Feature

[FEATURE] VIPER PRESENTS: OPPIDAN

Unstoppable UK producer Oppidan has rapidly become a shining star in a recent wave of producers translating UKG for today’s ravers with modern production techniques and sounds. Get familiar… What five words define your sound?  Diverse, ethereal, dark, transient, fun. All oxymorons almost, but I think it’s hard to explain.   Tell me something unique about your creative process  I’m not sure if this is unique, but I generally start with a melody, whether that’s a vocal that I chop, or a synth with little to no melodic movement, so I can get really funky with the harmonisation and chord writing. Less

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[FEATURE] ROY WOODS INTERVIEW

In the midst of a whirlwind decade marked by personal growth, artistic evolution, and unforgettable music, Roy Woods stands as a figure who has continuously pushed the boundaries of R&B and Hip Hop. Since signing with OVO Sound in 2015, the Brampton, Toronto artist has cultivated a distinct sound that resonates deeply with his fans, merging raw emotion with an unmistakable swagger.  Mixed emotions. Suicidal thoughts. Self-love. Vulnerability. Roy Woods’ experience of these topics, and his unequivocal ability to narrate these experiences in such a beautiful and honest way, serve a reminder to us all that there’s a real person

Read More »

[WATCH] KABAKA PYRAMID INTERVIEW

Grammy-award winning, Reggae powerhouse Kabaka Pyramid is returning to the UK this week for his tour. VIPER caught up with him to talk touring with Damian Marley, Wu Tang Clan and Arsenal FC. Interview by @lilymercer

Read More »

[FEATURE] VIPER PRESENTS: GIFT OFA

Southeast London Afrobeats sensation GIFT OFA follows up his recent EP ‘EBUN-OLUWA’ with this VIPER Presents interview, as he looks to re-introduce himself to the global music zeitgeist. Get familiar… What five words define your sound? Groovy, chill, melodic, happy, vibey. Tell me something unique about your creative process. Music speaks to me in a deeply spiritual way. When I’m writing a song, I always envision myself performing it on stage in front of an audience. I only stop writing when I listen back and feel a specific, fulfilling smile that tells me the song is complete. Which song of

Read More »

[FEATURE] VIPER PRESENTS: CANDY BLEAKZ

Candy Bleakz has earned acclaim as the foremost female rapper in Nigeria and Africa at large, garnering impressive streams, awards, and recognitions. Get familiar with this VIPER interview… What five words define your sound? Relatable, Hustle, Dance, Street, Aspirational. Tell me something unique about your creative process. I like to think about how people like me will relate to the music. I want the music to reflect real life experiences and to ease the pain. Which song of yours would you like people to hear first? That’s a tough one. I can’t choose [laughs]! Right now I’m currently enjoying ‘My Dear’ which is

Read More »

[FEATURE] VIPER PRESENTS: BRYANT BARNES

Bryant Barnes is recognised for his standout vocal tone, songwriting skill and undeniable “IT” factor. Following the release of his debut EP, ‘VANITY’, we meet the rising singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and alternative outlier… What five words describe your sound? Cinematic. Emotional. Deep. Simple. Musical. Tell me something unique about your creative process   I do have a history of piano and cello and I also picked up the guitar a couple years back so whenever I get in the room with a producer, I usually just start off finding the chords myself. With most of my music, I start off from scratch. I

Read More »

[FEATURE] JEMS! IN CONVERSATION WITH LOUIS CULTURE

Creatively, the key to JEMS! is a freedom to blend the process; while J.Robb’s pedigree for future beats anchors their sound and Elujay writes and handles the mic, the two musicians come together on the production. The pair recently released their sophomore album, the follow up to ‘GEMS IN THE CORNERSTORE’ As songs formed, they embraced a Caribbean influence — J.Robb is Bajan, Elujay is Trinidadian — listening to old dancehall mixtapes on YouTube, and mapped out a stable of collaborators and players that skew UK-based. On ‘BMW’ on their latest album, they’ve collaborated with south London’s Louis Culture.  VIPER joined

