Labrinth has taken the music world by storm over the last twelve months producing for the likes of Tinie Tempah.
But 2012 sees him release his own album after the success of his first two single Let The Sun Shine and Earthquake.
He has also teamed up with MasterCard to give a fan the opportunity to duet with him. I caught up with him to talk about the competition, the new album and what lies ahead.
- You are working on the MasterCard Priceless Duets competition so can you tell me a little bit about it?
Basically MasterCard got in touch with me and asked me to work alongside them to give one of my fans the chance to sing alongside me. Every fan wants to meet the person that they have invested in and of course some of them are talented as well and they will get the chance to sing alongside myself JLS and Emeli Sande.
We put it out there that any of those fans that enter the competition can come and do a little duet with us. It’s called the Priceless Duets and we have put a message out to everybody if they send in little auditions any one of them could win.
We have found my winner, I haven’t met them yet, on Monday we are going to record a duet and make something happen.
- How excited are you at working with some potentially great new talent?
I think it’s great and I am definitely excited. It’s just really cool to be involved with your fans that much and to touch base with them and show them that there’s much more than being divided by a Twitter page. I think it’s really cool and it’s a nice thing to do.
- You enjoyed huge success last year with your second single Earthquake so is there an album around the corner and if so what can we expect from it?
The album is around the corner, it’s due to be released March 19th, and you can just expect an artist having fun - and a self produced, self written, self performing artist. It’s gonna be really cool and everyone is really enjoying it.
I met Simon Cowell yesterday and he said that he loved the album and he believes I am going to be one of the biggest artists this year - that’s what my label are saying and a lot of people out there are saying. So it’s nice to hear those sorts of things from your peers and from people that support you.
- What does the album say about you as an artist?
It says nothing really (laughs) I am just an average guy. That is a big question. I think for me it says that I am not just urban, a lot of people kind of have me under that bracket, but I thin it just says that I am a musical guy and I have fun.
- And are there any collaborations on there that you can tell us about?
There are some really cool people, of course Tinie(Tempah) is on the record, And me and Emeli Sande have done an amazing duet together which I am really excited about out - and it’s not a feature it’s a duet.
- You were best known for your production work with the likes of Tinie Tempah so how does it feel to finally be getting your own records out there?
It’s kind of weird because it was like my music as well because I produced a lot of his records so it doesn’t feel any different just a little bit more nerve-racking now (laughs). I am at the front of it now so I can’t hide behind a guy with shades.
But it’s really lovely because people are seeing my vision and me wholeheartedly rather than me being a mystery in the back and they are like ‘who is this guy creating all these crazy beats?’ So it’s nice.
And of course you see the success of Earthquake and it was insane I was like ‘oh my god’ it was like my birthday man.
- You are signed to SyCo so how much freedom has the label given you to write and produce the music that you want to create?
Well they signed me because of how much effect I was having on artists and how much I gave to people creatively so I don’t think that they would want to change anything - if it isn’t broke don’t fix it.
I am something that Simon can’t get and that’s why he signed me because I am an artist that produces and writes their own material - but I am also conducting what is happening with my own videos and very much involved with what is happening with my career.
I think he really enjoys that and he loves the idea that I can produce many other artists as well as myself.
- You have mentioned Simon Cowell he is know as TV’s Mr Nasty but what is he really like to work with?
(Laughs) He is actually really really nice and a good guy - I think he just puts it on for TV (laughs).
- And what have you got lined up in the producing side of things during 2012?
Basically the production doors are opening and I am ready to take on anyone that is ready to take me on and right now the door is jam packed; I can’t even get out of the door that is how big the line is outside the door.
I have got some really exciting artist - John Legend came up on my radar and I was really excited about doing that. There are a few other artists that I use to listen to as a kid so it’s really nice to have things in the pipeline to work with them.
- What do you get out of producing other artist's record that you don't necessarily get from recording your own music?
I the chance to tell other people what to do instead of myself (laughs). I think producing a record for other artists is almost like giving them advice and I would say that it is easier to produce another artist than it is to produce yourself.
When you are making your own records you have to look in the mirror and say ‘who am I?’, ‘what do I do?’, ‘what do I want to people?’ whereas other artists usually know that and you can just compliment their ideas.
- You have working with a whole host of artist so is there anyone in particular that you are keen to work with - either to duet with or to produce?
There are loads man but I would say anyone that loves music. But I would definitely want to work with Adele in the future.
But there are many other artists that I would like to work with because, of course, they are going to give me something new or something fresh which is a nice, new experience.
- As I said you have made a name from yourself over here but have you got any plans to take your music over to America?
I do have another version of Earthquake, which has Busta Rhymes on it, and that is currently playing out in America. So it’s all healthy stuff and it’s all developing but, of course, I have got a whole new journey; America is like a Lord of the Rings journey.
I will have to a lot of work down there because I will have to promote myself but it would be nice to make steps towards that. But my label is saying that America is ready to accept us, we have seen the stats and they are already loving Earthquake.
- You have seen your fanbase grow over the last twelve months so is there anything that you would like to say to the fans reading this interview?
I am just happy to have them. It’s the best thing to have people supporting you and it almost feels that when you are not around your family they are your family. It’s great man, they are my team.
- Finally what's next for you?
Of course I have a tour coming up from the 23rd February. The new single is out on March 11th which I can’t wait for; the video for that is just amazing. I just can’t wait to get out there man.
I put on a Brits party at my restaurant and that went down a storm so I am going to put on loads more of those throughout the year.
Labrinth teamed up with Mastercard for its exclusive Priceless Duets competition, which supports its 14th year of partnership with The BRIT Awards.
For your chance to win a Priceless Duet go to www.somethingforthefans.co.uk.Labrinth’s competition is now closed, but there’s a ‘Priceless Duet’ with BRIT award winner Jessie J still up for grabs.
Labrinth’s debut album Electronic Earth is released 19th March
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
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