Grime Forum and Jane Oriel catch up with Devlin

On the eve his highly anticipated first album release after signing with Island in February, Grime Forum chats with Devlin before soundcheck in Bristol earlier this month.
Guys who have been into you from way back want to know has Devs sold out? Is he still true? But at the end of it all, does it matter to you what people think?
It does, yeah, but as long as I stay true to myself and I’m happy with my music, then that’s all that matters in my opinion but…. No, not all that matters, cos yeah, my fans have done a lot. If it weren’t for the fans, I’d have nothing, so.. But you’ve got to make certain allowances cos i’m appealing to a wider audience now. I’m happy with the music I’m making, and I think the fans will be too, but you can’t please everybody.
Fans are one thing but how important is it to you, to put out stuff that will satisfy and inspire your peers; the people you’re repping with?

I’ve always believed in healthy competition across any scene. I don’t care what they’re doing musically, but if I hear something and I think, yeah, maybe I need to step my game up. I just like being around good people who are talented. You can work off that.
While other guys like Chipmunk, Tinie Tempah and Tinchy Stryder have considerably adapted their style to make their work more chart friendly, why aren’t you doing the same?

I can’t leave the booth with music I ain’t happy with. So really I just try to stay true to myself. All that stuff that Stryder and that have done has paved the way for people like me to come through. So yeah, they might have gone a different lane, but I wouldn’t be able to do what i’m doing now if it weren’t for them, so it’s all for the growth of UK music. Hopefully, when I crack on, there’ll be some other younger who’ll be able to crack on and go in harder cos I went hard, know what I mean? It’s all good for the growth and development of our scene.
How ready was the album before you signed?
We had a few tracks done but a lot of them weren’t up to scratch for album quality so we had a lot left over like, for mixtapes, so we’ll use them for stuff like that. We had a few tracks done such as London City and Community Outcast. There was a basis there for an album of about 3 or 4 tracks and Island built off that, then they sent me on the rounds and we did a load more studio sessions.
I’ve heard the whole album and was so excited to hear what you’re doing. I’ve got to say that with Our Father, it just wrecked me. You made me feel so bloody guilty for what I’d done with the world. It completely did my head in.
You bad woman, lol!
The Tories are back in power and the serious budget cuts heading our way means that the quality of life for very many will take a dive. With the reissue of Community Outcast, how do you see the future for the people you wrote about in that song?
I dunno, I just think those people get forgotten about. That’s why I wrote that song. I just think maybe the government ain’t got the people’s best priorities at heart, and I don’t think they ever will. Anyone who gets put in power, they’re all corrupt in the end, know what I mean?
I find a lot of your work, including the new album, to be very cinematic. It’s the way you throw your metaphors so you’ve got your pictures before you read the words. You’re not listening to the words, you’ve got the pictures.
Aw, yeah yeah. That’s nice, that’s nice to hear.
On the Forum, I shot out an off the cuff review as soon as I’d heard it:

Anyone seen the film Cabaret? It’s about a sleazy nightclub in Nazi Berlin in the 1930s. There’s a lot of melacholic escapism and defiant optimism in the face of oppression. A sense of ironic humour too. There’s scuzzy beauty to the harsh streets where no matter how much they party, it’s underpinned by despair. Meet Bud, Sweat and Beers. 
Does that work?
Yeah, yeah it does. It sounds very poetical. You don’t want to start writing some lyrics for me, do you, lol?
Of the youngers who are coming up, who’s impressing you?
At the moment, I haven’t really got my ear on cos i’m so busy at the moment so it’s hard to watch. But I know there’s a lot of artists in my camp. They’re not younger than me but I’ve got my boy Dogzilla, my boy Rawz, Artillery, Lewi White on the buttons making the beats outstanding, my boy Ghetts, Griminal, who’s just got signed. Grim’s younger than me. He’s doing his thing. Watch out for Grim, yeah definitely watch out for Grim.

