Rizzle Kicks inform us about returning after eight years with ‘Javelin’
Rizzle Kicks have spoken to NME concerning the launch of their first single in eight years, ‘Javelin’, psychological well being and their legacy in UK rap music.
Again in 2008, Jordan Stephens and Harley Alexander-Sulé fashioned Rizzle Kicks. The 2 went on to have main success all through the 2010s with their contemporary and distinctive tackle UK rap, mixing hip-hop with pop reasonably than the rising grime pattern of the time.
They scored two UK High 10 albums (2011’s ‘Stereo Typical’ and 2013’s ‘Roaring 20s’) and two platinum singles earlier than taking a break from the limelight in 2016 because of Alexander-Sulé being identified with Generalised Anxiousness Dysfunction.
Each Stephens and Alexander-Sulé launched into solo careers, with the latter launched music beneath his pseudonym Jimi Charles Moody.
They each discovered success in performing too: Alexander-Sulé had lead roles within the crime drama Unforgotten and the 2014 movie The Guv’nors, whereas Stephens starred within the Star Wars spin-off Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Mae Martin’s sitcom Really feel Good.
Eight years later, the Brighton duo are lastly able to launch music once more – kicking off their return with the funky and light-hearted ‘Javelin’.
“We’ve been writing for a very long time, perhaps three or 4 years on this music,” Alexander-Sulé instructed NME. “We went via completely different phases and variations of what this subsequent file ought to sound like, however the extra we wrote collectively, the extra pure it grew to become. It grew to become clear what the sound ought to be, and we met within the center someplace. That’s what ‘Javelin’ encapsulates what we’re feeling within the second.”
Stephens stated ‘Javelin’ was made whereas in a studio session with producers Swindle and Ant Whiting. “That day, we picked up a vibe that felt in line with the music we each love now,” he stated. “It nonetheless had that Rizzle Kicks spirit, however there are actually trippier components to our music now as a result of we’re confidently trippier individuals. I imply, I’m a frequent person of magic mushrooms, so perhaps that comes into it.”
When requested if any present musical traits influenced their new sound, Alexander-Sulé cited the late Mac Miller, Anderson .Paak, and “that jazzier, funkier hip-hop sound” as a “massive inspiration”. Nonetheless, he stated he believed that “Rizzle Kicks have all the time unintentionally stayed in our personal lane. The vibe we provide the general public I believe not many different artists do this.”
Alexander-Sulé continued: “That’s what is gorgeous about Rizzle Kicks. Each time we go into the studio, we’ve by no means thought, ‘What’s present? Let’s make one thing like that!’ We’ve simply completed what makes us blissful what we really feel snug with and infrequently it comes out in vibrant, enjoyable, blissful moments.”
He then let it slip that the duo are engaged on their third studio album, which stays untitled and has no launch date. The brand new music “is so much deeper,” pertaining to “psychological well being struggles, household life, love and the concept of getting older”.
“There are a great deal of moments on the album which are fairly introspective,” Alexander-Sulé continued, “however we needed this primary second to essentially seize the general public and present what we symbolize, which is enjoyable and pleasure and carefree.”
The theme of psychological well being could be very private for the band. “A whole lot of the the reason why we put Rizzle Kicks on ice was as a result of we have been attempting to know why Harley was experiencing panic assaults and anxiousness and that very actual actuality for us was going to be integrated into our [new] music,” Stephens stated. “It’s all the time helpful to be trustworthy about how we really feel and the paths we’ve taken. We stand by that as a price; to attempt to be as truthful as potential.”
Whereas reflecting on how psychological well being is handled now in comparison with 2016, Stephens stated: “Oddly, it was solely eight or 9 years in the past after we took a break, however there wasn’t as a lot understanding as there may be now.”
Over time, Stephens has turn into a psychological well being advocate, founding the #IAMWHOLE marketing campaign and releasing his memoir, Avoidance, Medication, Heartbreak and Canines, during which he explored residing with ADHD and rather more.
He admitted to NME that, when Alexander-Sulé was identified again in 2016, he advised a few of “the wildest” strategies “to heal Harley’s anxiousness” as a result of he “had completely no understanding of what an anxiousness dysfunction entailed or how the nervous system works”.
