Success is Second Nature Driven by his unquenchable thirst to make good music Bashy MC/Actor Bashy knows no limits and won’t stop until his name is on the tip of everyone’s tongue. t’s been a whole year since that both hold their own Musicology interviewed unique experience, ‘They Bashy at an under 18’s are just two totally different Ievent in Rochester where disciplines and I like them we saw 2000 kids going for different reasons.’ Well, crazy. 365 days of that year coming from The Brit School have been spent growing, background we’d expect pushing and expanding his no less. His current single vast empire. The star has “Fantasy” has also been certainly not been shying kicking up a storm with the WORDS BY: BY: WORDS away from attention and as ex Eastenders and future we speak is in the middle of pop star, Preeya Kalidas as getting ready to jump into a the leading lady stipulating taxi onto his next venture. rumours that there might be BY SHELLEY PESTAINA/ SIOBHAN BELL SIOBHAN PESTAINA/ SHELLEY BY Now that’s multi-tasking! the possibility of a leading romance but he hesitates Bashy, born Ashley Thomas ‘Na…I don’t know. We’re just is a certified threat. Well good friends man.’ With the known for his hip-hop/grime work pouring in thick and artistry as an MC his acting fast it’s hard to imagine him is just as sharp. Having been in his quiet beginnings of in two of the biggest British Westbourne Park. How apt films of 2010, Mo Ali’s Shank that the feature track from and Noel Clarke’s 4,3,2,1it’s his latest film [4,3,2,1] is a wonder that he can still “Keep on Moving” seems like differentiate his schedules. its truly been put to practice. Although he assures us BASHY - FANTASY Bashy FEATURE Shelley: Where was the making music. is it more of the day-to-day video [Fantasy] filmed and Shelley: What can we happenings, which give you what was the experience expect from the album ideas? Could we expect to like? sound wise? What genre hear some Soca influences in Bashy: The video was filmed best defines your sound, is it the future? in Mexico. It was sick filming grime, rap, pop? Bashy: ::Laughs:: I don’t because I’ve never shot a Bashy: It’s just Bashy! know, I don’t know. I talk music video abroad. So it was That’s the best way that I can about a lot of my West Indian a good chance to see how it explain it. It’s just me and upbringing in my music. runs and what the feedback exactly who I am, what I think That’s what I talk about more is. It makes it worldlier and I and my thoughts. It’s just than anything else. think sometimes its good to excitement and its exciting Siobhan: You have been take it outside. music. It’s inspirational and away from music for a while Shelley: Did you feel also aspiration music. There’s having been in the movie compelled to use a sample nothing like it and there’s no Shank, how was the whole and a drum and base type one like me. experience of being in that track as the lead single as we Shelley: How different production? have noticed the industry does Ashley Thomas compare Bashy: Well, this was my “I try to make music that I would want to listen to myself. I’m not trying to please any sort of demographic. trend has turned to this to the MC and underground first feature film, and acting type of track as the new pop, superstar, Bashy? has always been my passion, much like Tinie Tempah and Bashy: Well, they’re all because of The Brit School. Dizzee rascal? the same. I think as Ashley Also I did some theatre work Bashy: No, for me I kind of actually I’m very normal. I beforehand. just do what I want. If I want guess filming I think more, Siobhan: Are there any to do something then I just I do more, and it’s a bit other big projects in the do it. I never feel like more hyper. It’s a slightly pipeline? “Ow this is in and I should do different world and different Bashy: Yea I’ll be starring in that!” discipline. As Bashy, I’m Bish a film called ‘The Veteran’ the Shelley: How do you follow Bash Bosh. They’re just two new Brit flick from Matthew up an album like Catch me nutters. One is very serious Hope, alongside Toby Kebbel. if You Can, what type of and the other one is very Siobhan: Last year you mindset do you need to be in comical. created a memorable moment to make more classic tracks? Shelley: We know that when you released the video Bashy: I don’t know. You you’re of Caribbean/ to your song ‘Ransom’ a just got to be on it. This Dominican descent, how movie/music video about album’s really fun and I’m important is it to you to draw a kidnap which featured in a better space. I just love strength from your roots or Wretch 32 and Scorcher, September 2010 Musicology 27 Bashy FEATURE it was innovative and very artistic, what Bashy: Yea sometimes. I’ve got the rags to influenced that idea and what happened to Riches movement, which I want to build up the sequel? but I’ve just been concentrating on me. It’s Bashy: We were all in the studio at the time cool though because I don’t really look at and we just wanted to make a story. Each of the other crews and think. Oh man I wish I us wrote our own character story and then had that! the song pretty much dictated the video. Siobhan: Describe yourself in three words. Siobhan: Having worked with ‘The Gorillaz’ recently, do you plan to work with more acts Bashy: Individual, Creative and Anomaly. in the future from genres that you are not primarily attributed to? What kind of artists So just got some quick fire questions would you like to work with? now.. Bashy: I worked with Damon Albarn on his Africa Express tour, and we got to different Twitter or face book? places to make music. I would love to be a Facebook cartooned version in the song ‘That’s where Shank or 4321? music started’ [also featuring Kano]. Other Ahhhh you’re killing me! That’s out of order, than that Kanye West would love to work can’t answer that. [High pitched voice] with. Festival or intimate venue? Shelley: What do you prefer preparing for Intimate Venue an album or a film? And how different is iphone or blackberry? process? iphone. I haven’t even got one. Bashy: The process is very different. Jay Z or Nas? For the film I read a lot of lines and make Jay Z. sure that they’re on point and make sure that I know what’s going on. I make sure I Sounds like one hell of schedule! But who research my character and really get into ever said making it to the top was going to the role. They are just two totally different be easy, Right?! Bashy’s drive and ambition disciplines and I like them for different to keep climbing up that infamous staircase reasons. The process for recording an album into the hall of fame knows no bounds is simply wanting to make good music. I try and it’s clear that the journey is far from to make music that I would want to listen to over. If you ask us he’s already there! We’ll myself. I’m not trying to please any sort of be looking out for the appearance next demographic. I just make music that I like year in ‘The Verteran’ and of course the and I think of picking music groups that are highly anticipated 2nd studio album Bish also like that and then I go from there. Bash Bosh. Follow Bashy via http://www. Shelley: We know you as more of a solo myspace.com/bashystar, his Twitter: http:// artist, ever felt the need to have a collective twitter.com/bashy or famous blog: http:// like BBK, the movement or Roll Deep? www.bashy.com/area/blog. September 2010 Musicology 28.