Our history of making the best creative content continues with our Zine Number 14 that’s about to hit the stores, with both physical and digital copies.
The first teaser we have is a quick Twitter Q&A we had with Lunar C, the Mc who has quickly risen to the top of the UK scene in no small part thanks to his quick wit and humorous cut downs from the Battle MC program Don’t Flop. Lunar is much more than a Battle MC, his new EP ‘Good times and dead brain cells’ is out any day now showcasing how he can use beats better than most.
The video below features a host of questions asked by his nigh on 60K Twitter followers. Tough questions and some of them are just plain weird.
Posted on: May 20, 2013
We’re gearing up for the weekend and to celebrate we thought it was a timely opportunity to give you another tasty teaser of what’s to come in our sassy new Fanzine #13 – Ready to roll off the printing press and into your hands any day now. We hooked up with Dhani Harrison, son of The Beatles guitarist George and frontman of alternative rock band thenewno2, we probably don’t need to tell you we were more than a little bit excited about this meeting. Keep it locked for the full interview coming soon….
So, your Dad’s one of the founding members of one of the most influential bands ever. You start to make your own music… no pressure on the outcome, eh? Thankfully Dhani Harrison and thenewno2 are treading their own experimental path to the rock’n’roll hall of fame and have more in common with Radiohead than a certain band from Liverpool.
Easy going, laid back and grounded, in fact, the most rock’n’roll they get is being specific with a Pret A Manger (Other lunch options available) lunch order, which is kind of refreshing…we sat down over a sarni to dig out everything from what they’ve been up to recently to what it’s like being compared to your dad’s musical achievements…
“I met a band once and someone said to them ‘Oh you might recognise this guy, he’s got a famous last name’ and the American guy went ‘Oh, Harrison right? You’re Jeff Harrison’s son right?’ Larry King thought my Dad was George Hamilton. I try and avoid the George Hamilton thing where possible.”
Posted on: November 18, 2012
With our newest FLY53 Fanzine about to roll off the printing press we decided it was about time to give you another little teaser of its tasty content. This week its none other than Alberta Cross. Currently celebrating the release of their long awaited second album ‘Songs of Patience’ we caught up with the guys and our mates Artrocker Magazine to fire some questions their way. The full interview will be printed in the zine, hitting our retailers soon.
‘There’s gotta be worse jobs,’ is pretty much what springs to mind as we settle in a sunny London square last wednesday lunchtime with uber chilled out Petter Ericson Stakee, vocalist and guitarist of the New York-based, Anglo Swedish band Alberta Cross.
It might’ve taken three years to get your second album out, but it seems that your fans haven’t forgotten about you.Perhaps ironically titled ‘Songs of Patience’ we’ve gotta give it to you your fans are certainly a loyal bunch….
“We worked on it for longer than we wanted to, there were certain things out of our control. We went through a few different producers, went through a lot of different songs, kind of like that clichéd difficult second album syndrome. We got there though. We took it back to New York with us, finished it off with our friend Claudius and recorded new songs with him, remixed stuff, essentially going back to our sound. More what we wanted to do, more organic I guess”
Posted on: November 9, 2012
If we told you his real name we’d have to kill you, but the chaos he causes, now that we have to spread the word about. This bundle of trouble has been throwing interview questions at some of the biggest names in music for some time now, and oddly enough his unique style seems to get them talking.
As a massive fan of Fly53 we sent a few tee’s his way to see what naughty tricks he might get up to in our threads, and needless to say we didn’t have to wait long…
This week he hooked up with none other than Foreign Beggars to slip some Gin and Juice down their throats and sing some questions their way in the only way he knows how.
It’s definitely had us giggling away this week at work and is well worth a look, we’re hooked. Check it out, right here, right now.
Posted on: October 17, 2012
This week we hooked up actor, musician and all round top boy Ryan De La Cruz. At the tender age of 15 our favourite kid on the block is making headlines for all the right reasons. Most recently with his success in movie of the moment – Plan B’s Ill Manors. Not to mention signing a massive deal with Sony/ EMI and Plan B himself.
We thought it was about time we got in on the action, served up the latest about what life’s like after taking on this massive role and just what it’s like working with Plan B and hotter than hot Anoushka Mond. Yeah – we know, you like her too right?
