22 ❘ THE VOICE MAY 14 - 20, 2015 Music FROM BIGGIE TO BEETHOVEN He grew up on hip-hop but UK pianist Okiem is finding favour with his classical album, Xiro

BY DAVINA HAMILTON

N his early teens, hip-hop was his music of choice. But an introduction to clas- sical music at the age of 15 birthed a whole new pas- sionI for London-born pianist, Okiem. The talented musician, who has played the piano for over 20 years, recently completed a world tour with Tinie Tempah, DYNAMIC DUO: Okiem (right) playing keyboards for the plat- toured with UK MC Tinie Tempah inum-selling British MC. He has also collaborated with my own songs. Then I saw a a host of artists including Leona friend at school play a classical Lewis, Cee Lo Green and piece by Rachmaninoff – it was the Prelude in C# Minor – and it KEYS TO SUCCESS: Okiem ahead Tinchy Stryder, and spent three of an arena performance years living in Moscow, after blew my mind. I said ‘That’s what I want to play’. I think that’s being offered a tour with towards classical music Russian singing sensation when I actually started to enjoy classical music. because it has no notable Sergey Lazarev. beat and supposedly, we like Having flexed his musical music with a distinctive muscles with an array of stars, People might assume that having worked with the likes rhythm. What do you make of Okiem is now stepping out on that suggestion? his own with his debut album of Tinie Tempah and Tinchy Stryder that your album Sometimes, I also just want a Xiro. A collection of beautiful beat and I want the feeling that and enchanting songs, Xiro would have some sort of ‘urban’ twist. Have you found gives. But what is surprising is puts Okeim’s musical ability in the more people I speak to, the full view and sees him bringing that being a black artist, peo- ple do tend to make that type more people tell me they like classical music to the masses. classical music and listen to And as if his story wasn’t of assumption of your music before hearing it? artists like Ludovico Einaudi CLASSIC TALENT: Okiem interesting enough, the musi- regularly. I like to think my music cian, who is of Nigerian her- Absolutely – a lot of people actually expect an R&B album. has a lot of melody or ‘hooks’ itage, funded his album from that people can enjoy and sing fully intense. They put my show in five years time? winnings he received as a con- But thankfully, even though peo- ple don’t expect an instrumental along to. Much has been written in in the Deal or No Deal hall of The main aim is to be touring testant on Channel 4’s Deal Or I’ve had young black men the media about racism in fame for most memorable my own music. I love the energy No Deal. piano album at first, everyone has been open to listening to it from London to Moscow share Russia. Did you experience shows! No one asked me for of playing huge stages with Here, Okiem talks to Life & my music, enjoy it and come to this in your time out there? anything major after the show – artists like Tinie – playing hits Style about his TV win, being a and the response has been amazing. Especially the my gigs. Sometimes I think we It was more fascination – it nothing I wasn’t happy to do or like Pass Out and Miami 2 Ibiza novelty as a black man in just need to listen with open was never hostile. Some people help out with. live to tens of thousands of peo- Moscow and attempting to response to the live perform- ances where I mix live piano, ears and if you like it, regardless genuinely hadn’t ever seen or ple is a buzz unlike any other. pump out Beethoven classics in of genre, you like it. And if you met a black person in real life, Who do you hope Xiro will But somehow, sharing my own his car. synths, and live strings. All types of people of all ages, don’t, that’s cool too. so people would ask to take a appeal to? music with a captivated audi- photo with me in the street, a I hope that Xiro will appeal to ence is even better. That is the How did you get intro- races and backgrounds have connected with it so maybe it What is your proudest lot. It was actually nice, espe- anyone who wants to listen to greatest feeling for me and duced to the piano? achievement to date? cially once I’d learnt some of the music that makes them feel that’s what I want to be doing. I started taking lessons at helps not being boxed into a particular, expected genre. Besides my own album, it’s language, then it was twice the something – music that draws age nine when my parents probably getting the gig playing surprise; a black man in out a genuine emotion. Xiro is available now as a realised I could pick up songs with Tinie Tempah. I’d wanted to Moscow and he’s speaking free download via from the TV by ear. Thankfully What do you make of that age-old stereotype that black work with him for a long time Russian! I do actually feel very Where do you see yourself www.OkiemOfficial.com we had a piano in the house so and the audition process was connected to Russia and I my dad used to get me to per- people don’t like classical music? intense! To be hand picked by made some true friends out THE VOICE POLL form for him and his friends Tinie, and the opportunity to there – people I’m still in touch whenever he had guests over. I think a lot of people dismiss classical music or anything tour around the world with him, with to this day and will be for We asked playing with the best musicians many years to come. Voice What drew you to classical close to that genre before even trying it because as young in the industry is a great feeling readers music? and created some of my How much did you win on for their Initially I was forced into it just black person, it’s not the coolest thing to be driving favourite memories and Deal Or No Deal and did thoughts by taking classical piano les- moments on stage. friends/family call on you on sons. I didn’t listen to it, as I around pumping out Beethoven from your car – I’ve tried! But and ask you to lend them classical was deep into hip-hop then – Dr You moved to Moscow to money after you won? music Dre, Snoop, Bone Thugs n there is absolutely a time and a place for it. tour with Russian star Sergey Deal Or No Deal was an Harmony, Biggie, Jigga, A Tribe Lazarev. With much written amazing experience. I won Our called Quest and a lot of R&B about racism in Russia, did £17,000 and only had £50 in my survey too. Then I got to about age 15 Someone I interviewed years ago suggested that you experience that while box. It actually went all the way said... and really started to enjoy film you were out there? to the last two boxes so it was music and started composing black people don’t gravitate

CLASSIC TALENTS Five black composers/musicians who made their name in history

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor José Silvestre White Lafitte George Bridgetower (1780-1860) Florence Beatrice Price Scott Joplin (1868-1917) (1875-1912) (1836-1918) AN Afro-European (1887-1953) THE THE English com- THE Cuban vio- child prodigy, PRICE was an American poser achieved linist and com- Bridgetower was American classical composer such great success poser studied born in Poland and composer. She was and pianist that he was once at the Paris became a popular the first African achieved described as the Conservatory virtuoso violinist. American woman to fame for his ‘African Mahler’. and went on to He moved to be recognised as a ragtime com- Celebrated for become the London at an early symphonic composer, positions and The Song of director of the age and exhibited considerable talent and the first to have a composition was dubbed Hiawatha – a trilogy Imperial in his childhood, giving successful vio- played by a major orchestra. the ‘king of of songs, including one of his most Conservatory in Brazil. His most lin concerts. Even though her training was steeped ragtime writers’. famous works, Hiawatha's Wedding famous work is La Bella He went on to work with Beethoven, in European tradition, Price wrote with a He wrote 44 ragtime pieces, Feast – Coleridge-Taylor was received Cubana, and he also wrote a vir- performing with the classical com- vernacular style, using sounds and ideas one ragtime ballet, and two in 1904 by US President Theodore tuosic violin concerto, recorded poser in Vienna in 1803. Bridgetower’s that fit the reality of urban society. Being operas. He is perhaps most cele- Roosevelt at the White House; a rare several decades ago on the own compositions include Diatonica deeply religious, she also frequently brated for his influential hit Maple honour in those days for a man of Columbia label. armonica and Henry: A ballad. used the music of the black church as Leaf Rag. material for her arrangements. African descent.