We chatted to Scottish 6 piece, Stanley Odd, recently. The hip-hoppers from the recently united isle of Scotland went viral with their track on the Scottish Referendum, 'Son I Voted Yes', surpassing 100,000 views on Youtube and since then their unique sound has seen them become a hit with many. With their new album, 'A Thing Brand New', being released on the 10th November, we thought it was time we got in touch with the band in question.
1. Who are Stanley Odd?
I’m Solareye and I rap at people (generally whether the like it or not). Veronika Electronika on vocals is the antidote to my maladjusted meanderings. Samson plays drums and samples, Scruff Lee plays guitar, AdMack on bass and T Lo on keys. Together we are Stanley Odd. We’re an alternative hip-hop band from Scotland.
2. Who or what are your biggest inspirations musically?
One of the reasons that Stanley Odd works I think is that everyone in the band has vastly different musical tastes. I’m a bit of a hip-hop head. I’m a big fan of lyricists like Nas, Chester P, Slug from Atmosphere – folks that tell stories in their rhymes and that don’t necessarily conform to established structures in their song writing. In terms of music, the band’s influences range from Magnet, to Errors, to Nine Inch Nails, to The Fugees, to MF Doom and beyond. Tastes that wide could stretch you ‘til you snap but it seems to work for us – most of the time.
3. Your track, 'Son I Voted Yes', based on the Scottish Independence Referendum surpassed 100,000 views on Youtube. Tell us a little about the track?
I felt like we couldn’t possibly put out a record in 2014 and not refer to the Independence Referendum. It has been such an amazing phenomenon – the most politicised the country has been in generations; so many people informed, interested and energised by the possibility of social and political change.
I sincerely hope that this level of engagement remains and that, across communities, town and cities, we continue to be actively involved in the decisions that affect us and in challenging the inequity of an outmoded, broken political system. In terms of how the song came about – basically we were writing an album in July that doesn’t come out until November so I was looking for a way to discuss the referendum that would still be relevant after the fact. My wee boy, Calum, just turned 1 and I thought I could write a song as a letter to him when he’s older explaining my take on the debate and my own decisions.
4. Scottish and hip-hop don't tend to go together usually, do you see yourselves as kind of pioneers?
I wouldn’t say we’re pioneers. The pioneers of Scottish hip-hop have already paved the way before us. Hip-hop in Scotland is in a really healthy state right now. It feels like there are a raid of artists doing their own thing, in their own individual way but that the standard is just getting higher and higher. From Loki, to Hector Bizerk, to Mog and Bang Dirty there is some really high calibre, inventive music being made. Then you’ve got a new generation of folks like Ciaran Mac, Urchxns and Teknique and One Tzu killing it too. The list could go on and on – it’s a good time to be making hip-hop.
5. What's next for Stanley Odd?
We’ve finished our new album ‘A Thing Brand New’. It comes out 10/11/14. We’ll be touring the album around the UK in November and December. Right now it’s all about rehearsing the new material, getting it tight and getting match fit - that and becoming increasingly impatient about having to wait to let folks hear the record! YELT.
Huge thanks to Stanley Odd for the interview.
Listen to Stanley Odd's new single, 'Pastime', and watch it's official video via Youtube:
Follow Stanley Odd on Twitter: @StanleyOdd
Like Stanley Odd on Facebook: /StanleyOdd
Posted by Charlie Ireland.
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