Knew Jeru'slum interview

Certified Banger: Introduce yourself please (who are you, where are you from, what do you do?):

Jonny Alpha: We are Knew Jeru’slum: Myself and Watson G on the spits, my beautiful missus Belinda Hards on the vocals, and on the most part, production from Yorkshires illest - Brutal Artistry. We’re from various ends of West Yorks - Hudds, Falihax and Bradford. Knew Jeru’slum is a project we started a couple of years ago really, me and Watson were getting some ideas together, then he and his lass introduced me to Belinda – her sister, and when I was chatting her up I found out Belinda’s an amazing singer too, it all linked there, then we met Miki B and loved what he does plus we all got a love for the gospel, so that’s us.

CB: Whats in the name?

JA: Knew Jeru’slum comes from the new earth, the resurrected earth in the bible after the second coming; we are associating ourselves (and everything we know) with our stakes in heaven. The ‘knew’ part is our knowledge of this and the ‘slum’ part is our recognition that we have some way to go before we get there. We also thought it just sounded dope too!

We’ve had quite a few Jews adding us on Myspace recently. We’re not Jewish, just want to make that clear.

CB: Let’s talk about your new single ‘Non-Apologetix’. What’s the idea behind it? Is it a statement of intent for the rest of your music?

JA: ‘Non-Apologetix’ is kind of an intent for the album. When it comes, peeps who listen in detail will hear stuff they may not agree with - yes, we are Christians, yes, we write about that, but yes, we do write about the same stuff everyone else does –that is – personal experiences, life choices, loves and hates etc -things we spend time pondering about.

Watson G: The name came from the books (Apologetics) peeps write to explain their beliefs, so we went with the double meaning of it, to say look we’re explaining our beliefs but we aint sorry about them, cause we aint got nothing to be sorry for, its just other people come with their preconceived ideas of what a Christian is and straight away think negative things, we’re all about good vibes, we aint hating anyone. Word!

CB: The single features Manchild from Mars ILL. How did that come about? Is Mars ILL a group you listen to a lot?

JA: Mars ILL are dope, Manchild is one of my favourite artists and has been for years now, and Dust is seriously underrated. I emailed Manchild and told him such things followed by the following question: ‘will you drop a verse on this track please?’.

CB: Mars ILL are known for an underground, credible approach to Hip Hop that often has a Christian message. How similar to them are you as a group?

JA: When I started looking through artists with a Christian message, I found few I could actually feel... a lot of its cheesy, preachy, commercial... lightweight to be honest, Mars ILL on the other hand got dirty beats, basslines, and Manchild just keeps dropping magic verses. No one can pigeonhole mars ILL, they make very good hip hop that anyone can listen to and if you listen well, you’ll get educated. Its very important to us to be ourselves in this, to speak about what’s important to us and let people get an insight to our lives, none of that’s any good if its confined to the bottom shelf in a Christian bookshop – who’s gonna hear it then? We make hip hop for all heads, where ever you come from. This single and album contain Christian content, but I don’t class it as ‘Christian hip hop’ at all.

WG: I second that actually, I aint a Christian rapper, I’m a rapper who’s a Christian, so our music just reflects our life like any others, we try stay away from the cheesy and just be honest and real.

CB: Do you listen to a lot of Gospel Hip Hop? Does that influence you at all? Could you recommend any artists?

JA: Not really, I do like some of Pigeon John’s stuff, Corey Red’s tight, Peace 586, Greenjade and Zionnoiz; we ciphered a bit with some of them guys in Birmingham which was fun, all dope, all safe. I listen to more gospel reggae and soul, Adelaide Mckenzie, Ife, Sherwin Gardner, Beres Hammond…

WG; also check out KMA Reveal he’s a top artist.

JA: Yeah top guy, he’s working on an album too, you can check him on Myspace. Props to Homecut too, looking forward to his album.

CB: The production on the single reminds me of Public Enemy. Who did the beat and is that a sound we can expect from the rest of your material?

JA: A few people have said that. Brutal Artistry Productions, he’s producing most of the album, but being the eclectic guy he is and [the eclectic guys] we are, you can expect a lot of variety on there.

CB: Can we talk about the album? How’s that coming along, when can we expect to hear it? What themes do you rap about on there?

JA: Well, the ‘Jerus and Gentiles’ LP is well on the way, we are hoping for a late summer release God willing, but it is going well.Some of the themes include spiritual dryness, Belinda got a solo on there which will turn heads, we got a dark one letting rip on some fourth dimensional tip. It’s a journey, an insight, its personal experience - a diary so to speak.

CB: Who features? Who does production? Any good tales about collaborations, recording experiences etc?

