UK's emerging rapper Yizzy has been bubbling under the radar for a minute now and is fully ready to show the world his brand of authentic energetic but heartfelt grime music. His newest release is the visual for his song "Keep Chasing" which serves as an outlet for young adults going through personal struggles while trying to achieve their goals and dreams through athletics. Yizzy brings a unique personal touch to the subject at hand with his clear depiction of the characters in his song and their individual settings. Each verse sets a different scenario where the character is juggling excellence in sports and challenges on the home front.
Director Oliver Brian pulls all the stops in bringing the stories to life with a cinematic aesthetic giving the characters relatability. Far from just slamming a couple of tales together, the visual takes the listener on a progressive journey through the lives of the young teens hoping for a better tomorrow and then some.
EM : What inspired you to make music and what was the first piece of music you made?
I've always been into music from an early age, I guess I just wanted to go from listener to creator. First piece of music I made was probably a riddim on Fruity Loops when I was about 7/8. I had the free version so if I saved the file you couldn't go back into it, meaning I had to keep my computer on for days just to do one riddim.
EM : What aspect of the music making process excites you most, and what aspect discourages you the most?
I like hearing the song after everything is recorded so maybe the mix phase, I think that's where the song goes from a few lyrics to an actual complete song. The part I don't like as much is maybe the writing process but that's only because sometime I'll get writers block which is annoying.
EM : What were you thinking about when your songs are developed? Explain your process.
Usually I'll be thinking of something when writing the chorus or a few of the bars. Some bars might stem from several different ideas in one song. I kind of see a song like a puzzle, the riddim is the base and I've gotta put it altogether with the lyrics.
EM : Being an independent artist, which is the one factor, above all else, that you currently desire most (increased music distribution, better quality production, more media exposure, more club and live performances etc…)?
I'd say reach. I feel like I'm at a level now where I have quality songs and videos and instrumentals etc but one thing id really like is the ability to push my music to more people and a wider audience.
EM : Describe a real-life situation that inspired you?
I used to run the 100m and train almost 5 times every week. I essentially dedicated a good portion of my life to the sport of Athletics. All of this is what inspired the visual behind my latest song 'Keep Chasing'.
EM : What’s integral to the work of an artist?
I'd say never losing track of why you started music For example, a lot of people start music because of their love for it or maybe because of something that happens in their life to inspire them. I think its important to hold onto that rather than your main reason of doing music being to acquire money for example.
EM : What skills/personal attributes are most important to be successful?
Work ethic is one of the most important personal attributes to have. It's very unlikely you'll succeed in your life if you are lazy or not willing to work for whatever it is you want to gain or achieve.
EM : What jobs have you done other than being an artist?
EM : Is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
Koder, Novelist, Adrian, Jake, PRS for Music & BBC Introducing.
