Being tipped as one to watch for 2011 by MTV, NME and the BBC, Wretch 32 is definitely a name you all be hearing a lot more from this year. Having smashed the chart top 10 with his debut single ‘Traktor’ we thought we would catch up with the man himself and find out about his rise in the scene and what the future holds.
HTF: For those of you who might not know you, sum yourself up in a sentence.
W: Im Wretch 32, a boy from Tottenham that puts his heart and soul into music.
HTF: You came up through the grime ranks but some have claimed your style has more in common with hip hop. Do you see yourself as a crossover artist?
W: I see myself as someone who’s music can touch people and if that happens to be the masses then that would be great.
HTF: How did you first get in to music and what or who were your major influences?
W: My dad was a DJ and had his own sound so I was brought up around music but never actually took the step to create music until I was 17. I used music as an outlet to express my inner feelings and my major influences are dancehall plus artists such as Jay Z and Kanye West.
HTF: You grew up in Tottenham in North London where many of the leading names in the grime scene originate. How influential was your environment in shaping you as an artist?
W: My environment has not only shaped the artist that I am but also the man that I am today. Coming from a close communal environment has instilled me with drive and empathy for others.
HTF: You are part of The Movement and have been for a while now. Is this is still an active operation and do you still maintain close ties to all crew members and affiliates?
W: We are all friends but because of each member’s individual career and schedule at present we are unable to get in the studio together. I hope that at some point this year we can all link up and get a couple of weeks in the studio to create some magic.
HTF: You’ve worked with likes of Bashy, Devlin, Chipmunk and countless other big names. Which artists have your enjoyed working with most so far in your career?
W: I’ve enjoyed working with everyone to be honest whenever you make music with someone that loves music as much as you its a pleasure.
HTF: Fans of the urban genre, whether it be grime, hip hop or RnB will as well as mainstream pop audiences will have no doubt seen your new video for “Traktor” and most likely have been as impressed as I was. How did the whole project come about?
W: Well Yogi (the producer) and L (the vocalist) came up with an idea which they sent across. I liked the idea but thought the chorus wasn’t quite right and wrote my verse and sent it across. After listening to the track over and over again I felt that it was missing something so went back into the studio with Yogi and L to create the bridge. Then the magic was done!
HTF: Considering the “Traktor” had such a great reception, do you see yourself making the transition to mainstream pop/urban icon in the near future? Do you hope to achieve chart success at some point?
W: I don’t quite know what to expect to be honest. It still hasn’t registered that Traktor has charted at number 5 but I can’t afford to get complacent. If chart success happens then great and if not I will continue to make music either way.
HTF: Which artists are you feeling most at the moment? (not necessarily limited to grime/hip hop).
W: Im feeling The Script, Chipmunk and Emeli Sande among others.
HTF: How does 2011 look for Wretch 32? Do you forsee this a big year for in the development of your career?
W: I see opportunities arising that were not previously there such as shows and festivals.
HTF: It’s a common aspiration for any UK artist to want to “break the States” at some point and become a success in the US. Do you also share this ambition?
W: Im not focused on the states at all because I love the UK. I feel that Europe is our continent so I want to penetrate rather than the US.
HTF: And finally, where can people best find you, stalk you or just look your stuff up?
W: You can check out my website wretch.com or my twitter @wretch32
Interviewer: Tom Clements