JA: As I said, Brutal artistry on the Productions and collaborations wise we have some guests on there, all who share the faith: Andy H (First Word) I’ve known him a few years now, and he’s an amazing Turntablist! He was happy to jump on there - sound guy! Pigeon John features on the next single ‘Hibernation’, which is a double A side with ‘Elevation’ by No Pretense ft. Prince Po on the flip. If we had a couple of Gs to fly there, Pigeon was inviting us to go record at his yard and vibe with him...until I pointed out the ‘UK’ part of our email address, he never noticed that but we’ll possibly be linking whenever we get to the US. We got Naryckin – check him on Myspace, he’s a soul singer and gospel choir director from Pennsylvania, a good friend of ours, we’ll be doing some new stuff next year with him and a couple of other guys, recording it over there too, but more later about that.

CB: So you’re collaborating with American artists. Are you hoping to push it out there and to the fans of those artists?

JA: Yes. The UK is a small place really, we get more positive feed back from across the seas - it’s strange! Got some other links happening on our next EP ‘Plastecine’, which is completely different. Got some whole other level going on there and the peeps over there who have heard the first tune for it are going bananas. Looking forward to going over there, got invites to eat Chinese in Philly so you know I’m down!

CB: It’s coming out on the newly formed Don’t Talk To Strangers label. How involved are you with that? What are your thoughts on going so indy?

JA: I’ve been involved in DTTS from the start, one of the original members (and co-owners) working hard to become independent and to progress the music for ourselves and for others. Me, Bane, Muz and Dead have been at it for years trying to get to the stage we’re at. Watson joined later and has been chipping away with us since. Brutal Artistry, Wigz, Spida Lee are all now pursuing progression under the DTTS umbrella. I love being indy, it’s important to us all not to be in charge of anything but our music and to encourage others to up their game to be challenged ourselves, and to see the fruits of our labour being bought and then being recognized and appreciated. DTTS has grown and developed just as we have as artists, and now it’s time to flood the market.

CB: What’s it like for you coming straight outta Yorkshire, a place most famous for its ripper, puddings and dales?

JA: It’s ace. I like it a lot, you can take it for granted quite easily, but I don’t, I hate big cities and 52 lane roads. I had a bad experience in Stratford after Fresh 98 - I crossed a road and bent down to tie my laces then 3 cars emergency stopped. I was in middle of the road! Then me and Bane chilling after that outside the Victoria station and this crazy women tipped a crusty old man out of a wheelchair on us! Give me Batley or Dewsbury any day! No one ever asked me "where you attt???!!" up here either which is a good thing. Not gonna write an album on the topic though.

WG: I don’t tend to talk about geography and where we’re from either that much because I aint that bothered really, I’ve moved all over anyhow, so I try not to let it affect my lyrical content to much, because I want people to connect with it everywhere not just West Yorkshire, Halifax where live.

CB: Cool, well it’s good that you’re repping us in the wider world, we appreciate that! Thanks for the interview, hope the single and album go down well! Round up in a way of your choosing:

WG & JA : Thanks so much for the encouragement, cop ‘Non-Apologetix’ on itunes, Play.com, Amazon etc. Etc. From TUES 31/03/09! Peace to all! Certified Banger for a Bafta! 1

Check out:
Myspace.com/jonnyalpha1
Myspace.com/knewjeruslum
Myspace.com/watsong1
Myspace.com/brutalartistry

Ghost Interview

Certified Banger: How would you describe your instrumental output? Is it Hip Hop?

Ghost: I think so. I grew up on Hip Hop so I consider anything I make an extension of Hip Hop. I grew up listening to classic Hip Hop from the early 90s so even if my music isn't a classic Hip Hop sound the ethos behind the music is taken from that time, a time when the music was more than just a ringtone, a fad - it was music with passion and soul.

CB: Which do you prefer: creating instrumentals tracks or beats for MCs? How does your mindset differ when you’re doing either?

Ghost: I like to do both, I think over time I've learnt about making music which is probably why more of the recent stuff is instrumental. It's a challenge to make the music interesting without a vocal when you have no formal musical training whatsoever. The important thing is to keep the listener entertained enough without a vocal ‘cause all the attention shifts to the music, you have to add more depth to an instrumental.

CB: What sounds are you currently into using? What records do you look for to find samples – or is that a secret?!

Ghost: No secrets! I look for all sorts, from jazz to rock. When the soul sampling sped up vocal samples boom took off I went the other way.

CB: How do you feel about being compared or likened to artists like DJ Shadow, Bonobo and Quantic?

Ghost: I'm not complaining about that. These guys have made themselves careers out of music so if I can be compared to any of them I'm happy. It was certainly never my intention to sound like anyone other than myself.

CB: Do you listen to music by those guys? Do you think you create music in a similar way? Have any of them ever had an influence on you?

Ghost: I do listen to all of their music and it’s inevitable that some of what other artists do will have an influence on the music you make. I know that the last few years I've not followed anyone else's path and looked to myself for inspiration. I can say honestly I never listened to any of their music whilst making this album.

CB: So what’s with the move to New Zealand? Is that to improve the creative process?

