The grind never stops for Rival and the grime MC is going to wrap up 2011 releasing ‘Lord Rivz’ EP on Monday 21st November. Mr “Headshot Season” took some time out of his studio session to talk to Bea Alessio about the EP, a potential war dub for Fox’s Biscuits, what he would do if he could read minds and more…

What’s good Rival?

I’m here just in studio. I haven’t had a biscuit in two days [laughs].

In ‘Lord Rivz’ EP you touch on different topics, from love to the deprived areas of London. What is the main message you want to communicate to your supporters?

The main message behind it is that just because we make a certain kind of music (grime), it doesn’t mean that we are necessarily in studio recording a madness on hard hitting beats. There are actual concepts behind the tracks and it’s not about how hard you can sound. With this EP I’ve worked on that and I made songs supporters can relate to.

Which one is your favourite track off the EP and why?

Errmmm it has to be ‘Just A Dream’ with Dot Rotten because it’s about my life. It’s not just a concept song that I came up with, but it’s my direct experience of reality.

You’re also having a launch party for ‘Lord Rivz’ on the 30th November. Who have you got on the line-up?

Ghetts, Manga, Big Narstie, Discarda, Lioness, Sharky Major, Kozzie, D Power and Roachee. Also DJing on the night, Spyro, Vectra, Dexplicit, SK Vibemaker, P Jam, Sneaky, Logan Sama, DJ Limelight and more.

What have you got in store for 2012?

I’m currently working on a mixtape, an album and few more EPs, but I can’t say much more. It’s a secret.

Three words to describe your music.

Head Shot Season.

I always see you mentioning it, but what is the real meaning behind Headshot Season?

Let me make an example, if you were at a bar and you took a shot of alcohol, it would go straight to your head. That’s what I’m trying to do with my music. My aim is to make music that goes straight to your head and makes it spin.

Growing up, did you use to listen to hip hop or grime?

When I was younger I was into hip hop. Now, I prefer grime, although I listen to a whole variety of music like indie, rock, soul, jazz, r’n’b. Anything that is good music I will listen to it.

How did you react when Wiley asked you to be on the Elusive Tour earlier on this year?

I was shocked, surprised and very grateful. It kinda established where I am in my career right now. It’s great to know that the people you grew up listening to have acknowledged your position in the music scene and want you to be on their tour. I was very grateful and I hope there are more tours to come.

Now it’s time for some non-music related questions. I know you have a soft spot for biscuits. What would you do if Fox’s stopped making Party Rings?

If Fox’s stopped making Party Rings, I would write a letter to McVities and ask them to make Party Rings [laughs].

Would you send for Fox’s on your next mixtape?

I probably would do a war dub for Fox’s you know [laughs].

If you could have a superpower, what would that be and why?

You see how Xavier (Professor X) reads and controls people’s mind in X-Men, I would like to do that and make people buy my CDs. If I had that power, I would have enough money to fly anyway, so I’d be all right [laughs again].

If you could take out any UK female artist on a date, who would that be and where would you take her?

Who would I take? [pause] That’s actually a good question. I’ve got five in mind, but whoever it is, I would definitely take her to studio and work with her.

Come on give me at least couple of names.

Erm Alesha Dixon [pause]. Oh yeah and that light skin girl from The Saturdays (Frankie Sandford). No one from the grime scene for sure. Actually I would take all of The Saturdays to studio on a Sunday, Alesha Dixon on a Monday and put them on some grime tunes.

Talking about making music, what is the best environment for you to write bars?

In studio with instrumentals, sound engineer and quality speakers. Once I got that I’m good to go. Oh and biscuits of course. I’m still trying to get a sponsorship from McVities, Fox’s and also Nestle’ [pause] you know they need to support a hard worker [laughs out loud].

Any last word?

Yeah, everyone makes sure they go out and support ‘Lord Rivz’ out on Monday 21st in physical and digital copies. Come down to the launch party at East Village on November 30th and ‘Headshot’ hats in December. Keep supporting and big up Urban Development.

www.twitter.com/JusRival

Pre-order ‘Lord Rivz’ physical copy from: http://www.majormusicentertainment.com/page2.htm

Rival’s ‘Lord Rivz’ Launch Party – November 30th at East Village. Free entry before 11pm. More info here: http://urbandevelopment.co.uk/events/events/lord-rivz-launch-party-east-village_2953

Catch Rival live on Kiss FM with Logan Sama on Monday 21st at midnight.

Read our review of Lord Rivz here: http://urbandevelopment.co.uk/blog-categories/features-reviews/reviews/music-reviews-15th-november-2011_2935

Images: Verena Stefanie Grotto (Kids of Grime)