Blue Room Mafia

Name, where are you from?
Blue Room Mafia. Birmingham, UK.

Describe your style in three words?
Sporty, Eclectic and Cosy.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I would personally have to say A$ap Rocky back in 2011. I think it was his first UK tour and he came to the O2 Institute (which was HMV back then) in our hometown Birmingham, this was like before he blew up crazy so the tickets were super cheap. It was held in a venue with a capacity of like 600 people so it was hella cramped but it didn't matter because the energy was mad lit. Like people were just smoking up, turning up and just having a good time.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
Well, I guess for our style of music and our sound it has to be Gang Starr and 50 cents because he's just certi and I binge watch Power.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
I mean all of us have been influenced by a whole range of things given our different backgrounds. But because of the city and environment we’re from, the UKG/Grime culture has influenced us the most. Growing up all you would listen to (separate from the songs blasting at home) was Grime and Rap music. That was the music of the streets like the music that your Mom didn't really want you listening to but you did it anyway because your older brothers and cousins were doing it. But it wasn't just about the music back then, it was a lifestyle, a culture, from the way you dressed to the way you spoke. Even street art and graffiti was a big thing back then that you don't see much of now. It was all just a way of expressing yourself which is what you need in this world growing up as a kid with nothing to do.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Bob Marley. He had an impact on the world that only a few great musicians achieve, he spoke the truth and hoped his music would make the world a better place by healing people through his songs. Which is what music should really be about.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
It's hard to say because we’ve been to some crazy venues. Like we’ve performed at The Old Blue Last for Skit, Rich Mix in Shoreditch with I Am Next, Blue Mountain in Bristol for Next Up and loads more. But I think that three stand out the most for all of us because of the times it happened, they're like checkpoints or accomplishments we would say in our journey that we all wanted to reach. We also got to perform alongside some of the sickest artists that have gone on to do crazy things; the likes of Astroid Boys, House Of Pharaohs and Octavian.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Lil Wayne had a major impact on the way Rap sounded and went against all conventions of how a Rap song should sound. He birthed some of the most impactful artists of this generation under his label Young Money and a lot of people forget this.