After establishing himself with a breadth of immersive gems these last few years, London-based artist Roseland En Why Cee is now looking to cement his dynamic legacy to date with his eagerly-awaited debut album 'B-Side Soul'.
Honing more of that smooth and passionate aesthetic he has always looked to conjure, 'B-Side Soul' makes for an incredibly broad and emotive listen. With his breezy vocals setting the stage across a soul-infused hip-hop groove throughout, he continues to shine as one of the more inventive names on the rise right now.
So with the new album available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most recently.
-
What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The bass, the first instrument I really learnt to play. For years I listened to music bass first.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
As a child I was obsessed with Micheal Jackson. I remember we had a homemade VHS of his film Moonwalker and I used to watch it on repeat! Later, I got into Hip-hop, UK Garage & Grime. I grew up in London and was entering my teens as the grime scene was developing, years before it was given that name. It was amazing to hear this music that was made for us; about the specifics of our lives.
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first album I chose for myself was Busta Rhymes Extinction Level Event. I still love that album so much of that album. It’s Busta coming into his prime and it’s full of the hope and fear that society had around the year 2000.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Whatever song I'm obsessed with this month! My all time favourite song is called From the Files of Lonely Hearts by Group From Lutheran East. I think they only ever recorded this one song. It’s very simple writing and production but it's so full of emotion and soul. I think that is the ultimate show of skill, being able to make me feel the way that song does with just voices, piano and drums, all done in one take.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I usually build up a bunch of “sketches” over time. That might be some chords and drums, half a verse or a bass line. Once enough time has passed I can go through them and see what I think is worth trying to flesh out into a song. Sometimes I’ll have a very strong idea of what I want to make and I'll start with an image. I try to capture the feeling of it in music. Everytime I have to make a decision in music I’ll use the image to guide me.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
My album of the year is probably Bashy - Being Poor is Expensive. I also love Doechii’s album Alligator Bites Never Heal. Outside of rap I’m listening to a lot of Sampha, Jessica Pratt and an album I found the other day called Marco by a duo called Brijean that’s been on heavy rotation.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
I love when the support band is a different genre but feels linked to the main act in some other way. I’d love to open for Portishead.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Being in flow state while writing. That feeling that you’ve tapped into some higher power that’s showing you what to do and the music is coming out exactly as it should.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Falling to recreate what’s in your head. I have songs I can hear clearly in my head and I've attempted to make a couple of times, but I just can't get them right. The feeling of failure can crush me.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
I saw an interview with Chick Corea where he said something like: “The point of art is to create what you think is beautiful.” Like it’s our job to spend time understanding what connects with us and put more of it out into the world.
-
Roseland En Why Cee's debut album 'B-Side Soul' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.