Introducing an incredible rising vocalist Youngman – Radio 1 DJs have labelled him ‘the future of pop’ and his fresh new single ‘Who Knows?’ is causing a stir on the airwaves. Here we catch up with the singer.
What inspires you to make music?
In a word, life. I take influences from things that happened to me and things that have happened to people around me. And also things that make me happy on a day to day basis. One of the things that makes me happiest is when I’ve written a track, I go away and come back to it and I still love it. If I could can that feeling, it would be pure happiness and satisfaction!
You’ve been touted as the next big thing, do you feel any pressure to be successful?
No, I don’t feel the pressure. The reason is because, what’s got me to here is being me and doing what I love and working hard. If I keep doing that, it’ll take me to where I want to be.
What was it like working with Skream on your forthcoming single ‘Who Knows’?
Surreal. We didn’t actually get in the studio together as such. The story behind the record was we were at Rinse FM, eating Nandos, it was 40 degrees in the height of summer and the air con was broken and he played this record, and Benga and I looked at each other, and I said on air, ‘Skream, I’ll vocal this track and I’ll bring it back next week and play it for you guys.’ I wrote it the next day, sent it over to him, he loved it and it’s kind of gone from there.
With all the buzz thats surrounding you I’m sure you could have had your choice of label, what made you go with Digital Soundboy?
The thing I love about Digital Soundboy is they really understand me and my music. It was always a dream to work with Shy FX and I used to see him on a regular basis on the clubbing scene and the D&B circuit and I’d say to him, ‘I’d love to get in the studio with you, I sing’. What happened was, he loved a track I did with Benga but he didn’t know it was me for a year, and all the while I was talking to him, saying how interested in working with him I was, and it wasn’t until I gave him a demo and he put 2 and 2 together, he called me and said ‘I didn’t know that was you’ and signed me on the phone.
You’re currently working on your debut album ‘Me and My Music’ what can we expect from it?
‘Me and My Music’ is really about me showing people who I am as an artist and a lot of people might have seen me on stage with other guys but they don’t know who I’m about. I’ve got production from Benga and Skream, Breakage and I’ve just done a track with MJ Cole and Sam Frank, which I’m really excited about. I’m so blessed to have these guys on the record, I can’t wait to release it.
If you could collaborate with anyone in the past or present who would it be and why?
I’d like to work with Jay Z or maybe Drake. I feel like there’s no limits and if somebody would have told me that I’d be working with the likes of Shy FX and Benga a few years ago, I probably wouldn’t believed them, so therefore I’ll aim high now!
Looking at your schedule it would seem like you are literally performing everywhere what has been your most memorable show to date?
It was a dream to play at Glastnburyo, I did 3 sets there which was mental. Going to America with Benga and Skream was also a huge highlight and I’m really looking forward to playing in Australia and New Zealand over the New Year.
Alongside your music you’re creating an education scheme called ‘Music and Life Workshops’ could you tell us a little more about it?
I know how hard it is from personal experience to find your way and find the right people to stimulate you so I decided that I wanted to try and produce a scheme that will not only develop talents but allow people who want to be involved with music, get involved. So many people want to do music but don’t know how they go about, so it’s help for people to get into music and teaching them how important education is and how they don’t have to choose between the two.
What advice would you give to any budding artists trying to get into the industry?
I’m a big believer in setting goals and then achieving them so it’s all about desire really. If you have the desire, just go where your mind tells you to and you will find the things you need to achieve those goals.
