Music > Interviews

$ebbuku

31/07/21

Is he the biggest rising star on the Norfolk music scene right now and has just played his first ever live gig at the Young Norfolk Arts Festival on the Lost River Stage in Chapelfield Gardens, just before testing positive for Covid! Outline’s Steve Plunkett caught up with him while he was at the end of his self-isolation period almost a year on from his previous interview with the magazine.

So $ebbuku how are things with you? Are you feeling better now after testing positive for Covid?

Covid was a tough battle for sure, but I’ve finally tested negative after just one week! Guess I must be superhuman. Other than catching the plague things have been great.
 
I know that you were bursting inside to play your first ever live gig from when we last spoke, after being holed up and delayed whilst we were going through the past year under Covid regulations. So how was it for you when it finally arrived?

In the weeks previous the nerves were keeping me up at night. I rehearsed for hours in the months before the show but once I arrived on the stage Infront of the audience I was in my element. It was my time to entertain and from the noise of the crowd, it was evident that I did what I came to do.
 
You will have by now seen by now Stuart Evans very complimentary review of the said gig in Chapelfield? How did his review make you feel? He said that, “you nailed it. You had the will and support of the crowd and that the love was instantly there”.

This review wasn’t only super kind and honest but inspiring for me to get back on the stage and make more people feel like Stuart. It was amazing to hear the impact of my performance on the people and I can’t wait to perform again.
 
So your debut gig was recorded by Norfolk’s leading music magazine for all to see. Was that a good feeling?

Outline have always been supportive of me and to have them be at my debut gig was fantastic, and to have such a brilliant review written about my set was an amazing feeling, especially around my genre of music. Playing alternative rap music in the centre of my city and having everyone around me love it was a great feeling. I got such a phenomenal reception from crowd and passers-by which was probably one of the best things to ever happen to me in my life.

Did you enjoy it as much as Stuart then? He very clearly enjoyed seeing people of all ages enjoying your set when he said that toddlers to an elderly gentleman were really getting it and you.

I loved every second. It gave me a real chance to prove who I am as an artist, expressing my emotions throughout every song. The crowd was amazing, I remember shouting ‘make some noise’ and everyone going insane, screaming and shouting with joy. The best feeling ever.
 
What can gig-goers expect from you when they come to see you live?

A great time. High octane, energy filled verses and a wild crowd are a mix for a good time. I hope that I can get the crowd invested in my tunes so much that as soon as they walk in the door they buy a ticket to the next show.
 
What has the past year been like for you?

Difficult. Lots of painful experiences but without the sadness how would I know what true happiness feels like? There have been some massive developments in my career and I’m only gaining more traction. I’ve been working on a new ep which is unlike anything I’ve released before. The production is crazy so it’s one too look out for.

How was the debut album received?

It’s been going amazingly! I’ve been stopped in the street and people have rapped my verses. I had a group of young teens come up to me when I was skating and tell me how much they loved the album. It’s great to see people get so invested in my work. I’ve been asked to have it pressed on vinyl by many people now so who knows what might happen!

How are the followers developing for you across iTunes, Spotify and you social media pages?

In about a year I went from 600 followers to 1.1K which is a great show of progress. Things are all steadily rising. After doing my gig I had a huge surge in popularity and that was only last week.

What have you learnt during the past year about yourself and the music making business?

Well I’ve definitely learnt that I’m capable of more than I thought I was. From going through a mental health unit and suicidal intention two years ago to being one of the biggest musicians in the county is insane. Like actually mad. I didn’t think I’d make it past fourteen and here we are. Happy, heathy and feeling successful. I’m on my way to collage in September after retaking a year in high school and I can’t wait! Roll on the next stage of my life.

So what is next for you? More gigs? More music?

 Well, I couldn’t deprive my city of $ebbuku could I? Gigs are 100% happening, more singles and an EP are coming later this summer and I just hope that I can see more of my audience across the country.

Is a tour happening in the near future?

 Well, we can only wait and see. One things for sure though, you’re going to see my name a lot more in the coming months.