Yo Dylan. How are you?
“I’m nice man. Been driving around town in my new Porsche soaking up the sunshine today, London is nice at moment. All cool. “
A Porsche against my Jag, fancy a race?
“Bring it on, I’ll call Brands Hatch straight after this Dan…”
So where you living now”
“I’m out Seven Oaks way in Kent, out of the madness of London life.”
Well thanks to speaking to the DMC World community. You are truly, a true superstar. Amazing how a kid from the streets of Bow in London won a Mercury Award in 2003 for the stupendous debut album ‘Boy In Da Corner’. So what sort of tunes and artists did you grow up listening to?
“Anything to be honest. Guns & Roses – any big Drum N’ Bass artists, Jodeci’s stuff which never left my headphones, Iron Maiden, Happy Hardcore anthems, and well, 2 Pac – just a complete inspiration to me.”
‘Bonkers’ – just madness. My friend is having it played as she walks down the aisle at her wedding in Croatia in July – what was the inspiration behind this tune?
“You are joking me, you have to put that on my My Space site, wow. About the track, well it’s basically a club track that only has a few bars in it. It’s club catchy and I wrote it to make people smile on the dancefloor. And yes, it is bonkers.”
You are a huge festival artist – what has been the best festival you have rocked out to?
“Well the ‘Big Day Out’ festivals in Australia a couple of years ago just knocked me out. An amazing crowd, a stupendous place to do my music, unforgettable.”
What festival that you are playing at are you most looking forward to this year?
“The main stage at Glastonbury. I am honoured to be given this chance to be up there at such a historic festival.”
You had a hard start to life with your dad passing away, how difficult was it back then? A magical mother it seems working all hours and still pulling you to church on a Sunday – your rhymes do tell us about broken families and lack of support – where does that inner strength come from?
“You got it spot on. My mum. She never stops, won’t put up with any rubbish or fools.”
‘Dance Wiv Me’ – my girl can’t believe how I still dance around the bedroom at silly o’clock. A classic dance tune. But a new collaboration with Calvin Harris coming out soon – ‘Holiday’, what’s all that about?
“Coming out in August, it’s really about the whole Summer feeling, cool vibes, a tune to put a smile on your face, a bit different for me but I know it’s gonna tear it up”.
Big album ‘Tongue In Cheek’ also swinging our way later this year – tell us what we can expect from this?
“Out in September, I hope the sun holds out as it’s not in a ‘bad boy style’, aimed at the girls, maybe, very eclectic, some political rhymes in there – loving the ‘Dirty Cash’ Stevie V cover I’ve done which he loves.”
So, you got expelled from three schools…
“Normal stuff, madness, being disruptive, fighting with teachers, just growing up in a rough part of London. I got excluded from most classes except music – a blessing I suppose. My teacher Mr Smith saw what I had and encouraged me to make music on the school’s computer, my mum saw I had a talent and bought me my first pair of decks.”
But there’s another school story, how did the name Rascal come about…?
“Ha. Yeah, a teacher from one of my schools nicknamed me that and well, it sort of stuck.”
You have come from somewhat of a Grime Music background, had an awful experience in Aya Napa getting stabbed with your boys – how do you feel that the people who you mixed up with then who haven’t had the success you have now, feel?
“I’d hear it if there was a problem, there is no problem. Everything is cool.”
You like your clothes. Who is the best fashion designer out there at the moment?
“A Gucci suit is still my number one. I went to the Glamour Awards last night, nice to see Kanye West, Adele and Estelle picking up awards.”
What is the best ever record made?
“2 Pac ‘All Eyes On Me'”
Who has been the most treasured or memorable musical artist you have ever met?
“Jay-Z must rate right at the top. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were cool as fuck. Justin Timberlake was a great guy, also Groove Gangsta.”
What was the experience of Band Aid 20 like when you recorded ‘Do They Knows It’s Christmas’?
“Well it was my first Number 1 so obviously a big moment. Chris Martin, Bono, Joss Stone and the rest of the group all around me, surreal. But to be honest, I was in and out of the studio quick time. The single sold 200,000 copies in the first week and became the fastest selling single of the year.”
This is the 25th anniversary of DMC – over the years have you followed our route, the art of Turntablism and our World Mixing Competition and if so, who have been your big DJs?
“You know Dan, I was only really into the mixing scene when I was young, like 13 or 14 when a friend first told me about this competition with a prize of a pair of gold Technics. My musical career then went in a slightly different direction.”
“Peace out…”