You mentioned Lewi White who you’ve working with a lot before. Did you bring him with you cos you can rely on his sound; you know he’s going to be doing something good for you, or is it more about security in using one of your team. How does it work?
Basically, if I’m not being sent on the rounds by the label, if I’ve got a day off, I’ll be in Lewi’s studio off my own back. That’s my boy, know what I mean? I enjoy being nowhere else better. I love being in the studio with Lewi, and over the last 6 months, he’s just been out of this world with what he’s been making.
The first track that I knew was coming from the album was the first single, Brainwashed, that follows the old tradition where MCs big up themselves and put down their marker. I really didn’t like the female vocal, and when I found out there was an alternative Devlin edit that’s harder and with the vocal been removed, I wondered what’s your thought were on both versions?
Er, I thought she done really well. Obviously, everyone’s got their own opinion but a DJ made that edit cos they didn’t like the female vocal.
So it had nothing to do with you then?
No, they liked the harsher sound. But then again, that chorus mate, pops off when I’m doing these raves cos everyone knows that chorus. I suppose it’s whatever you prefer man, but personally I liked it.
Your current single Runaway is astonishingly romantic about you and your girl starting a new life away from anywhere you know. Are you a romantic man?
Er, nope nope, not particularly. I suppose everyone can show love but I’d not say I’m very romantic – not unless you like a six pack of Stella, a takeaway a bit of slap and tickle, lol.
On the other side of the coin, the track Let It Go that you did with Labrinth, is one of the most accurate sounding relationship break up song that I have ever heard. It sounds as if it fell naturally so was it an easy one to write?
Yeah man, cos I think everyone’s been with people and you feel like shooting yourself in the whatever, so I got right pissed off that day I went in to see the Labrinth and we set about some work.
Seriously? You just felt it, you saw him and you were away?
Yeah, I went to see Labrinth and whatever, and I weren’t very happy at the time, and we were just thinking of songs to do and I just started writing, me and Labs sat down and jammed. He’s brilliant, you know what I mean. He’s got so much energy in the studio and man, there’s never a dull moment in there. You can feed off his energy. Buzzing. Good character.
One unexpected presence on Bud Sweat and Beers is an awful lot of guitar. Is that an instrument that you feel close to? The whole album seems to be underpinned by it.
I just like the emotion of the guitar, what it portrays. But yeah, I do feel the guitar. I think it conveys a certain….. ambience, lol. No it does. I like the sound of the old guitar, absolutely.
Yeah I think it’s modern music’s favourite instrument isn’t it. One thing I’m really pleased about is that you’ve got a really full sound throughout, but it’s not American sounding.
Nah never!
It doesn’t have that kind of thin gloss on it. I’m really pleased about that.

Thank you very much. I just couldn’t; start talking American and that lol. I couldn’t if I tried.
With everything that’s happening with you now surrounding promoting the album, do you still have time to go out and do collabs with your boys?
Yeah that’s where Lewi White comes into play. That’s my home. And that’s me, Ghetts, Dogz, my boy Rawz, Lewi we get down in there, know what I mean. So, naturally, any time I can get in there and the label don’t mind. As long as I do my job for them. Yeah I love being with the boys man.
Talking of the boys, do you still see Deeperman? I’ve read that he’s not been seen about so much lately.
I ain’t seen him in a little while. He’s.. he’s quietened down really. So, I dunno, he’s not really on his music vibe.

Sounds like you have a good relationship with Island how long have they got you signed for? What are their plans?
It’s just for one album and I’m signed for a year, and that’ll be looked at at the end of the year. They’re probably thinking, see how it goes then evaluate it. This is a good thing for us cos at least I’m not tied down for any length of time. Yeah, we’re over the moon with it.
So, the final question, and it’s got to be asked: When are you getting your Bentley?
Lol I dunno, not yet. I ain’t got money for a Bentley yet. Hopefully, I’ll let you know. I’ll come and pick you up when I do.

Jane Oriel