Read More »

[NEWS] NOTHING LAUNCHES EAR (OPEN): ELEVATING WIRELESS AUDIO WITH OPEN SOUND TECHNOLOGY

Today, Nothing, the London-based consumer tech company, announced its latest product, Ear (open), the brand’s first open wearable stereo (OWS) earbuds. Designed to provide an elevated listening experience, Ear (open) blends superior sound quality with comfort and situational awareness, delivering a revolutionary, more connected way to experience audio. Open Sound Technology for Seamless Awareness Ear (open) offers Nothing’s Open Sound Technology, which creates a more immersive audio experience while maintaining users’ awareness of their surroundings. Whether it’s birds singing or the hum of the city, users can stay connected to their environment without compromising on sound quality. This open design

Read More »

[FEATURE] VIPER PRESENTS: IZ

After releasing his debut mixtape ‘A Step Up’ last month, 22-year-old UK rapper IZ follows up the project with this VIPER Presents interview. Get familiar…  What five words define your sound? Unique, refreshing, unpredictable, hard hitting, vibes   Tell me something unique about your creative process. My creative process involves the beat speaking to me in a sort of way, I know that sounds weird but I believe that as soon as I hear the beat a couple times the idea for the hook and how I want the song to sound is already set in stone, I just have to steer

Read More »

[FEATURE] VIPER PRESENTS: SHIMZA

With an album set for release in early 2025, Shimza’s relentless show energy has seen him booked internationally including Japan, Ibiza and Amsterdam. The Afrohouse star rose to fame at the age of 15, with him eventually signing to Black Coffee’s recognised Soulistic Music label. Get familiar with this VIPER interview… What five words define your sound? I would define my sound as Dynamic, Rich, Cultural, Cutting Edge and Dance. Tell me something unique about your creative process It’s a very natural process. I am inspired by my surroundings, when an idea sparks in my head, I play around and explore a few options until I am happy with

Read More »

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[FEATURE] VIPER PRESENTS: OPPIDAN

Unstoppable UK producer Oppidan has rapidly become a shining star in a recent wave of producers translating UKG for today’s ravers with modern production techniques and sounds. Get familiar… What five words define your sound?  Diverse, ethereal, dark, transient, fun. All oxymorons almost, but I think it’s hard to explain.   Tell me something unique about your creative process  I’m not sure if this is unique, but I generally start with a melody, whether that’s a vocal that I chop, or a synth with little to no melodic movement, so I can get really funky with the harmonisation and chord writing. Less

Read More »

[FEATURE] ROY WOODS INTERVIEW

In the midst of a whirlwind decade marked by personal growth, artistic evolution, and unforgettable music, Roy Woods stands as a figure who has continuously pushed the boundaries of R&B and Hip Hop. Since signing with OVO Sound in 2015, the Brampton, Toronto artist has cultivated a distinct sound that resonates deeply with his fans, merging raw emotion with an unmistakable swagger.  Mixed emotions. Suicidal thoughts. Self-love. Vulnerability. Roy Woods’ experience of these topics, and his unequivocal ability to narrate these experiences in such a beautiful and honest way, serve a reminder to us all that there’s a real person

Read More »

[WATCH] KABAKA PYRAMID INTERVIEW

Grammy-award winning, Reggae powerhouse Kabaka Pyramid is returning to the UK this week for his tour. VIPER caught up with him to talk touring with Damian Marley, Wu Tang Clan and Arsenal FC. Interview by @lilymercer

Read More »

[FEATURE] VIPER PRESENTS: GIFT OFA

Southeast London Afrobeats sensation GIFT OFA follows up his recent EP ‘EBUN-OLUWA’ with this VIPER Presents interview, as he looks to re-introduce himself to the global music zeitgeist. Get familiar… What five words define your sound? Groovy, chill, melodic, happy, vibey. Tell me something unique about your creative process. Music speaks to me in a deeply spiritual way. When I’m writing a song, I always envision myself performing it on stage in front of an audience. I only stop writing when I listen back and feel a specific, fulfilling smile that tells me the song is complete. Which song of

