BRBKO INTERVIEW: Meet Brbko, a rising force in the UK underground, blending grime, downtempo, and experimental sounds. Hailing from Manchester and now based in Lewisham, Brbko has become an essential figure in the UK underground, get familiar…
What five words define your sound?
Basquiat for the blind. Yes.
Tell me something unique about your creative process.
I guess the process for each song is unique. The process always gonna depend on the song’s purpose.
Which song of yours would you like people to hear first?
‘Brak vs. Brak’. That’s like the title track of my 20’s.
What inspired you to make that song?
I started writing that song in frustration at my environment and realised the problem was me all a long. It’s kinda like that meme of Incredible Hulk with Steve Buscemi’s face.
What’s the most vulnerable you’ve allowed yourself to be when writing/making music?
I feel like I’m always vulnerable, especially when writing. It all comes from the subconscious, it’s like the songs are already written. All I’ve got to do is open myself up and let them manifest.
What’s the best/worst experience you’ve had on stage?
My first show as an MC. I spent all day writing fresh verses in my head Jay Z style ’cause I wanted to do everything the hard way [laughs]. When I touched mic I was too burst and I forgot the bars so I just started saying gibberish with cadence. Everyone was loving it. Not one person noticed [laughs]. I think that’s my favourite show I’ve done.
What is your favourite song to perform?
Over the years it’s got to be a song I’ve got called ‘Bonsam’. There’s so many different versions of it and I’ve performed it over quite a few different beats.
Which artist/song/album made you want to make music?
I think being a Grime fan in general made me want to make my own. Being in secondary knowing that the likes of Ruff Sqwad, Dizzee, Novelist were that age making the classics I was listening to was super inspiring.
What’s the meaning behind your name?
Not too sure yet.
If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead?
Probably terrorism tbh.
What’s success to you?
Freedom. Freeing others. I feel like freedom is a spectrum, I defo want to be on the free side.
What moment in your life/career forced you to change direction?
Change. I change a lot. I change my mind a lot. I don’t believe in time just change. I guess change itself is the moment.
Where can people keep in touch with you?
themosthigh@postcolonialniggasrepublicofearth.com
