Publication Date: 19 JUNE 2008
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I couldn't help but admire his patriotic streak (his family is originally
from Nigeria). He has genuine hopes from the growth of UK gospel:
'I believe this music will last a long while and give gospel artists
a lot of recognition, and inspire people with a new level of creativity.
I reckon it will also help people to be more realistic in their concepts and lyrics...'
His reality-tempered optimism was refreshing. Here's a point: a lot of Christian music effectively preaches to the choir. In almost all respects, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that - we need encouragement in this walk.
But if you think that just making the music without engaging with the wider mainstream industry is going to get your music into said clubs, radio and charts, you need to think again.
Sure, God can do it But you also need to understand how the mainstream music industry works, otherwise you'll only end up with massive 'church hits' - great for the church crowd, but not heard anywhere else...
from Nigeria). He has genuine hopes from the growth of UK gospel:
'I believe this music will last a long while and give gospel artists
a lot of recognition, and inspire people with a new level of creativity.
I reckon it will also help people to be more realistic in their concepts and lyrics...'
His reality-tempered optimism was refreshing. Here's a point: a lot of Christian music effectively preaches to the choir. In almost all respects, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that - we need encouragement in this walk.
But if you think that just making the music without engaging with the wider mainstream industry is going to get your music into said clubs, radio and charts, you need to think again.
Sure, God can do it But you also need to understand how the mainstream music industry works, otherwise you'll only end up with massive 'church hits' - great for the church crowd, but not heard anywhere else...
KEEPING IT REAL...
But I'm kind of making a different point here; in developing this 'new level of creativity' he's talking about, VICTIZZLE seems to have grasped the 'out of church' outlook - it probably has something to do with his Music And Media Management course at university.
Christian artists need to write more music that can travel beyond church walls and connect God with the girl and guy on the street.
Much of what VICTIZZLE has produced so far not only
acknowledges the fact that life throws up questions that are difficult
to answer, but that we also need to offer the world a sense of hope
- in addition to the weightier issues of impending judgement.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me much of our music
concentrates on how often and how badly we fall short, and - while
there is most certainly a place for that - I'm grateful for VICTIZZLE's
foil to the heaviness: hope, and - thank the Lord - fun.
Christian artists need to write more music that can travel beyond church walls and connect God with the girl and guy on the street.
Much of what VICTIZZLE has produced so far not only
acknowledges the fact that life throws up questions that are difficult
to answer, but that we also need to offer the world a sense of hope
- in addition to the weightier issues of impending judgement.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me much of our music
concentrates on how often and how badly we fall short, and - while
there is most certainly a place for that - I'm grateful for VICTIZZLE's
foil to the heaviness: hope, and - thank the Lord - fun.
Final word from VICTIZZLE: 'well, I hope the gospel scene will love this kind of style of music because the concepts within the songs are very realistic and fun, but at the same time gets the message across - and it's straight to the point...'
'...If gospel artists are willing to be different and not stick to the same kind of music, aimed at the same people each time, then I guarantee that this will reach people on a more global scale, not just MySpace...'
Couldn't have put it better myself.
So, what's the next sound of UK gospel, as played by VICTIZZLE (and extrapolated by me...)?
Well, the Electro (and Electronic)-influenced sound is getting serious airplay on specialist radio shows, and is threatening to be the breakthrough sound of summer 2008; the aforementioned 'Wearing My Rolex' by WILEY is still doing well in the national charts, and the SKEPTA-produced 'Rolex Sweep' is undoubtedly a national summer-craze-in-the-waiting.
'...If gospel artists are willing to be different and not stick to the same kind of music, aimed at the same people each time, then I guarantee that this will reach people on a more global scale, not just MySpace...'
Couldn't have put it better myself.
So, what's the next sound of UK gospel, as played by VICTIZZLE (and extrapolated by me...)?
Well, the Electro (and Electronic)-influenced sound is getting serious airplay on specialist radio shows, and is threatening to be the breakthrough sound of summer 2008; the aforementioned 'Wearing My Rolex' by WILEY is still doing well in the national charts, and the SKEPTA-produced 'Rolex Sweep' is undoubtedly a national summer-craze-in-the-waiting.
AND FINALLY...
Everything from Drum n Bass to Bassline/Niche and even Hip-hop tunes are currently offering more bleeps and funny noises than usual, so from that point of view the Electronic trend is definitely here...
Whether it actually lasts beyond the now is THE big question - and one I don't really have an answer to. However, it's always good to see the gospel scene on the cusp of an emerging trend, instead of that embarrassing thing we had years ago when we were so out of date it wasn't even funny.
It's currently a very young scene in terms of the artists, genres and number of releases hitting the streets (see UKGShop.com). And that brings with it a dynamism and freshness that - while it's admittedly raw - is tremendously exciting nonetheless...
