VIVA meets Y/siR: Manchesters newest Trip-Hop artist
| 5th April 2017
At VIVA we like to keep our finger firmly on the pulse of fresh, up and coming talent. Manchester is known to be home to some of the most dynamic and different artists out there. So, we met up with Y/siR, the newest trip-hop artist on the scene.
Y/siR – Instagram: y_.sir
Hey, Y/siR, can you tell us a bit about you and your music?
I got into music when I was about 13 years old, I was playing the drums in some rock bands. But I kinda left that scene when I started college and got into the recording/producing side of things. After college I started night school to focus on it even more but it wasn’t my vibe so I left and started producing my own stuff, my own way. It was going to uni when I met so many different people who exposed me to loads of different types of music. I was listening to all these different sorts of tunes and was like yeah I could really do that. From there I’ve just been mixing up genres and evolved into a trip-hop artist.
It sounds like you’ve had music running through your veins all your life! Did you grow up around it?
My mum is a huge fan of music, she is really into Motown. I grew up with artists like Billy Joel, Otis Reading, Stevie Wonder being blasted around the house. I sample their music now, but I can’t release it unfortunately. But yeah music has been at the centre of my universe for a very long time.
What kind of setting would your listeners listen to your music in, given its vibe?
With this EP, probably chilling out with a spliff man. But, I am working on new material with some people to create more dance music. I’ve currently got some MC’s that wanna jump on some work that I’m doing. I’m looking at creating music that I can play to a live audience, so I can perform.
So tell us about your EP, Willow Grove and what themes were in it?
There isn’t a specific theme running through the EP but the first two songs are linked, the lyrics follow on from each other. First one about one person, second about the other. It focuses on their contrasting opinions on the same situation. I tried to highlight how complex people can be and stuff, to evoke some sort of thoughts.
So will live performances be the next step in your career?
For a musician the best way to make money is to go into live performances. I’d love to play somewhere like the Super Skunk in Amsterdam, it’s kind of a dream. Just in a little corner, jamming out. It’s just a shame that with my new EP there’s so much equipment and a technical side so I couldn’t play live just yet.
What is your favorite song on your EP?
Definitely the second one ‘No.Yu.Sed’. I had a lot of involvement in terms of the lyrics and the melodies. On a lot of my old stuff I’d give the artist free rein to sing what they wanted and I’d mix that. But with Mia on the second track, I got really involved on the vocal side.
What makes you so passionate about music?
In all honesty, I don’t want to do anything else, nothing motivates me like music does. It’s just the one thing I can count on. I can’t focus on anything else. So right now all I’m trying to do is turn my passion into a career.
That’s so exciting! So many musicians have come from Manchester, it’s such a musical city! Does being from here inspire you?
Yeah, the music scene in the city centre is massive. So many places to get a gig, everyone is really into music here. Like earlier today I just walked past this musician that I saw in Gulliver’s doing a gig with my friend, they’re just everywhere. Manchester has so many little bars and open mic nights, the vibe here is amazing.
Check out Y/siR’s music here:
https://open.spotify.com/album/3x3qpcyG6Va5hVPM9ig8I8
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/y-sir/id1207683259
https://play.google.com/store/music/artist/Y_siR?id=Apegcupbinwy4zoofqldwclmw3u
http://tidal.com/store/artist/8536497
http://www.deezer.com/artist/11974689