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  Ty Interview
interview 0184 added 08.03.04 words: Nikesh Shukla
technical:
QED
TY: The Revolution is Right
Here in Front of You
It’s been a crazy 2004 for Ty, and we’re barely into the third month.
A
monthly stint at the Jazz Café, tours, collaborations and new projects
have all helped to build his status for the 04. Finally, after months of
emails and phonecalls pestering his poor manager, I managed to e-mail
over to him some interview questions for your consumption.
Ty is probably best known for last year’s album, “Upwards”, which was
miles ahead of debut “Awkward.” More confident, more musical and less
sample-driven, it sounded warm and open. There was a focus more on
composition and melodies. It was quite a laid-back and accessible album
that took in elements from funk, soul, jazz, hints of rock, reggae,
spoken word poetry and the ubiquitous hippety-hoppety. It’s an easy,
enjoyable listen that takes in a summery, chilled and positive approach
to its music-making. It is definitely more refined than “Awkward”, and
should hopefully prove to be the next big cross-over album for Big Dada
after Roots Manuva’s excellent “Run Come Save Me.”
 What follows is the email exchange we had back from Ty.
Please introduce yourself for the UKHH audience.
Ty: My name is Ty and I’m a hip-hop artist from the UK.
Describe your sound and what inspires you to write lyrics/music
everyday?
Ty: I would describe the sound as honest soul hip-hop with other
influences ready to dive in.
If you could be a superhero, what special powers would you have?
Ty: If I was a superhero I would probably have the ability to stop all
kinds of racism (general or subtle).
Describe the process that went into making "Upwards". How do you think
you have progressed from "Awkward"?
Ty: Me and Drew locked ourselves away from the scene and focused on some
ideas of mine that didn’t include posse cuts and battle tracks. I was
focusing on doing an album that anyone in the world could get into and
possibly see England via the music. We had no ego’s other than mine in
the room and we was free to do as much stuff as possible, some say we
included broken beat into the mix we weren’t aware of this but its all
cool, its music, some songs some vibes and some tracks.
"...Every now and then turn off your radio and TV and find yourself..."
You're quite present on the Brixton spoken scene (the fantastic poet,
shortMAN is on your album). What are the links between rapping and
performance poetry to you?
Ty: shortMAN is not a Brixton poet, he’s a poet. Although you’re right
about him being fantastic. To me he’s the line between Dizzee Rascal, So
Solid, Mos Def and Common, watch him he is so relevant to both poetry
and rap music right now. The links between poetry and rapping used to be
a lot closer than they are now. To put it simply, people write things
cos they wanna be heard, they wanna say something to you or share
something with you or at least impress you. Rap and poetry both aspire
to do these things but rap has lost its way a little bit…
 What is your first memory?
Ty: Walking around strapped to my mother’s back, normally tied by a
wrapper (a piece of cloth).
What instruments do you play and how long were you learning them?
Ty: I play with drum machines and stuff, arrangements, been doing that
for a while, just picking up tips as we go along.
How did you get into hiphop? When did you start rapping?
Ty: I started rapping on my estate as a way to get accepted.
You play with a live band. How important is a textured live sound to you
over the classic two turntables and a microphone?
Ty: Both are important.
"...The best training you can get is to work with a living legend. It
really reinforces the idea that you too can do things that can stand the
test of time..."
What was it like playing with Tony Allen?
Ty: The best training you can get is to work with a living legend. It
really reinforces the idea that you too can do things that can stand the
test of time.
Describe your songwriting process. Do you write the music to fit lyrics
or the other way around? How do you start the lyrics of a song - a
concept, a word, an image, a hook?
 Ty: Any which way the song comes. I try to keep any lyrics I have ever
written together and sometimes a song can come from one line that wasn’t
appropriate working, as far as music, sometimes we start with a beat and
sometimes we work around an idea.
If you were a musical instrument, what instrument would you be and which
musician would you want to play it?
Ty: That questions sounds too sexy for me, and I cant think of any sexy
female musicians that I would allow myself to be played by right now!
Your biggest influence? Your favourite records? Your favourite rapper?
Ty: My biggest influence is faith in myself. If I had listened to nearly
everyone I would not be doing what I love right now, god and my family
really (and music). Too many favourite records, Stevie Wonder’s a very
important man to me, I think Andre 3000 for style and vision is a breath
of fresh air as far as rap right now. What he says goes no questions no
peer pressure.
What makes a good rapper?
Ty: Individuality, are you you? Do you stand on your own? If you do then
you’re interesting to me…
"...I started rapping on my estate as a way to get accepted..."
Any advice to up and coming musicians/rappers?
Ty: Every now and then turn off your radio and TV and find yourself, be
aware of how much your idols may influence your style and try and cut
down on it (the most shameful thing is when people can see you’re
copying someone and you cant! Trust me).
Any shout-outs/shameless plugs/websites?
Ty: Watch for the NSM record (New Sector Movements), IG Culture album,
featuring Eska and others and my website
www.tymusic.org.
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And like that, he’s gone. Off into the mists. Big things are about to
happen for Ty and with the groundwork that has gone on before, we can
only expect good things.
-
Nikesh Shukla
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