We’re predicting great things to come from this one, the ladies will love him, the guys will wanna be him. He’s young, smart, driven and an absolute bloody pleasure to work with. You heard it here first. Check. It. Out.
1) How’s life after iLL Manors hit the cinema?
After iLL Manors hit the cinema, life has been pretty sick in a exciting way. I’ve been really busy doing loads of interviews with Sky news, Choice fm, Channel4 and even doing shoots for billboards in areas in London.
2) Tell us about making the film and working with Plan B and Riz Ahmed ?
The making of the film was a really long process. I remember being so impatient to see the film after it was recorded on camera. I even starting doubting if it would ever be released cos I didn’t know what was going on.
Working with Plan B was like a dream. He’s an inspiration and a big influence in my life. It was also a challenge because I had to constantly stay in character and in the zone. Ever since the film, we’ve had a great friendship and he really looks out and after me – to the extent of me being his first signing in the music side of things.
3) Did you have as a big crush on Anouska Mond as we have? Our crush on her is big by the way.
The first time I met Anouska was when the iLL Manors cast gathered together to read the script I was like in a dreamland. But now he’s like my big sister so everything is all good. I hope her boyfriend doesn’t get too angry.
4) Have you used your stardom as a chat up line yet?
I ain’t gonna lie, I ain’t even into that. I have been just focused on my music and career and unfortunately school – Haha!
5) You got Jay Z and Kanye West standing on stage with a warm mic ready for a duet, which one do you choose?
That is a hard one but for some reason I think would choose Kanye. He has the advantage because he can make beats and would definitely love my singing.
6) What gets you up in the morning: The Money, The Girls or The Rice Crispies?
See, I’m the type of person that really loves food. So I will always choose food over a girl. I’m not a fan of rice crispies but I LOVE coco pops.
7) Name the last three songs you listened to?
The last three songs I listened to were Plan B ft Kano – ‘Live Once’
Mz bratt ft Dot Rotten – ‘Speeding By’
Redlight – ‘Lost in Your Love’
8) Finish the sentence “If I was invincible for a day I would ……”
Go into Buckingham palace
9) What would it take for you to appear on X factor ?
To appear on X factor, a man has to run into a wall more than three times and really hurt himself.
10) Any thanks to anyone?
I wanna’ give a big shout out to Fly53. To all the iLL Manors cast. Sony ATV, thanks for taking me on board. And of course my big bro Plan B.
Posted on: October 1, 2012
We hit you with this teaser (on the right) a while back showing two of the UK’s finest musical talents in a boxing gym, meeting each other for the first time. We thought they have both had such a different, and above all interesting, rise to fame that we would be able to get some interesting soundbites from them. We knew Pip was into MMA (Mixed martial Arts) but didn’t know until the day they Pulse had done some Wing Chung. For them it felt right putting on the sparring gloves and getting in the ring.
So we threw a few questions their way, with one simple rule, If they disagree they let the gloves do the talking. Simple right? No holes barred we wanted them to fight the answers out to the death. Which did they prefer? Indie or major label, Single or Album, Leg or Breast? Kick back and take a look at the results – who was Piped at the Pulse?
It was great that the guys didn’t hold back at all in the interview and that they let their passion for the world they work hard in has still got them fired up. They both know their shit and are driven to do the best they can through not just creating music but also their onstage personas and themselves as top UK performers. There’s some real gold in the 10 mins below, so if you’re up and coming or even if you’re just a fan, have a look and see what they are on about.
Posted on: September 21, 2012
This week we hooked up with the one and only Mr Mark Grist: part Rogue teacher, part poet extraordinaire, all gangsta to give him a dam good grilling. Thats right, it’s time for a rare insight into what life’s like after two national tours, over 2 million you tube views and of course as the UK’s best dressed lyrical G. Are those little toes still firmly on the ground? Will there be tea and scones with our name on it or will he be throwing TV’s out the window when we get there?
Either way it’s about time we found out. Here goes…
1. How’s life after 2million + You Tube Views, do you still know the price of a loaf of bread?
I know it well, to be honest. Whilst I’m starting to get a lot more work now, and the year ahead is looking exciting, there hasn’t been a huge amount of cash coming in so far. I’ve been living off beans on toast for a few months now.