Ghost: A number of reasons, after a very long stint in London I was exhausted! I was living on the breadline all day every day, and life had just become the same old routine. I had an opportunity to do something different and I thought f**k it. I'd actually been offered a place at Uni studying Sound on one of the top courses in the capital but decided that a move away would be better for me mentally. Since I've been here I've felt rejuvenated towards music, people's attitudes are great, very helpful and very very supportive of my music.

CB: So you’re in NZ, from the UK but your album came out first in Japan! Why is that? Do you have a big following over there? Why do you think that is?

Ghost: Haha, yeah I know it's all over the shop. The Japan thing came about cause Breakin Bread licensed my first album over in Japan, I saw an opportunity to license 'Freedom of Thought' and I didn't think twice about it. All of my releases have sold well out there - I couldn't say why I just don't know! obviously I'm very grateful to the labels and fans supporting out there.

CB: Do you think people in non-English speaking countries have more of a grip of what music is actually hot? Do you think they succumb to fads as much as the US and the UK do?

Ghost: That’s a good question, I think that money, power and marketing can do anything anywhere. I've seen first hand that some countries are quite a bit behind on what's 'hot' in the UK and the US, and frankly they have a much better taste in music and how they respect the music and the artists, I hope it stays that way, I don't think it will. But then again you never know, I have my hopes.

CB: What’s the Hip Hop like over in NZ?

Ghost: From what I've seen NZ Hip Hop seems in the same vein as the US market musically. I've been very busy and haven't traveled all over yet so ask me in another 6 months and I’ll have a better angle to answer that from. There are some dope artists though, and some shite, just like you get everywhere. One thing I’ve noticed is that they support there talent here in a big way. Since I started the radio show a month back I’ve got an appreciation for the support artists get out here, it's shocking to think the UK doesn’t support its musical talent like NZ.

CB: Are there any good records stores for digging in?

Ghost: Yeah I got some digging spots, a couple of good ones!

CB: How do you feel about your music being bootlegged?

Ghost: I accept that downloading happens and people get music for free, I’ve given quite a few tunes away free for people to download over the years ‘cause I want to say thanks to the people that support and buy my music. But like I said in my blog the annoying thing for me is the recent music of mine I saw available for download free must have been uploaded from the promos sent out, the promos that are supposed to help you as an artist. It's basically an inside job and that just isn’t good enough, these people should know better.

CB: I agree. What can you tell us about the new album then? Who’s on it? What’s changed?

Ghost: What did you want to achieve by making it? The new album is called 'Freedom of Thought’; it's more instrumental than my first album. It's probably the last album in this style I’ll do for a while. It's a better body of work than my first album in that it's more together, it's a more complete package. The tunes were put together over a couple of years and what was going on for me over that time, a lot of changes in my life. Features on there include two Verb T collaborations, Finale, Jehst and Dubbledge. The sense of achievement I got from making this album was knowing I’d put together a collection of music that complemented each other, that’s just through learning about what an album should be in my eyes. I'm not sure what's changed, I’ll leave that for everyone else to decide. I just hope people see that I put my heart and soul into making this album just like I do with every piece of music I make.

CB: When do we get to hear it then? Will you be doing shows in the UK off the back of it?

Ghost: The album will be out late May early June, I will be doing some shows hopefully in the autumn. As you mentioned I’m away in New Zealand right now, I’m putting together a live show which features me on 2 decks, my laptop and MPC, re-creating tracks from the album. I want to do some show's so hopefully that can happen; sadly it's hard getting good management to organize show's. I've organized a lot of shows for myself, Kashmere and Verb T over the years but it's harder to continue doing all the organizing yourself when you have to juggle music, radio, life etc.

So anyone reading this wanting a show please send me a message!

CB: What other work are you doing at the moment? Have you done any production work on any other albums recently?

Ghost: I haven't done a lot other than my own stuff really. Saying that I’ve already got the album with Kashmere and Verb T, our collaboration project called Invisible Inc, virtually finished and we're just trying to organize someone to put that out, we might end up doing that ourselves it just needs a label to commit to what we're trying to achieve. That album sounds amazing and is a real departure musically from what people know us for doing. It's a shame we have to wait so long for the release ‘cause it doesn’t sound like anything else around at the moment. I've got half an album with Verbs recorded, we'll keep plugging away with that.

CB: How did your work on both albums with Finale come about?

Ghost: Finale is a top geezer, he's been around for a while. I think I met him through an old forum a few of us used to chat on, he was working with Beat Butcha and I just reached out to him and said did he wanna do some vocals for me. He's always been on the ball and dealt with things, I really hope his album puts him on the map, I think it will.

CB: Who are you feeling in the UK Hip Hop scene right now?

My crew Invisible Inc! Anyone who is out there working hard and not being a d**khead I’m feeling

CB: Can you finish off with some life improving hints and tips for all the wannabes out there?!

Ghost: Don't do this thinking you'll make money, work hard, grow a thick skin quickly and make sure you're doing this for the right reasons, enjoy yourself!