“There’s extra consciousness now, extra understanding, extra entry,” stated Stephens. “However sadly – due to the demand for understanding – ADHD, for instance, has an eight-month ready checklist to get checked out, [sometimes even] two years. The psychological well being facet of our present authorities is totally underfunded and it’s simply the best way it’s on this nation.”
For the reason that group disbanded, the UK rap scene has grown in worldwide standing because of the success of the likes of Dave, Stormzy, Skepta and Central Cee. When requested how they really feel about returning to a wildly completely different musical panorama, Alexander-Sulé argued that the success of contemporary UK rap isn’t utterly dissimilar to that of their time – saying Professor Inexperienced and Tinie Tempah have been additionally efficiently charting.
“It’s a completely different degree, although,” Stephens stepped in. “It’s like legit pop now. Additionally, after we have been doing rap, some individuals would break via on the expense of [their musical integrity]. I keep in mind lots of people struggling to pop-ify their sound round that period.
“We have been in an odd model of rap the place pop stars would perhaps get a fast 16 bars on the top of their songs as a result of it will push their file into a distinct market – that was nonetheless a factor. Now, it’s loopy!”
He additionally famous that there are extra duos in UK rap now than after they first began – a shift that displays their pioneering affect: “We had already been out when Krept & Konan blew up off of their ‘Otis Freestyle’. We bought nominated for Finest Male Act on the [2012] MOBO Awards – that was the place the popularity of duos was at the moment.
“Now – quick ahead eight, 9 years – you bought Krept & Konan, A1 X J1, D-Block Europe, Younger T & Bugsey. There’s masses and masses. So, we began in a non-duo period and are re-entering one the place there are a great deal of them.”
The duo admitted that they aren’t “apprehensive” about entering into the brand new rap panorama however, for Alexander-Sulé, there was some hesitation as as to whether he might “get pleasure from” being a pop star once more. “I keep in mind a time it was the very best factor ever: me and Jordan making music, going round, doing enjoyable issues,” he defined. “It grew to become much less pleasant as a result of we have been so profitable.
“It bought to a degree the place outdoors forces have been pushing us to work, work, work, tour, be right here, be there, be in all places, and it took away from being a pop star and making music your buddy.”
Nonetheless, Alexander-Sulé believed this time round can be extra enjoyable as they’re “older, with extra understanding of what does and doesn’t make them blissful on this world”.
“We’re very conscious of not placing ourselves into areas the place we’re going to be made to really feel sad with this course of,” he added.
Fascinated about their evolution and legacy, Rizzle Kicks outgrew their 2010s chart-friendly sound, telling NME they “now not relate” to their earlier songs and music movies.
“Don’t get me unsuitable, I’m so happy with these data and I like a number of that music,” Stephens stated. “However there was a dialog throughout this course of which was like, ‘Are they going to anticipate us to do related stuff that we did earlier than sonically, or are they going to anticipate us to develop musically?’”
“This file or this bunch of music is certainly an enormous development from what we did,” Alexander-Sulé revealed. “You’ve all the time bought to progress, you’ve all the time bought to develop, particularly how fast-paced [the music industry] is now. So long as we maintain our souls and the power and feeling intact, [we’re good]. We’re simply higher musicians. We’re older and higher.”
Stephens stated it will be straightforward for them “to leverage the nostalgia” and go on tour and simply play the songs we’re greatest identified for. “However,” he added, “me and Harley rekindling our pleasure of making music collectively” was extra vital.
“We’re not attempting to show something aside from what we’re and I would like individuals to take heed to this music and say, ‘Rattling they’re really actually proficient’,” Alexander-Sulé added.
“Due to the house we [were] put into and that pop world we have been part of, I believe individuals simply rushed previous what we’re able to,” he concluded. “[Exploring our musicality] was an enormous a part of our solo ventures and, now, we’ve bought all that energy [to put] into this file. But when we need to solidify ourselves and proceed to make music, we’ve bought to be extra than simply nostalgia.”
‘Javelin’ is out now by way of BMG.