2. What’s the best thing about being a lyrical G?
I guess it’s cool having my own job and not having to to work for someone else. Also, I really enjoy meeting other artists and people who’ve seen my battles. I get loads of emails from aspiring writers, sharing their work. It seems to have sparked a lot of creativity, which is wicked.
3.Favourite person you’ve ever battled, and why?
I’d probably say Micky Worthless, although all my opponents are decent guys. I like Micky a lot, both as a person and an artist. I actually got him a book for his birthday – a collection by Bukowski. He quoted it in our battle, which was cool, and I got him a job in the third round (to undermine his ‘unemplizzed’ brand). It was a really good laugh, and I’m glad that we found the time to do it.
4.Whats the most valuable lesson you teach?
I run a lot of workshops that are focused on the importance of originality in art, something that many people think you can’t teach. I think we’ve probably forgotten the value of experimenting and trying something new, over mimicking what’s already around us. I’m really keen on helping others to be more creative and I think that our education system could do with a bit of a creative overhaul.
5.Who would win in a fight between a Superman and Batman?
Probably Superman, but we’d all feel a little gutted at the result, wouldn’t we?
6.Hit us with 53 words of lyrical genius?
Some couples, when being intimate
Like to cover each other in chocolate
And I’ve heard that can get the girls quite hot but
It’s not for me. I prefer my sexy thrills more savoury
So when you’re done stripping and dancing wavy
Get over here and I’ll cover you in dumplings and gravy
7.What gets you up in the morning – the money or the girls?
A permanent lack of both.
8.Top three in your Dead Poet Society?
Haven’t really got one – although I thought the kid who jumped off the balcony was being a bit of a drama queen. There were bound to be other plays.
9. What IS the best thing since sliced bread?
Getting battle bars prepped nice and early – something that hardly ever happens, to be honest!
10. Any thanks to anyone?
I owe a lot to Don’t Flop – Rowan Faife and Freddie Scott Miller in particular. Big shout out to those guys, and all the battlers/staff involved in what they’re doing. The last six months have had some great battles, and I think it’s a really good time for battling as an art form at the moment. If you’re interested in battling, then get yourself over to www.dontflop.com
Check out Grist at his finest. We’ve lost count how many times we’ve watched this video now, it’s fucking ace.
Posted on: September 6, 2012
Will, Iain, Dom, Henry and Guy aka five piece Indie rock band Zulu Winter only ventured into our radar a year ago in 2011 but their rise to fame was rapid and before we knew it their name was being throw around as the next big potential for festival headlining, Brixton academy filling and general all round world domination.
Not only are these guys bright, well educated and driven (Long gone are the days of the Indie rock tool) but they’re also boast the same management team behind the Vaccines, Kaiser Chiefs and White Lies. No messing around here – these boys have got every wheel in motion for their shoot to a well deserved place in our record collection.
We caught up with the band at the beginning of summer for our 2012 Summer Zine to discuss the creation of their debut album, find out what they’ve been up to since it’s release earlier this year and their plans for the rest of summer. Check out the video below.
Posted on: August 15, 2012
Post-punk, Sunderland born, English Indie rock band The Futureheads exploded onto the music scene in September 2004 with the release and impressive success of their self titled debut album. Taking their name from the title of The Flaming Lips album, ‘Hit to Death in the Future Head’ and influenced by a host of big names Kate Bush, Fugazi, Devo, The Jam and Queen but to name a few, their first album; energetic, upbeat and witty, went down a treat and well and truly laid the foundation for great things to come.
Eight years, five albums, including ‘Rant’ the bands fifth album which is entirely a cappella, one US tour, a UK tour supporting Foo Fighters and a list longer than my arm of successful singles later, Barry, Jaff, Pete and Ross were over in London and we wern’t going to miss the chance to catch up over a beer.
We joined forces with our mates over at Artrocker Magazine and met up with the boys for a cheeky interview before they ran out on stage to play the last night of The Camden Crawl at Koko – kitted out in Fly53 threads, naturally.
