Interview Series
Part 2.
From Atlanta, USA, to Lagos, Nigeria, and now to Northampton, England. The interview series is back showcasing grassroot talents and their community state. This time reporting live from NN, we meet three underground artists from Northampton, eachone with plans to join the next generation of sound from out the East Midlands. The following voices have been tape recorded and transcribed into writing for your reading pleasure.
Name: VINCE LAW
Base: Area of Northampton
Age: 22
#The scene { It is 2:30 PM. Reporting live from Abington Park. Pigeons are descending on the foreground, while the Abington Lake wets the background. Ducks gliding over the Lake surface send ripples across. The Sun is shy. Vince and I stroll for a while looking for a spot to settle for the interview. Kids loitering in the distance. Vince takes off his Puffer, we take a sit on the grass. }
Q: How has the Town influenced your music?
People don't realize it but Northampton is quite a diverse place. Slowthai is a big f!cking example, he didn't come out doing the same sh!t as everyone else. In terms of my music, it's made me understand that it's okay to be different. Especially within the UK, I've noticed for the past 6 years it's been the same type of sound - Afrobeat and Drill. Or If it's neither, then it's that same UK hiphop where you’re talking about selling drugs. I've known people involved in that life so I get it, but I can't relate with it fully. It seems only recent, but it's like the whole town has had the same realization, it's okay to be different.
Q: When did you start making music?
I started when i was 7. It's going on 15 Years now.
Q: What's been the biggest challenge since?
[Brief pause.] I'll say just pushing my music out there. I've kinda surpassed that now, but it's still a struggle sometimes. The music industry is quite clicky, especially within the UK. Sometimes you reach out to certain people, and if you're not from the same area or if you're not on what they're on, they completely dismiss you. It gets well petty. But I get it. The whole Industry is cutthroat, and sometimes Ego’s get in the way.
Q: Who are the Cooperatives?
That's something we started Pre-COVID. It's a creative collective, and what we do is we try and support each other. If one of us has a project or a show, the rest of us show up and support. We are kinda like the UK’s ASAP Mob. We keep working together to build each other up. I have so much faith in us that we can f!ck sh!t up completely.
Q: And the Cooporative is based in Northampton?
Most of us are.
Q: You recently adopted the stage-name ‘Vince Law’. Earlier, you released music under the stage-name ‘Eli San’. Since then there's been a noticeable shift in your style. Would you agree ?, and would you say you've found your own unique sound?
A thousand percent there's been a shift. I've had different stage names in the past, and each one came with its own unique sound. The first one was ‘Eli Blakk’. When I made music under that name it was straight-up rap. But the content was bare negative. Later, I changed my name to 'Eli-San'. I started making more deep sh!t then. Music that everyone could relate to not just a certain group. And now I've changed to ‘Vince Law’. Lately, I've tried to meld the two sounds together. Making music that would appeal to the UK scene, but also keep that alternative sound.
Q: Hypothetical ~ you are a Castaway on an Island and you can only bring 3 albums with you. What 3 albums would you bring?
[He Laughs, takes a long pause.] One album I'll have to bring would be Iowa by Slipknot. The second album, Travis Scott, Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight - It's a masterpiece, I can't skip a single track on there, ever. The third album would have to be Revenge, by XXtentacion.
Q: Suppose, out of the 3 albums, you had to leave one behind. Which one of the 3 albums would you leave for posterity sake?
[Long pause.] Definitely Iowa, by Slipknot. I know the whole 'heavy metal imagery' can put some people off. But It's not always about the image sometimes, looks can be deceiving.
Q: How would you define Success?
Success?! [Long pause.] It’s Happiness. Obviously, there is the whole focus on work, getting married, having kids, getting your pension and retiring. But I know that's not going to make me happy. If I can live my life exactly how I want, then I'm successful as f!ck. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, It's what I see as success. That's how I think everyone else should be honestly. As long as you’re happy doing what you're doing, making money from it, even if you're not making money, but you're still happy - that's your success right there bro. You've won at life, legit! . . you've won at life.
The End.
A GREASEDELBOW INTERVIEW
Instagram: @vncelaw
Published: 24/09/2021.
Written by Dan O. Eboka.
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