VICTIZZLE's debut album is out later this year. It's an interesting journey in a range of styles from Pop-Reggae to Rock n Roll via the usual Urban musical genre staples we've come to expect...
'I PRAY' (featuring SIMPLY ANDY and TUNDAY) drops in July.
Whether it actually lasts beyond the now is THE big question - and one I don't really have an answer to. However, it's always good to see the gospel scene on the cusp of an emerging trend, instead of that embarrassing thing we had years ago when we were so out of date it wasn't even funny.
It's currently a very young scene in terms of the artists, genres and number of releases hitting the streets (see UKGShop.com). And that brings with it a dynamism and freshness that - while it's admittedly raw - is tremendously exciting nonetheless...
VICTIZZLE's debut album is out later this year. It's an interesting journey in a range of styles from Pop-Reggae to Rock n Roll via the usual Urban musical genre staples we've come to expect...
'I PRAY' (featuring SIMPLY ANDY and TUNDAY) drops in July.
It's good. Pick up a copy. You can always find it (plus an entire back catalogue of VICTIZZLE-produced material) on UKGShop.com.
WANNA KNOW THE NEXT ELECTRO SOUND OF UK GOSPEL...?
...then you simply MUST check:
SIMPLE SIYMON
TP
JIMMY JAMES
VISION 20/20
TP
JIMMY JAMES
VISION 20/20
GP
Production mastermind behind AFG Nexus - and more besides.
Truly ahead of the game. Experimenting with Electronica as far
back as 2005. A very original sound.
> MySpace: Simple Siymon (tracks to check: Obsession, Vanity)
Part of the new breed of young producers. Production for GUVNA B,
KARL NOVA and CHINEME to name three... RnB, Hip-hop - plus the
staple and experimental end of Grime. And the Electronic vibe...
> MySpace: TP Kreations (tracks to check: Bubblegum, Breathe freestyle)
Truly ahead of the game. Experimenting with Electronica as far
back as 2005. A very original sound.
> MySpace: Simple Siymon (tracks to check: Obsession, Vanity)
Part of the new breed of young producers. Production for GUVNA B,
KARL NOVA and CHINEME to name three... RnB, Hip-hop - plus the
staple and experimental end of Grime. And the Electronic vibe...
> MySpace: TP Kreations (tracks to check: Bubblegum, Breathe freestyle)
I PRAY (featuring SIMPLY
ANDY and TUNDAY) is out
on July 1st 2008 and will be
available on UKGShop.com
ANDY and TUNDAY) is out
on July 1st 2008 and will be
available on UKGShop.com
Midlands-based JIMMY JAMES' sound is truly unique. Hard industrial textures
meet Garage and Grime sensibilties, with space-age stuff thrown in.
Name not familiar? He did GUVNA B's 'Kingdom Skank'. Nuff said...
> MySpace: Dublit (tracks to check: SAMMY G's album)
Another Midlands son regularly stretching the UK Urban envelope.
Prodution work through his ONE QUEST PRODUCTIONS has graced many of
the Midlands-based artists you're likely to have heard of - including SAMMY G...
> MySpace: 1Quest (tracks to check: March)
meet Garage and Grime sensibilties, with space-age stuff thrown in.
Name not familiar? He did GUVNA B's 'Kingdom Skank'. Nuff said...
> MySpace: Dublit (tracks to check: SAMMY G's album)
Another Midlands son regularly stretching the UK Urban envelope.
Prodution work through his ONE QUEST PRODUCTIONS has graced many of
the Midlands-based artists you're likely to have heard of - including SAMMY G...
> MySpace: 1Quest (tracks to check: March)
Perhaps the best illustration of what NEW DIRECTION's member/producer
GP is capable of came from his very popular remix of FOUR KORNERZ's
'GONNA MAKE IT' single. More on NEW DIRECTION's debut album (due late 2008)
> MySpace: New D Crew
GP is capable of came from his very popular remix of FOUR KORNERZ's
'GONNA MAKE IT' single. More on NEW DIRECTION's debut album (due late 2008)
> MySpace: New D Crew
LINKS AND CREDITS
SEE THE JAM YOURSELF video
WORDS: Yinka Awojobi and Victizzle
PICTURES COURTESY OF: Airwane/Victizzle Music (Victizzle), Simple Siymon Music (Simple Siymon), One Quest Records (Vision 20/20), Dublit (Jimmy James),
TP Kreations (TP), New Direction Crew (GP)
PICTURES COURTESY OF: Airwane/Victizzle Music (Victizzle), Simple Siymon Music (Simple Siymon), One Quest Records (Vision 20/20), Dublit (Jimmy James),
TP Kreations (TP), New Direction Crew (GP)
The Next Sound Of Gospel Part 2: Spoken Word
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