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 I caught up with one of the members of London duo Ear dis who are responsible for the floorboard classic “hey girl”. Meeting in North London we had chat about the single, the come up of funky house and baseline and what is floor boggie music?
Spoonface is the singer behind the catchy hook “Big up the girl them poo-nany!” and Roxy (arms) the beatmaker.
Having met backstage at Top of the Pops when Spoons who was alias as Black Legend with the number 1 hit “You see the trouble with me”, Roxy was playing behind him. Spoons recall “We kept in touch and he invited me to a club night called Agriculture. I was really inspired by the night then we linked up and made Hey girl”
Very modest Spoons are also the voice behind the Halifax Howard Campaign and his Black Legend single had sold 2 million sales worldwide.
Hey girl has been floating about for since 2003 where it has also featured on six dance compilations albums, Spoons goes on to say “It’s been a journey building it on a street level then there was no other option then to give it a press release”. There was no better time to release it then now where funky house and baseline is the contagious sound in clubs. At the moment this sound is still underground… well its has been for a year now but that was how Garage and Grime emerged into the clubbing scene. Sadly they had died out and tried the mainstream and go shutdown. R.I.P Grime!
Depending on how much support the genre gets from the public will endeavour the chances of it sticking around. The former Black Legend feels that it’s all about the love of the music “I don’t get caught up by names. Baseline sounds like speed garage in the UK 90s it derived from Detroit and Chicago and there’s roots from jazz, blues and African drumming” he continues to say “Hey girl is floor boogie music because you want to go straight to the dancefloor and capturing moments through the music. Love making people feel good through the music”.
Roxy and Spoons both coming through a musical background, where Roxy uncle Keith Harris worked with Motown records whom he managed the likes of Stevie Wonder and The Commodores for twenty years. In secondary school Spoonface has performed at several talent competitions and had been given vocal coaching by vocalist, Lisa Millett signed to Defected records.
Reggae and dancehall artists such as Bounty Killer, Beenie man and Shabba Ranks, had influenced him. Growing up in the 80s he like 80s pop like Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet “if your into and you like it, you pick out what you like and make it something fresh”
Going back to his mcing days he had spat lyrics over jungle and Drum n bass “yeah I like Grime think it’s more for the younger generation and there’s nothing wrong with that but the lyrical content I don’t feel. But I like there is a platform for UK hip hop”
Commonwealth a hip hop group that spoons was once apart of, when I asked him about the group he chuckled and said “nah we haven’t been together since 2001. The mainstream wasn’t ready for hip-hop and then Big bro and Dizzee had come much later. There was no infrastructure when it comes to black music it’s so hard to get things moving”
Ear dis has released there single independently and is not caught up in the hype of getting signed. “People won’t sign anything unless you research all the ground work. If you done the ground work you might aswell do it yourself” Well said. However we still need to make that money, here’s some advice for the up and coming stars
“the advantage of ten, twenty years ago you could get £200,000 for a single now you’ll get a couple grand when you can hustle it yourself get it on a few compilations to make that money. Get someone to put your video together and get it out there yourself” as well as having the internet making it easier such as digital download through iTunes, Myspace and others.
So what next for Ear dis? He jokes by saying “I ain’t telling you” but then had a serious face. Damn thought they were gonna be one hit wonders then he continues and talks about albums, “were bringing out a album coming out in 2008 spring and then there will be solo projects for myself and Roxy. I’ve already finished my solo album” Whom he worked with loads of different artist such as reggae artist Janet Kay and soul singer Omar. As well as featured on remixes for Pink, Kelis and Craig David. Also FADDA Forever always-diverse appreciation, which is Spoonface label, that allows people to come from diverse corners. He has set the label up to branch off into other aspects of the entertainment industry, for acting, presenting and radio.
Interview by : Tanya Royes
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