[FEATURE] VIPER PRESENTS: REUBEN AZIZ

Born in Southampton, Reuben Aziz began his career in pro-basketball before moving to London at 19 to pursue music. With co-signs from Stormzy, Clint419 and Jim Legxacy, get familiar with this buzzing name in R&B…

What five words define your sound?

Love, nostalgia, individual, emotional, relatable.

Tell me something unique about your creative process.

I think the way that I produce most of my music is pretty unique. The creative process itself does vary for me, whether that’s starting with my guitar or a sample. Recently I’ve been starting my songs with the drums, but it always starts with how I’m feeling. I think emotion is the most important source for all good music.

Which song of yours would you like people to hear first?

‘only one’

What inspired you to make that song?

I was listening to hella Neptunes and ‘In My Mind’ by Pharrell in ‘06, that’s one of my favourite albums of all time. I wanted to make something people can dance to, and I wanted to rap and sing on the same song.

What’s the most vulnerable you’ve allowed yourself to be when writing/making music?

I couldn’t name a specific time, but I think I’m always most vulnerable. I don’t think I could create if I didn’t let my emotions lead the music.

What’s the best/worst experience you’ve had on stage?

This was probably the best and worst [laughs]. I was in Poland and someone shouted for me to play a Frank Ocean song – I completely forgot the chords so i just made some up and sang, then everyone started singing along, so it wasn’t too bad in the end.

What is your favourite song to perform?

‘magic’. When people hear the sample their reaction is so funny to watch. They’re confused why I’m playing a song from the movie Mean Girls then I start singing and they mess with it 

Which artist/song/album made you want to make music?

Michael Jackson.

What’s the meaning behind your name?

There’s no meaning, it’s just my name. I wanted to keep my name partly because I couldn’t think of a cool one and because I don’t want to create separation from me and the people who follow my music. I feel like my music is transparent; there’s nothing fabricated, from the production to the writing to the lyrics. It’s just me, so it made sense to go with my real name.

If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead?

I don’t even know, probably hooping [basketball] to be honest.

What’s success to you?

Whatever God has for me. I’m just here to make a couple of good songs along the way.

What moment in your life/career forced you to change direction?

After i dropped ‘find u’, I pivoted to releasing some more R&B-inspired music, but after that freestyle I just released, I think i’ll just sit in between the two. It’s a blessing to know people like both sides. 

Where can people keep in touch with you?

On my insta probably. I try to respond to all my DM’s I appreciate the love and just that people can relate to the music and that we can feel the same thing even though we never met.

Photo by Joe Magowan