The much awaited single “The UKSC Link Up” by rising music star KarmaCov is about to be released. KarmaCov, a Coventry native who currently resides in Blackpool, has teamed up with two gifted musicians from his collective, the U.K. sound collective, to create a track that will take listeners back to the heyday of garage and grime music. Check out the exclusive interview below:
1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?
KARMACOV: OK so my name is John but I go by karma in music, I’m 34 and I come from Coventry in the UK. I first started writing alot older then most of the people I know through music today which I think was around 21. I just used to jot down thoughts or phrases in my note pad on my phone and never listened to beats them times. I then met two lads (outz and bfast) which are very good friends to me to this day that showed me how to piece the words together and create a flow to a beat and I have just never stopped from that point.
2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
KARMACOV: my friends helped me to piece together a 16bar structure and have it flow nicely to a beat. Before that, I would just write words down without knowing or having the confidence to put it out to someone else. Without (outz and bfast) I wouldn’t be at the level I’m at today so all credit to them 🙏 I don’t know about ‘formal training’ but anyone on the street knows who can spit and who can’t. so having someone who can spit show you, I think is the best kind of training you can get in that field.
3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘KARMACOV?
KARMACOV: yeah so I’m old skool when it comes to my influences with a mix of newer artist aswell so, for me it would have to be wiley first and foremost. Then it’s artists like ghetts, kano, skepta, devlin, griminal, maxsta, pmoney and krept and konan but the guy I rate the most is dot rotten(zeph Ellis) he was a big influence on me when I started out and even today. The name karmacov is because I used to do silly things when I was younger and the repercussions were always so much worse than my actions, which got me thinking about (you reap what you sow) and seen that karma played a big part of my life in my eyes. so it’s was only right I go by that, as a reminder to myself of my past and future. The Cov at the end was to separate myself from anyone else who might have the same name and also to represent the city I’m from, Coventry.
4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
KARMACOV: the key elements in my music is passion! I have passion for music I really do and from what I have heard before is that people see and feel the passion I put in to my music. Also the rawness and just brutal realness. I tell people exactly how it was for me, even if it puts me in a negative light which I don’t see much of these days, it’s like everyone is always bigging themselves up like they have never done no wrong, which isn’t real to me. But I think that I like to make my words and story’s also fit the backing track so people enjoy and vibe to my music aswell. I love music for how it makes me feel not for what I can get from it and I think that shows in my music.
5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as grime/rap/drill?
KARMACOV: yeah so for me the learning came from being able to write my thoughts down in like a 16 bar structure and have the rhyming words match so the verse made sense😂 but to get the flow and the different ways to organise and deliver the bars came from listening to my favourite artists, trying to learn all their bars and get the timing down on there songs so, I could do it even without the track playing. This, then naturally filtered into the progression of my own music and the development of my own style. Even with drill now alot of people use the same drill flow but I use my own sound which has elements of old grime flows from London ways and personally I think it goes well with the drill type beats today and, I think it can definitely be another way to keep grime alive. Everybody is all trying to sound like the big artists about right now but they got big because they sounded different from the rest even with alot of the elements from the past 10-15 years of music they have their own spin on their music which makes it stand out. We as artists need to tell our own story not someone else’s.
6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
KARMACOV: I think music is music it’s the people that develop their own narratives and opinions for this genre or that genre. People made music to express themselves and to celebrate. I don’t care who made a certain type of music first or whoever thinks that only certain people should be representing a certain genre or anything like that. I just do what I like and what makes me happy in music. I had a rough time when I was younger and music was absolutely crucial to me expressing my thoughts to others as I found it difficult to actually talk to people about that stuff let alone putting in a way that it made any sense 😂. I definitely think it will always be an effective way to express ourselves especially compared to the alternatives that can arise out of struggle. But on a spiritual level I love the fact that someone else could get some happiness or be able to relate to what I’m saying and feel like it isn’t just them that thinks that way. I can’t explain the feeling I get when I here something that just makes me stop everything, get goosebumps and just wana jump around it’s incredible and I love the fact I could potentially give that to someone else.
7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
KARMACOV: no I’m just happy to perform, create music and look back at it “like yeah I’m happy how that sounds” I’m not looking for fulfillment or looking for something more I’m just happy being able to express my self through music in my own way and see others enjoy it.
8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
KARMACOV: yeah so, I usually search beats like most of my time and just freestyle in my head and, what ever stands out to me like a flow or lyrics kinda just come out. Normally now what happens is I get the first bar then I just keep Going till a song is finished but if I’m struggling to write to a tune that I’m determined to complete then I write different ideas together over a few days and then piece them all together to make a verse. That works for me also. I do that on my own but when I work on a feature then I’ll show what I have to others and they can give their ideas which I can consider or they can give a different view of how the verse to go all of which helps the final product.
9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
KARMACOV: self confidence in music and the death of my dad in my personal life, along with dealing with alcholism which I have been free from today for nearly two years which, is where all of the progress especially musically, lately has come from.
10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
KARMACOV: Being a dad, getting sober and putting my family and others first. And latly I have been given the opportunity to perform on the main stage at godiva festival which is something I have applied for for years before. So to have that opportunity is massive and I’m really grateful for that.
11. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?
KARMACOV: no, honesty I used to be affected by that stuff before but it’s insane to think I can make everyone happy so I just accept that everyone will have their own opinions and that’s the way it is. I just focus on myself and it works for me.
12. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?
KARMACOV: ermmm both I think but I do think a live audience is the one for me because really, the live shows are where it’s at in the end that personal interaction with the listeners makes a difference to both the artist and the listener.
13. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?
KARMACOV: everyone should be free to interpret the songs in their own personal way. I believe the personal relation to the song or lyrics is what keeps the song in our heads. Also by liking the song on the surface level like when it’s heard for the first time might lead to them repeating it and so getting to hear and maybe identify with the what’s being said in it
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