Ceeow

Name, where are you from?
I’m Ceeow, I’m from Birmingham based in Manchester.

Describe your style in three words?
Hood-hippie, thrifter, homegrown.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Swindle ‘No More Normal’ tour - Mint Lounge - Manchester. I was lucky enough to go to a session at SSR Manchester/Spirit Studios where Swindle spoke about the journey and went over the album’s processes; exploring all the recording and reasons for the album. Seeing the whole performance live, following the talk and meeting him was really inspirational. It confirmed to me a project like that can be done, and that was how to do it. I knew the lyrics to the tracks too so I was truly in fan mode.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
Kano - Kano was and still is a huge inspiration to me musically. The album 'Home Sweet Home' changed how I viewed what I was doing as a kid. I went from writing a bar in my room, to working on my craft in music. Kano uses melodies and tone to express emotion and direct narratives, then he brings those things alive in his performances. It’s something I try to do with my live shows, but I would be honoured to just be in the same room where a Kano moment happened. Bob Marley - My soul can’t deny I’d have to say Bob Marley. There’s something powerful about watching Bob Marley perform live. Just watching you can feel the environment start to change. Each time he lands a bounce it’s like it sends a wave of righteousness out as far as the music will reach. Also, imagine Bob Marley off stage watching you perform- you would be powered differently.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
I’m a child of the Grime scene. Rebound X on Sony Ericsson speakers were my first performances. In that era of The Movement DVD & Westwood freestyles, I started writing a lot. The rap beats in my circles of MCs and rappers were inspired by West Coast & BayArea rap. I always preferred writing rap to grime. In the early days of YouTube, I stumbled across 9th Wonder and Pete Rock style instrumentals. That jazz & funk sampled hip-hop movement helped me figure out ways to apply my personality to my writing. I started to enjoy writing and playing with metaphors and melodies. Really taking writing songs seriously and learning from artists like Common, Wretch 32 and Lupe Fiasco.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I would love to have a back and forth, and share ideas with Nipsey Hussle. He held himself as unapologetically ‘Neighbourhood Nip’ whilst exploring so many other elements of his character and who he is openly, I really admire that. As if nothing or nobody was above or beneath him. He gave wisdom and help to people who may not have ever come across the perspective on the world he had, until he shared it.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
There is something very special to me about The Deaf Institute in Manchester. It was the first time I played a sold-out gig and performed at it with an eight-piece band playing my own material, as well as remixes of my favourite jazz and hip-hop songs. Seeing a sea of smiling faces and knowing I’m standing with a team of superhero-esque musicians was like holding an infinity stone.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Chance the rapper. - Chance’s 'Acid Rap' mixtape was a game-changer for me. He was someone that threw out the rule book and made an impact. Chance I think has stepped back in the last couple of years, which means no one seems to remember 'Acid Rap' now. But that hit me in my chest and made me ask questions about how my music sounded sonically. It taught me about elements of music I could bring into my songs productions. Also the vulnerability and imperfections he expressed so charismatically woke me up a bit- it helped me see that there’s no rules.

Ceeow was picked by Gilles Peterson as one of his Year 6 Future Bubblers. Catch the Future Bubblers performing at The Jazz Cafe, London on 29th July. Find out more here.