Seye
Seye has been lighting up the festival circuit this summer and now he is back with his new single Mexicana Bounce - which is the latest track from his forthcoming album.
I caught up with him to chat about the new single, the summer of performing that he has enjoyed and what is coming next.
- Mexicana Bounce is your new single which will be released in a couple of weeks so what can we expect from the new track?
If you made a cocktail of African dance rhythms, a couple measures of guitar riffage, shot of electronic fun, shaken with a Paul Simon like melody and poured over ice then that's the sort of thing haha
- This is soulful pop kind of tune but how would you describe the sound of the track for anyone who hasn't heard it yet?
To me African music IS dance music. All those rhythms whether made electronically or recorded organically make you want to move. putting my pop feel on top of that makes it into a summer, afro pop dance tune, the kind I hope everyone likes
- This single comes hot off the heels of White Noise so is there an album on the horizon and if so how do these two tracks introduce us to it?
Yes there is an album being cooked up as we speak, no release date yet but I'll be shouting from the roof tops as soon as its set.
These tunes are good introductions because they have the concentrated contents of my album in 2 songs.
They have guitars, electronic instruments, real instruments, dance feels, African melodies and grooves and me singing my little heart out on top.
The album will pull in different directions, some faster, some slower, some out and out ravers and some more chilled BUT in essence these start you off nicely.
- As I said Mexicana Bounce is an uplifting pop song so are we doing to see this sound continued on the album or are you going to surprise us with something else?
The album is full of surprises. I'm a happy kind of person so in general my songs are optimistic and more up beat but that doesn't mean that's all I have in the tank, after all some of my favourite song writers ever (like Ryan Adams and Jeff Buckley for example) are master of slower songs that are powerful, so I'm going to make sure that element is represented on the album
- You have played a whole host of festivals this summer in and around the UK so how have you found your time on the road?
I've loved every show and every touring experience. It's one of my favourite things to do.
I've been touring playing with people like Paloma Faith since I was 18 so it's a familiar feeling being a nomad. Plus just playing live anywhere to any amount of people is a buzz
- And how have you found the tracks coming down with a live audience?
They have been going down really well. I play a mixture of shows on my own and with band and they give people different perspectives on me and my songs.
I love the lack of disconnect when playing solo because I can really chat to people and see their faces and get stuck in after I play. They get to know more of my personality.
Then on the flip side I love playing with my band because you get the full impact of the songs more like the records. Plus its a good hang. When I tour alone it can be a wee bit lonely.
- You have also supported the likes of Lana Del Rey and Emeli Sande in the last year so what did you take away from touring with them?
Mainly great times. Their fans are great and were open to what I was doing. The ladies themselves are sweethearts too so I guess I also took away "wow you can be extremely beautiful and an uber success and not be a dooshbag" they were big highlights of the year
- And you are about to hit the road with Aiden Grimshaw so what can we expect anyone who has a ticket expect from the show?
Hopefully something you haven't really heard before. I'm going out on my own except for some shows so people can expect to know me pretty well.
I like going into the crowd and meeting people after shows and i know Aiden will be great so it should be a well worth it kinda ticket
- You have an ever growing fan base so for any of the fans who will be reading this interview do you have a message for them?
Rock.Roll.Sleep.Repeat
- How did you get into music in the first place? Has it always been a major passion of yours?
Yes I have been around creative people at home and at school my short life so it's always been in me.
I'm the youngest of 6 kids in my family so have basically had musical hand-me-downs while growing up.
We are not all musicians but everyone is musical in a way. We all sang as a family in church for instance. If I wasn't going to be a musician or actor I'd probably be a writer....or habberdasher...er
- Finally what is next for you?
Literally I have soundcheck now haha but on a grander scale getting the album ready is my major focus and doing as many shows as possible before chrimbo!
Seye - Mexicana Bounce is released 8th October.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw