THE BUG
SHOULD I STAY
OR SHOULD I GO? WORDS | Rahul Verma
“I wanted to make a record that says ‘what the fuck factor’,” says The Bug while the time we live in and especially London.
something, with songs and lyrics that say gulping down water. “If my album has that Everyone I know who lives in this fucking city is
something, and reflect the environment that reaction then great. I hope it disorientates struggling to pay their rent and get by: how can
I have lived in for the last 16 years,” says The people, I hope it fucks with people, I hope it you afford to buy music when you can’t afford
Bug (aka Kevin Martin) in a Turkish café on challenges their preconceptions. I hope people to pay your rent or afford to travel? It’s crazy,
Bethnal Green Road. “Perversely I wanted it to have to work at it but hopefully they will get this city’s insane, it’s way out of control and
have hooks and deal with chorus and songs, sucked into the world of that record.” over the last couple of years it’s inspired my
and I wanted it to be fucking heavy.” album for sure.”
Our conversation drifts onto favourite records
Anyone that’s aware of The Bug’s work to date of 2008 and The Bug’s unequivocal on this Why has London proved so difficult for The
will know he’s not about chorus and songs, Top three: Trim’s ‘Soul Food’, The Roots’ ‘Rising Bug? “My living conditions and having to live
but noisy post punk, and dissonant industrial Down’ and Erykah Badu’s ‘New Amerykah’. in the studio for two years, it’s where the local
dancehall. However his LP, ‘London Zoo’ on The last has more in common with ‘London crack and smack heads gather,” says The
Ninja Tune is exactly what he’s strived for: Zoo’ than you might expect, both are future Bug. “I remember the day I decided to find
righteous meaningful bass heavy-bashment. music elegies bursting with substance and a somewhere else to live in January quite clearly:
An all-star MC cast cross generations, styles conscience, yet neither chastises or preaches, I opened the front door to find a 60-year-old
and scenes, whether Flow Dan’s menacing instead subconsciously planting seeds – or woman with her trousers down and a guy
baritone to Ricky Ranking veering from mellow messages - in your mind. sticking a needle in her groin. That wasn’t that
to vexed or Spaceape’s pained tirade, Roger unusual and I took the lift down to the front
Robinson’s dub polemical poetry and the “Erykah Badu’s album is not soapbox music, door of the studio, which is accessible to the
schizophrenic Warrior Queen switching from it’s not stupidly one-dimensional. In the same public, and there’s a human shit. I struggled to
baby voiced assassin to mic-commander. way I didn’t want that with my album, there finish the album because I was struggling to
are contrasting lyrics, and Warrior Queen live in these conditions.
In terms of subject matter, ‘London Zoo’ epitomizes that she’s capable of so much
couldn’t be more on point and relevant: gunman, triple xxx, conscious and protest “I’m seriously considering moving abroad
whether addressing suicide bombers, New lyrics,” says The Bug. “Warrior’s scope alone because I can’t afford it. It fucks you over day
Orleans, street violence, a selfish world and working with her inspires me. I had long by day by the cost it imposes. But London
gone mad, suffering and impending global conversations with Flowdan, Ricky and Tippa has been so integral to me musically - since
meltdown. Whether sonically, topically, or and Flex about what makes them vexed and I’ve lived here I’ve discovered soundsystems,
stylistically, the compelling ‘London Zoo’ is far uptight with living in London.” jungle, grime, dubstep,” he says visibly torn
from easy listening. But that’s the point. between staying and going. “It’s an insane
In over a decade of interviewing literally struggle. If I wanted to make music I wouldn’t
“I wanted to make an album that has an hundreds of producers, DJs, artists, MCs, make this music, the last few years have
intensity. Every music I’ve ever loved, whether Kmag’s rarely come across someone so been hellish. But in the end it’s that cliché,
it’s hip-hop, reggae, post-punk, or free jazz, it’s passionate about their work and music, and it’s inspired my music, and I’m worried if I do
had a fire in its belly it’s had a reason to exist. who have been through so much for their art. move away from London: what will happen to
It’s had a style, a politick, it’s been frictional To say ‘London Zoo’ has been a struggle for The my music?”
and challenging. The first time I’ve heard it, Bug would be the understatement of the 21st
I’ve not been sure about it, there’s been a huge century: “I wanted something that epitomized www.myspace.com/thebuguk
www.kmag.co.uk
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