In the realm of UK hip hop, where the charts have seen shifting tides, one artist stands poised to reignite its flame in the mainstream spotlight: London-based rapper, Strandz. Hailing from the South of the UK’s capital city, Strandz has garnered a fervent following by crafting music that pays homage to the genre's roots while forging its path forward. His ability to evoke nostalgia without succumbing to mere imitation sets him apart, a testament to both his artistry and his unwavering commitment to authenticity.
In this interview, we engage in a conversation with the artist as we delve into his latest masterpiece, No Time. An EP that promises to catapult him onto the global stage, solidifying his position as one to watch.
You say you’ve been working on some songs from this EP for more than 3 years. How does it feel to finally have it out of your system and available for everybody? How has the feedback been?
It feels great to have it out and let my supporters enjoy the music I have been working on relentlessly. A lot of people have told me they liked how there’s a range of musical directions I took across the project.
Which has been the best part of crafting it? Were there any difficult moments that you recall?
The best part of crafting it would be the creation of each song individually, there weren’t ever any real difficult moments for me because all the problems I faced were musical and I enjoyed those.
Some refer to you as “London’s King Of Romance.” Do you think you deserve the title?
I don’t know about all of that (laughs), I just like to talk about my life in my music and I just happen to be in love.
Why do we not see so many rappers write lyrics about love?
I think there are different types of love and rappers do write about it just in different ways and based on how they experience it personally. I’m a romantic person so when I make music about love maybe it’s clearer to people.
The EP comes with three very strong collaborations, among them Lancey Foux in Feeling Alive, one of the singles you released first. How did this collaboration come to happen, and how has Lancey Foux’s vision fed and raised the tune, as he’s well-versed in experimental and punk rap?
This was one of those natural ones, we are both similar in the sense that we like to push the boundaries, so we had no problems making something.
Going back to your multiple successes, not only have you played in Glastonbury, which is sick, but you were also personally invited by Skepta to his brand Mains’ debut London Fashion Week show. How was the LFW experience?
LFW was intense but I think seeing people from the culture expanding into elevated fashion is inspiring for real.
Do you give yourself time to enjoy all the great things that you’re achieving, or is there no time and you’re already with your intentions set on future efforts?
I think it’s important to enjoy your achievements as they come because it’s easier to focus on the problems and those little achievements are what really keep you motivated in the end.
In a past interview, you explained that your parents were a little shocked when you decided to pursue music instead of going to uni. How do they feel now, three years after?
I think the main reason for the shock was that I had a promising academic future I could have taken. But they knew I was never going to stop until I got to my goal with music so I think they weren’t too surprised when I did.
You spent your childhood going from Nigeria to Germany before settling in London. How did that help you develop as an artist?
I think this time opened my eyes on how big the world is and how growing up in a specific place can warp your perspective on things, so I was always open-minded and never put a limit on myself. As an artist, this is a very important mindset to have to reach your potential.
Do you think you had it harder than local kids to achieve success?
I think things like not having connections or a network of people in London and the language barrier are challenging but again, there are things my experience taught me that gave me an advantage in a way so I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily harder.
What’s missing in the UK hip hop scene, and what do you think you bring to it?
I think the UK scene has a lot of crazy talent, I think the scene just needs to make it easier for those people to be heard and included in the convo. Behind the scenes, I like to push a lot of artists out of their comfort zones so my aim is to broaden the sonic.
What’s your favourite lyric ever and who’s it by?
I don’t think I have a favourite lyric, to me it all depends on how I take it in in the moment I listen.
What song do you have on loop?
Night Nurse by Gregory Isaacs.
