Bam Bam
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Bam Bam

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“Breakdancing was actually my first real profession,” chimes the youngster. “Back in the day, you really had to become a part of the culture. It wasn’t just becoming a rapper or a producer, you had to really be a part of the scene.” Likewise, having plenty of mates involved in the scene didn’t hurt either – “rapping, producing or whatever,” he says. “I started writing pretty hard but back then there weren’t a lot of people doing it. Then of course the scene grew really quickly and things sort of came together.”

Fast forward a few years and we’re talking about performing and writing – all the things he’d initially only dreamt of. “360 was one of my best mates and he was focused on music and breaking and he took off and I was motivated as a result of that,” he admits.

Musically, that lad got more and more involved – to the extent that last year, he completed two mixtapes that helped him make his mark. In turn, he suggests that more than anything it was about gaining momentum. “It’s something I’d always wanted to do but I also wanted to get out there a little – and I knew that it would lead to something more. In the meantime too, I’d been working towards an album but recently decided that I would turn it into an EP first – so I hope to get that out towards the end of the year. I have been working with awesome producers and other artists but music is a difficult and long process and I want to get the best product out that I can.”

Lyrically, the lad claims the EP – and ultimately the album – will be an eclectic mix of content and other stuff. “Again, it’s what comes to me at the time,” he says. “There are things that happen to you in everyday life. Sometimes that stuff is good or bad or positive or negative; that’s the great thing about being an artist, you don’t have to follow rules. You end up just doing what comes naturally. I always just wanted to pick what represents me as an artist and I feel that I’m doing that. Even in a producer, I look for something different -whether it’s a jazz or rock vibe – anything can spark up inspiration,” he explains.

Indeed, he goes on about not being drawn on a flavor-of-the-month type of scenario; for Bam Bam isn’t hell bent on reading the market, as it were. “I don’t approach my music with a plan specifically – to be honest,” he proclaims proudly. “I don’t even particularly want to come across differently from the next man. I make the music I want to make – I’m not sticking to a particular set of rules or sticking to a creative process or whatever. So however that sounds, whatever the end product is, then so be it.”

He does admit though that he cares what people think. He continues with this: “I’m making the music I hope people like.” Musically too, he finds the most inspiration and direction from within his own circle. “In the beginning, it was myself. Then Seth, 360 and Pez – we were hitting up these venues and we were rapping to the same people week in week out. We were doing it for the love and really, for our mates. We took turns getting up there and doing rhymes.”

No less, he recounts how back in the day there was no real market for locally bred hip hop. But he gives praise to guys like Bliss N Eso and Hilltop Hoods, claiming they opened the door to a local market that has benefited everyone. “All of us are better off,” he chimes. “The artists, the fans – all the people that had dreams of doing music and stuck it out; their dreams have come true and it no longer has to be something that we just do on the side. So much so, that even with no real guidelines, it comes naturally. I have never wanted to conform and right now, I’m feeling like I don’t have to.”

Finally, Bam Bam lets on about the upcoming Sprung Festival, which he admits feeling rather excited about. “It’s going to be awesome,” he explains. “I was there for the last two years and it wasn’t just an amazing lin up, it also had a great vibe. It was great to see so many people at a festival listening to just hip hop. The line up this year again is insane; so if last year was anything to go by the whole thing this year will be great. To date, Sprung has been one of my favorite ever shows – and for this year, I’ve got some things planned that will ensure people won’t ever forget it!”


BY RK

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