Settling comfortably in a unique position within the UK rap scene, Knucks’ blend of new and old-school hip hop has prompted listeners to sit up and take notice. — “I’ve always had a love for old-school rap, samples and all of that, but I know that boom-bap rap ain’t popping. No one really wants to hear that, especially over here [in the UK].” Speaking over the hum of a secluded Shoreditch restaurant, rapper/producer Knucks is well aware of the…

Within a society that currently seems to be motivated by attaining a social media presence and presenting one’s self as a unique brand, Sipprell — the singer/songwriter, instrumentalist and self-proclaimed ‘normal girl’ — is completely focused on her music making the biggest impression. — “I just want people to listen to my music and not show too much interest in me. I’m not a pop star, I’m never going to be a pop star, so all I have is my music to represent me,” declares the South Londoner.

By his own admission, things are moving fast for Masègo. At the time of our meeting, the multi-faceted musician is in the UK ahead of his headline shows in Manchester and London, less than a week after the release of his eclectic debut album Lady Lady. — With everything that is required of him at this busy time, the 25-year-old Virginia native has only just been able to gauge the response to his album so far. “People had digested it already and showed me what it meant to them [via social media] and it’s been out for…

2018 will forever be a landmark year in the history of Billy Dukes. The duo from southeast London comprised of Intalekt and GeeFree have gained attention and plaudits for their implementation of a soulful, jazz-inspired Hip Hop sound, culminating in the release of their debut project The Intervention in May. — Since then, they performed to a sold-out audience at their headline show in July and continue to raise awareness of their contribution to a seemingly thriving UK scene at present.

Tyler Daley and Konny Kon are not new to this. Despite the fact that the two individuals that form Children Of Zeus released their first single — ‘Still Standing’ — as recently as 2016 and are currently on the verge of releasing their debut album Travel Light (July 13), it was the preceding years spent honing their musical attributes that has made their introduction as a duo so impactful. — The Mancunians met on tour in 2005 as part of their respective Hip Hop groups, before gradually creating a rapport that would lead to collaborations and eventually Children Of Zeus. …

Craig David is in a very vibrant mood and rightly so. He has every reason to feel positive considering at the time of our meet he’s set for the release of his second album in two years, with his previous effort debuting at №1. But don’t be alarmed, you haven’t been transported back to the early 2000s, it’s 2018 and Craig David is re-inspired and rejuvenated. — “It was going back to basics and also just realising that I live music, it’s not a hobby,” he says summarising what led to his sixth studio album Following My Intuition after an absence of six years, while his seventh — The Time Is Now — could have a similarly…

Have you ever wondered how the use of the voice can affect parent-infant relationships? If so, Marie Dahlstrøm may soon have the answers. The Danish singer/songwriter is currently studying for her PhD at the Center for Music in the Brain but assures me that her main focus is her music career, insisting she’s a better musician than a potential doctor. — And there is strong evidence to support that view when examining her musical achievements to date, from her beginnings taking part in song contests as an 11-year-old that led to performances on national television to the most recent of which being the release of her remarkable EP Nine. …

The Potential To Empower: An Interview With Poppy Ajudha — “As a musician, you are a vessel for understanding concepts and ideas. You can’t empower people if they can’t understand what you’re saying.” It’s been a frenetic few months for Poppy Ajudha. Since finishing her BA Anthropology and Music degree in June, she has worked almost non-stop on her forthcoming debut EP (which is currently being mastered), abandoning scheduled holidays due to the intensity of the workload.

A flash of my phone’s screen indicates a message that confirms Talos has just arrived. As I go outside to greet the gifted producer, he is sitting in his car — a setting that he’s very in tune with as it provides the ambience for his debut EP, Lowlight, which was released in November last year. — “I spend a lot of time driving, I’m always driving around everywhere, so I wanted to incorporate that sound [and] those sound effects because that’s how I was actually listening to the music,” he later explains.