Read More »

[FEATURE] VIPER PRESENTS: CANDY BLEAKZ

Candy Bleakz has earned acclaim as the foremost female rapper in Nigeria and Africa at large, garnering impressive streams, awards, and recognitions. Get familiar with this VIPER interview… What five words define your sound? Relatable, Hustle, Dance, Street, Aspirational. Tell me something unique about your creative process. I like to think about how people like me will relate to the music. I want the music to reflect real life experiences and to ease the pain. Which song of yours would you like people to hear first? That’s a tough one. I can’t choose [laughs]! Right now I’m currently enjoying ‘My Dear’ which is

Read More »

[FEATURE] VIPER PRESENTS: BRYANT BARNES

Bryant Barnes is recognised for his standout vocal tone, songwriting skill and undeniable “IT” factor. Following the release of his debut EP, ‘VANITY’, we meet the rising singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and alternative outlier… What five words describe your sound? Cinematic. Emotional. Deep. Simple. Musical. Tell me something unique about your creative process   I do have a history of piano and cello and I also picked up the guitar a couple years back so whenever I get in the room with a producer, I usually just start off finding the chords myself. With most of my music, I start off from scratch. I

Read More »

[FEATURE] JEMS! IN CONVERSATION WITH LOUIS CULTURE

Creatively, the key to JEMS! is a freedom to blend the process; while J.Robb’s pedigree for future beats anchors their sound and Elujay writes and handles the mic, the two musicians come together on the production. The pair recently released their sophomore album, the follow up to ‘GEMS IN THE CORNERSTORE’ As songs formed, they embraced a Caribbean influence — J.Robb is Bajan, Elujay is Trinidadian — listening to old dancehall mixtapes on YouTube, and mapped out a stable of collaborators and players that skew UK-based. On ‘BMW’ on their latest album, they’ve collaborated with south London’s Louis Culture.  VIPER joined

Read More »

[NEWS] NOTHING LAUNCHES EAR (OPEN): ELEVATING WIRELESS AUDIO WITH OPEN SOUND TECHNOLOGY

Today, Nothing, the London-based consumer tech company, announced its latest product, Ear (open), the brand’s first open wearable stereo (OWS) earbuds. Designed to provide an elevated listening experience, Ear (open) blends superior sound quality with comfort and situational awareness, delivering a revolutionary, more connected way to experience audio. Open Sound Technology for Seamless Awareness Ear (open) offers Nothing’s Open Sound Technology, which creates a more immersive audio experience while maintaining users’ awareness of their surroundings. Whether it’s birds singing or the hum of the city, users can stay connected to their environment without compromising on sound quality. This open design

Read More »

[FEATURE] VIPER PRESENTS: IZ

After releasing his debut mixtape ‘A Step Up’ last month, 22-year-old UK rapper IZ follows up the project with this VIPER Presents interview. Get familiar…  What five words define your sound? Unique, refreshing, unpredictable, hard hitting, vibes   Tell me something unique about your creative process. My creative process involves the beat speaking to me in a sort of way, I know that sounds weird but I believe that as soon as I hear the beat a couple times the idea for the hook and how I want the song to sound is already set in stone, I just have to steer

Read More »

[FEATURE] VIPER PRESENTS: SHIMZA

With an album set for release in early 2025, Shimza’s relentless show energy has seen him booked internationally including Japan, Ibiza and Amsterdam. The Afrohouse star rose to fame at the age of 15, with him eventually signing to Black Coffee’s recognised Soulistic Music label. Get familiar with this VIPER interview… What five words define your sound? I would define my sound as Dynamic, Rich, Cultural, Cutting Edge and Dance. Tell me something unique about your creative process It’s a very natural process. I am inspired by my surroundings, when an idea sparks in my head, I play around and explore a few options until I am happy with

Read More »