazz musicians from south east London and they used to do weekly shows in a couple of venues in Deptford. Every show would be amazing, and they’d bring so much energy to each night they’d perform, never lacking. Big ups to the Steam Down family.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
The Jimi Hendrix Experience and The Isley Brothers would be two bands I’d love to be on a line up with. It would be the perfect mix of psychedelic rock, blues and funk. The crowd would be a wild mix of strung-out hippies and Motown boppers it would be like the evolution of black music happening in one room, and then there would just be me, I think even the hippies would think I’m a bit too far out, but it would still be all love and appreciation.

Which Subcultures have influenced you?
I grew up skating, and it’s definitely had a huge impact on my outlook on life. From young you’re instantly put onto the coolest shit, all the things that skating has introduced me to have influenced the way I dress, how I treat people, and just how I live my life in general. Even with music, growing up watching skate videos you’re always discovering new and different types of music.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I would love to spend an hour with Jean-Michel Basquiat. Maybe go somewhere and get a drink, or a maybe even a meal or something. I reckon we’d have a very interesting conversation. I’d just sit and listen to all his insight, take it all in. Then after the meal, we’d fry a fatty.

Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
The Jazz Cafe I would have to say is a definite favourite. It’s got a lot of history and I’m so fortunate to have had the opportunity to grace its stage. I played support for People Under The Stairs in 2018 and it was an amazing experience, the layout of the venue is designed to make it intimate, and the sound quality is banging. The sit-down terraces really make you feel like you’re in a '90s jazz club, just less smoke.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Frank Ocean for sure, like he really did that shit, he really finessed the music industry, an industry that’s been finessing young black artists for decades. I also like the way Frank moves, he’s bare lowkey and out of the spotlight and doesn’t really interact with the media too much but still has such a strong and alluring presence. That’s the coolest shit to me, and I kinda what I wish to attain that myself.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'Locked Up' by Akon. 'Trouble' was the first record I ever got, I must’ve been like five or six and my sister just gave it to me along with her old CD player, I think she must’ve gotten the new iPod or something. But because it was the only record I had at the time I would play it all day every day.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Portrait in Black and Blue' by King Krule. Me and my first girlfriend would rinse this song on repeat, and it was also the summer when I left secondary school so it was quite a transitional moment in my life.

One record you would keep forever?
'Illmatic' by Nas. It’s just a classic rap album, it can’t be flawed.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
"A&R said I use too many catchphrases"

From '2000 Seasons' by Talib Kweli. Each lyric is like a carefully pieced poem. I can’t really choose one lyric but I really resonated with Talib when he said this. My late homie banjo put me onto Talib, so it’s a song that has a special place in my heart.

A song you wished you had written?
'Complexities' by Daniel Caesar. The production on that track gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it, and the way Daniels vocals have been mixed just hits so different.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Crew' by GoldLink. Whenever anybody’s playing this song out loud you know they’re having a great day, probably on their way to link a ting they’ve been chatting to, or probably on their way to a motive or something.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'A Punk' by Vampire Weekend. I went through an indie phase when I was 13 or 14 I absolutely loved it, I was listening to The Wombats, Foster The People, Animal Collective and whoever else was popping at the time. But vampire weekend just had that sound that reflected my disjointed youth.

The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
'Droogs' by Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge. This tune is the biggest and most underrated bop of all time. The bass line is so fierce and fiery and the vocals just go above and beyond. Bigs up Knxwledge and big ups to Paak.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
'Polo Jeans' by Mac Miller ft Earl Sweatshirt. I love this song so much. The summer of 2014 I went to Breda, Holland and all I did was cycle around all day and listen to polo jeans, I think this was around the time that Mac dropped Faces. The whole project is perfect for the comedown after a long evening out in town but polo jeans especially, it just makes you feel like you’re floating. R.I.P Mac Miller, one of the greatest to ever do it.

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
I haven’t really been listening to any new bands, but I’ve fallen in love with Ojerime’s music. She’s so fire and so underrated. So I just wanna take this time to say, go listen to her, and run that up.