Taken from his recent LP Battery, the ponderous beating static-charged ‘Breathe’ from London raised singer/rapper and producer Rowdy Superstar, is a suffocating attack on the senses. Standing far too close for comfort to the illuminating TV set, Rowdy’s video alludes to the effect and nature of the media, as he suggests, it is indeed time to take a breather and smell the coffee.
Produced by Matthew Herbert this latest single drinks from the same polygensis waters as TV On The Radio, as it mixes the grimier industrial elements of UK rap with darkly lit indie and bashed-stomping electronica.
Here’s the full rundown on one of 2012’s hotly tipped breakthroughs:-
Rowdy Superstar, is the name of the London raised singer/rapper and producer who wilfully rebels against preconceptions to create music that transcends trends and guidelines. Inspired by the likes of Prince, Bowie and M.I.A. and using light as his muse Rowdy’s music embodies the ethos of early hip-hop, punk and 90’s pop to concoct arrestingly bold songs, wily structures and melodic top lines. After uploading a collection of demos called Avoid Lines, down tempo hip-pop track ‘Tick Tock’ and its art house video directed by Ollie Evans (The Gossip, Noisettes, The Klaxons) brought attention online, leading to collaborations with Patrick Wolf, Micachu and a feature with Zero 7. Rowdy continues to build a reputation on the underground in London for his riotous live performance with dance duo The Hype Girls (Di and Fresh). 2011 saw Rowdy complete successful European tour support slots with Patrick Wolf and Atari Teenage Riot, a sellout headline London show for exclusive National Record Store Day release of single Get Ur Shizzit Riiiiight with Rough Trade East, Rowdy was invited by Shoreditch House to headline a members-only showcase event at east-London venue Concrete.
Rowdy has also received some great press bagging single of the week from both The 405 and Clash Online with the latter then featuring Rowdy in a print issue of their magazine as a new artist for 2012 in their 2012 Olympics feature. Also appearing in i-D Magazines’s “Now, Then and Next” feature alongside The XX, Boy George and Lady Gaga. 2012 Will see the release of Rowdy’s debut record ‘Battery’ co-produced with electronic pioneer Matthew Herbert. “Working with Herbertronic was literally a dream come true, we had so much fun playing with sound. He facilitated every vision I had for this record and completely supported and pushed me in my no limits approach to making music. I tend to have lots ideas and put them all into one song, Matthew taught me how to strip the fat.” Battery is a genre defying call to arms that hears Rowdy speak not just about the concerns and issues of his own life, but the challenges facing a whole generation. Among humour and moments of lightness, there is also frustration and rage at the waste of a generation addicted to mediating itself through pervasive technology.
