Written by Marilù Ciabattoni
Discovered via Musosoup
Remember the peace and love movement that shook the UK in the 1960s? Sussex-based artist Proklaim is here to bring those times back.
His new track “Love Highway” perfectly conveys the Jamaican reggae vibes that come from the artist’s obsession with Bob Marley as well as other R&B and hip-hop artists of the Nineties like Biggie Lauryn Hill, Nass, Tupac and the like.
Short and sweet, “Love Highway” is a catchy track featuring some light rapping alongside some great vocals over reggae beats. Thought vibes like these didn’t exist anymore? Think again.
Find out for yourself in this new interview with Proklaim.
Introduce yourself: Who is Proklaim? How and when was he born?
Was born in Brighton, Sussex, UK.
How has your music changed in the past few years?
I am finding that with time the music I’m making has become very spontaneous and expressive as well as having a more unique sonic signature.
Who inspired your music? Who are your biggest influences?
Big Punisher, Nas, Notorious B.I.G., Lauryn Hill, Tupac, Jay Z, Eminem, Bob Marley.
Could you introduce your favourite singles you've released so far?
I actually like a lot of them but I’d say my four favourites are “Love Highway,” “Thieves,” and “Civil.”
How did you develop this style? Will you experiment with other genres in the future?
I am constantly writing to beats and like to challenge myself with writing songs to all types of beats I think that has contributed to making me grow in adaptability to various genres of beats and music in general.
Let's talk about "Love Highway:" What inspired it and how did it come to life?
In all the songs I create I start with hearing a beat and allowing it to inspire me to say what it evokes in my mind.
Who produces your tracks? How do you choose which producers to work with? Do you have some dream producers you'd like to work with?
I’m always surfing online for beats when I like one I buy it immediately. That’s basically it. I work with a very talented sound engineer in Namibia called Wojtek Majewski. I dream of working with the producers whose music I grew up on… Guys like, say, Timberland, Dr. Dre, Kanye West, Rza, DJ Premier as well as DJ Khaled.
Is music your main occupation at the moment? If not, how are you conciliating your day job with your music career?
I run a company in the country I live in and, fortunately, I have a portion of time daily to focus on doing what I absolutely love: creating music. It’s a balancing act I manage for now.
Have you ever been on tour? If not, would you like to embark on one? If yes, tell us about it.
Not yet toured no but would like to get to it once I have completed the bodies of work I have been compiling. I am on a journey of intuition and have chosen to answer the stirring in my chest to create and hope to take this intuitive path as far as Providence will take me.
Who's your dream feature?
That’s easy: Lauryn Hill, Nas, Maxi Priest, Burnaboy, Sean Paul, and Jada Kiss.
Where do you see yourself in one year as a musician?
God willing, in a year I would like to have begun to get more ears around the world familiar with our music and what it represents, as well as starting to become an increasingly more audible and different voice in the world of urban music by adding a different perspective to it.
Discovered via https://app.musosoup.com #sustainablecurator