Below Is The Full SBTV Interview!

How does it feel to be on the other side of the camera, being interviewed?

I’ve only done it once before, with Donae’o when he flipped it on me and I didn’t even know, I found it funny and I liked the way he done it  because I felt at ease. I don’t like it when I’m unprepared but I don’t mind doing it when I know I am going to be interviewed and I am going to be asked questions. So it is alright.

Videomakers like yourself and Grimedaily are representing the new media aspect of things, the modern side of journalism, bringing the video element through.  Was it a conscious choice to pick up a camera and make videos, instead of, for example, writing?

Written journalism for me is one of my weak points. When I was in school I never liked it, even though I got a C and a B in English Language and Literature I was never on it as much as videos.

So is that what made you pick up the camera?

Yeah, it’s a different way of getting my views across instead of writing it down. If I film people it’s easier, and I think personally it helps get it out to a broader audience on a larger scale than if I was to write it down.

My first experience of this was in Birmingham on a school trip. I had been given a camera for Christmas, this is around Christmas time, and two of my mates must have been mc’ing and they said ‘come and film us spit’ so I filmed them, put it on Youtube and it got loads of views and comments. My mates were like, ‘you should do more versions’ so I did and from then it just grew, and grew and grew.

So it is a self taught thing?

It’s just trial and error.  For example I might see something and I will try to either make it or recreate it in my style so it is unique to me.

How many hours a week are you putting in?

Everyday, not 24-7 but definitely everyday. It’s taking over more and more.

What are your influences in video making?

The American music videos are definite influences. When I used to watch ‘MTV Base – the making of’ I used to look at that and think ‘whoooooaaaah I want to do something like that’. In terms of music direction Hype Williams and also Steven Spielberg for his film making ability.

How did you become involved in the Grime scene in particular?

I used to be an mc myself (laughs). Back in the day I used to be an mc. And what happened…because I was already around loads of people I just started filming them. I made a decision to start filming and be behind the camera instead of in front of it.

How is the mc’ing going?

NO WAY I put that down.

You never write bars then?

I never write bars in my spare time but I was thinking one day I might just flip it up and start spitting. I don’t know get a couple mc’s I’ve filmed and do a track or come out as a different mc and not let people know it’s me.

So you haven’t been ghost-writing for anybody?

No way

Who would you ghost-write for?

I don’t know. No comment.

Do you have any random stories from the video making?

Loads, if I sat down and checked every video I would be able to tell you a random story from each one. The one that came into my head straight away was when I was in Peckham and the Peckham lot was throwing snowballs at the police. That was so random. They were opening the doors and throwing them back, in the Gunna Dee video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9rTzb72fls). That was too funny.

What’s your best or worst experience from video making?

The best was when I was at The Game’s concert and he started dissing Jay-Z. Being there was a bit mad. I filmed that and put it on Youtube.  The Game’s cameraman Taydoe started texting me, trying to get me involved in editing the world tour DVD. I was like ‘whooooaah that’s sick’. I think that is the sickest thing. It was so random; he didn’t even know I was filming.  After I must have went to the hotel The Game was staying at because my brethren was one of the dancers and I spoke to Taydoe and built a link, put it on Youtube and showed him.  He was feeling my work and wanted to collaborate. It’s sick. Hopefully more will happen with that.  I don’t even know about the worst thing, I don’t think there is one.

What makes a good video?

The angles, the sound and the quality are the most important aspects.  It can’t be fuzzy.  You have to try and make it windproof so you can’t hear wind in the background. For example the P Money freestyle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmjaPTbMKmQ) I done the sound is proper clear coz I lip synced it up, compared to me playing it off a phone and not using a proper beat.

What about content. Do certain things have to be in place?

Quality control from the mc side is important, making sure they have good bars and come prepared. And from my side I need to make sure I am filming it correctly and I have done the sound to it properly as well.

How did the link with Logan Sama (http://djs.totalkiss.com/dj/logansama/) come about?

Bare people were telling me to do something like Tim Westwood TV (http://www.youtube.com/user/timwestwoodtv?blend=1&ob=4) and said why don’t you and Logan do it.  I was like yeah come on let’s do it. I approached him but he was definitely on it and it has just taken off and branched into Keepin’ It Grimy. (http://www.youtube.com/user/keepinitgrimy?blend=2&ob=1)

How do you see yourself progressing?

I just want to keep improving at everything. Editing, filming, camera angles and film loads of people. I just want to keep it moving.

Do you want to stay filming music?

Yeah.  I definitely want to stay on the music. I might broaden out to broaden my audience. For example if I film Dot Rotten then he is going to appeal to Grime people. But I have also filmed Maverick Sabre (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F56-qvgvoJE) who plays the guitar and sings.  For example loads of his fans are subscribing to my page on Youtube so when I put up a video of Skepta or Jammer or Tempa T or whatever, the people that subscribed for Maverick Sabre will check out the Grime video because it came up in their stream and they like it, research it and by me filming other areas it brings in new fans and lets people get to know.

What about future plans?

Maybe a DVD release in 2010. I want to come prepared but I don’t have the time, my mind is all over the place. I have so much footage. My backlog is disgusting. My shelves are filled with tapes, my pc is filled, and I had to buy a new hard drive today that’s how mad it is.

How is the t shirt game?

I sold out my ones by hand and they are selling out fast on the internet as well. Me and Dirrtee (http://www.dirrrtee.com/) are going to make another batch very soon. It’s going alright. It’s going to keep growing. I’ll change it up and keep it fresh.

Who is doing it in the scene right now for you?

Dot Rotten, P Money and Black the Ripper. Who else. Rude Kid, Teeza, he is big; I use a lot of his beats in my videos. Big Dubz too, but im feeling everyone that’s doing something positive, theres so many people out there.

How do you see the scene moving forward?

More people from the scene getting number ones, getting nominated for awards, making good music and spreading the name out there. The scene should keep moving forward next year because people are starting to realise you can actually make tunes that will get to number one. People like Tinchy and Chipmunk have raised the bar so more people will try to follow that example.

As quickly as he had arrived SBTV is out of his seat and making moves towards his next destination, his mind focussed back on work.  With www.sbtv.co.uk launching on the 1^st January 2010 and the kind of schedule that would raise eyebrows among the hardest working in any walk of life there seems to be little that can stop this man making it to the top in a hurry.

Follow SBTV at: twitter.com/sbtvonline &  www.youtube.com/user/smokeybarz

Feature by Michael Wade – twitter.com/mkwdjournalism