Music is life. Sometimes a genius does not need to change the status-quo. Instead he allows you to look at what you have in a whole new way. This is how I see the genius of Stereo MC.By blending genres ranging from reggae & hip-hop to electronic & tribal house, they create a cornucopia of sound that is a guaranteed to mash up any club on the planet! Trust.


In any case I caught up with them to discuss a few things about their sound via tweeter questions from skewlbuoys around the world.

Before we go into the questions here is an excerpt from their wiki page:

Vocalist Rob Birch, and DJ/producer Nick Hallam, founded their Gee Street recording studio and record label, with money they were given to leave their London flat and, instead of using a backing band, travelled to early gigs on buses, with bags of tapes.

Elevate My Mind" by the Stereos was the first British hip hop single to reach the U.S. R&B chart. At home, the emergent indie dance scene (they supported Happy Mondays in the U.S.), and a hook-up with the Jungle Brothers, ensured ultimate hipness for Supernatural (1990), and remixes for the likes of U2, PM Dawn, Queen Latifah, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Monie Love and Electronic. They are still highly sought after producers, with most of their remixes being done under the name Ultimatum.

For their live shows, they assembled a live band including singers Andrea Bedassie and Verona Davis, and were one of the few hip hop outfits to play rock music festivals at the time. These acclaimed live shows paved the way for 1992's breakthrough Connected, a UK Albums Chart No.2, which spawned the smashes "Connected", "Step It Up", "Creation" and "Ground Level", and won them BRIT Awards for Best Group and Best Album"

Cheers for the interview Stereo MC

Who are the band members if any?
The Head/Owen If (Drums)/Rob B/Cath Coffey/Rachel Wallace

Where are you from and where are you based?
I'm from nottingham and now i live in brixton south london

How did you start making music, what was the defining moment when you felt this was your calling?
Got a guitar age 12 after that my life had a new focus full stop

If you were not an artist what would you be doing?
Footballer/Martial Artist/Boxer/Monk

How would you describe your sound?
Dirty Electro Soul

It sounds like a mix of hip-hop, electronica, dance, house and funk..what do you call it?
Funked Up

Has it changed over the years?
Evolved with our lives experience and energized by the changes in contemporary underground music

What musicians have inspired it?
Sly And The Family Stone/Public Enemy/Trouble Funk/Led Zeppelin/Diplo/Beastie Boys/ Dj Red Alert/Mode Selektor/Siriusmo/Eric B And Rakim/Digitalism/Crookers/Laid Back Luke/Burraka Som Systema/Damian Marley/Bob Marley/Lee Scratch Perry/King Tubby/ James Brown/Bowie/Yello/Kraftwerk/Daft Punk/Benga/Skream/Lee Mortimer/Switchthe Count And Sinden/Claude Von Stroke/Mia/Santigold/Crazy Cousins/Wiley/Dizzee Rascal/ The 45 King/A1 Bassline And On And On.....



If you could collaborate with one other musicians not directly in your genre who would it be and why?
Mstrkrft because i like his sound and he knows how to combine his club sound with a song structure

If you could cover a song by another band, what song would you choose and why?
I'd like to cover a bob dylan track because his lyrics are good and the possibilities of doing something unusual with a contemporary groove

How do you come up with song concepts, what is the creative process like?
Jamming keeping an energetic and positive mind and body and doing right in my life

We really like BLACK GOLD, the lyrics sometimes go over my head, what are you talking about and what exactly is Black gold?
Its the light that shines on a person who has nothing to lose---its about the fine line between life and death and how we can feel most alive once we have some encounter with this pathway

Do you think the music industry is in a good place right now?
The music industry is f***cked and music is in a good place

How do you feel about piracy and downloading?
Inevitable fact of life---if people use their conscience and buy some tracks artists will be able to survive and the benefits of on line choice will get better

Is there a particular song of yours, that you feel defines you as an artist(s)?
Deep down and dirty

Describe you typical fan, do you cater to a certain audience only?
Most probably human

What is on constant replay on your i-pod?
Nothing --always checking new tracks

How can fans get hold of your music?
Usual places i-tunes beatport juno etc. or check our myspace--stereo mcs official

Do you think social networking has helped your brand?
Not as much as it will do in the future

Any concerts in the near future?
Yes 2 more live shows in november and some dj sets around europe

Any Albums coming soon?
We're doing some new tracks now trying some collaborations hoping to release new material next summer

What messages do you have for your potential fans out here in Amsterdam? Planning on coming down here anytime soon?
Enjoy life be happy dont give in to the miseries of the system be creative and love

How would you define the word "success"? (This is not a short answer. Discuss it.)
It is a short answer--happiness. s a musician in the game for 20 years success is being in a club performing to a new generation

What live performance experience have you had? (what has been your defining high point so far?)
GLASTONBURY 93 AND 2009

Are there any causes your are passionate about outside music?
Keeping my end straight and if i got anything left after that help the young to come through and be positive and drive a smaller car keep healthy look after my family and leave a good vibe when i'm gone...