NEWS
EVENTS
Ms Dynamite Interview
RnB/Hip Hop | Thursday 11th August 2011 | Osh
Hey Naomi how are you and the family doing?
Hi, yeah I’m well, everybody's really good thanks.
Nice, I hear you’ve been rocking crowds and stealing shows?
I’m glad you’ve been hearing that! Yeah, I’ve been good I’ve been really enjoying myself.
So I heard you had fun at Hideout?
Yeah man it was wicked I loved it, Croatia is soo unbelievably beautiful, honestly, it was amazing, I really really enjoyed myself. And I got to stay for like half a day the next day so it was really nice. I got to see a little bit of it which we don’t usually get to do so it was really good.
Half a day, what kind of a holiday is that?
[laughs] It’s not a holiday, that’s the whole point, it was work!
So have you managed to take a holiday over the last year?
Um no, I took a holiday in the new year, so December/January I went to Jamaica with my son so we got to spend some time together.
So have you got anything planned over the next year?
Well, yea I mean I just see how my schedule goes and figure some time out somewhere. At the moment it doesn’t look like it’s gonna be anytime soon, just do what you gotta do you know!
Well, as ever you sound like your really on your grind...
Yea, I don’t believe in doing things half-heatedly, so its gotta be one hundred percent otherwise there’s no point in doing it at all really. I'm definitely there, one hundred percent.
On the music side, whats to come?
I’ve got the single which is going to be released on the 28th of August and that's Never Soft with Labyrinth and we’ll just take it from there. I like to do what feels right, as and when it feels right.
I was talking to Pete Rock yesterday and I was thinking I would love to put Ms Dynamite over a hip-hop Pete Rock tune...
Do you know what? In fact I did work with him but it was a couple of years ago. He was doing something with Talent Kwali. I was in the studio with them and I think Andy Stone was in the studio at the same time and they had this beat and wanted me do something on it. I just remember meeting them and they were really really cool and they always said it would be cool to do something in the future, so yeah that would be all good!
So, we all listen to inspiring music right now, I’m listening to Roots how I got over. Have you got that album?
I’ve never seen Roots, but I heard there gonna be at the Forum on the 19th. Yeah, I’d really love to get there and see them.
So what are you listening to at the moment?
Do you know, I find I'm doing more reading than listening. The last thing I was listening to actually was Grace Jones, her album which is wicked, really really love that.
So, any books you can recommend?
The book I’ve been reading for quite sometime is a book called Women Who Run With Wars, with Clarissa Pinkover.
Is that the same woman that did the girl with the dragon tattoo?
Yeah, she does a lot of that, shes like a spiritual healer but through old storytelling and I’m really into healing and alternative therapy and she does that kind of thing. But this particular book is good, it’s really good; but I have to read over each page a couple of times because she writes in such an artistic and beautiful way. There’s a lot of messages in there and a lot of metaphors, one of those books you have to read in between the lines. So I really have to make sure that I’m taking it in. It’s cool.
So, is the album in the making now, how far away is that?
I reckon there’s maybe a quarter left to do, but I like to have everything together and then take it from there. Yeah, its going really well; I’m really enjoying it, it’s taking up nicely with lots of different elements of what makes it musically.
So its all about the time being right?
Yeah definitely, 100%.
Your very down to earth, how do you keep your feet on the ground when your always on the move?
I’m just very healthy, I eat well, I try to eat well. I love what I do, I love life. I have a son and I just feel really appreciative of every aspect of my life. I think every body's a bit crazy if I’m honest, I don’t think any of us are quite what we seem. I think when your feet are not on the ground though you start believing the hype, and your not really appreciative of the position that you have.
You sound like you live a spiritually grounded life. You said you try and eat well; does that mean you try to sneak in a big mac now and then?
Never ever, ever, nothing like a big mac. Occasionally the chocolate sneaks its way in, or maybe a little bit of cheese. Actually, I don’t really struggle too badly with chocolate, its only if I see someone else with chocolate. If I go into a shop, I’m completely prepared for the chocolate stand. But cheese, oh my gosh!
You’ve mentioned in some previous interviews that you have some OCD kind of complex. What kinds of crazy things does that lead you to do where you think ‘oh do I really do that’?
Oh my goodness, there’s so much stuff I wouldn’t know where to begin! Everything has to be very tidy, very clean and in its place. I have to wash my hands quite a lot sometimes. But everything just has to be in its place at the right time.
Does everything have to be symmetrical?
Yeah, symmetry and colour coordination are definitely on the top of my list in terms of OCD.
So everything in your fridge is symmetrical and colour coordinated?
Yeah, if I’ve got cans of beans or anything all the labels would have to be facing me, and if I had two cans of beans they would have to be together, the cans of spaghetti would have to be together. Everything has to be facing you. See this is why I didn’t want to go into this!
I think you should tweet out the pictures of your cupboards; that would be quite funny.
If I tweeted the pictures of my cupboards people would be like, wow we need to get her some help.
Haha Your performing soon at SW4, are you looking forward to that?
Yeah definitely, can’t wait.
Have you got any other big shows? We’re going to see you at carnival I hope?
Yeah definitely at carnival, I’ve got another tomorrow at Sheffield. And there’s loads of other festivals coming up before summer is over.
I see there’s a reggae festival in Birmingham with Barrington levy your doing?
Yeah, there’s so many. Im looking forward to all of them, they’re going to be good.
When you see hard work ahead of you, what percentage is making music and what percentage is touring?
I don’t really see any of it as hard work, I love everything I do. I feel blessed to be able to do something I love to do, and to be getting paid. That’s a blessing, that’s not hard work to me. Hard work is having to sit down 9 to 5. Even though it would probably take less energy, it’s hard work because its not making me feel inspired.
But speaking sort of time wise?
Time wise, my immediate future is touring more and making music is going to come more after the summer period.
So is there a whole years worth of partying ahead of you and maybe then you’ll settle down to some hard work?
On the making music side of things, yeah. I don’t really view that as hard work either.
It’s like partying, being on tour though, isn’t it?
Yeah, kind of, its different, but it’s still a lot of fun. It’s like being creative.
So tell us about your live show now. Are you at the top of your game, or is there still work that needs to be done on it?
I always feel like on the one hand it’s the top of its game, I give 150% on every performance that I do. But then at the same time I always feel like there’s more that I could be doing. I think now, because we’ve sort of been doing a similar set, I really wanna look into, probably towards the end of the summer and going into the fourth quarter, I want to look into updating the set a little bit more. But in terms of energy and everything else about the performance, I always feel like I’m giving 100%. Occasionally, you think things like the sound could have been better, but that’s out of my control. I just don’t ever bother to worry, if it’s not in my control I’m not going to worry. I just do what I can do and keep it moving.
So, outside of music, what’s on your mind at the moment?
Erm, what do you mean ‘what’s on my mind’?
You know, everyone has things that occupy their thoughts. I know you’re always thinking about work, and of course your family, that’s another full time job. But what about you? What’s in your time? Have you got a boyfriend?
There’s no me time. There’s my family’s time, there’s my loved ones’ time and my musics time. But that’s about it, that’s my life. Family, loved ones, music - that’s as far as it goes. To me that is me time, because they’re the things that make me happy, that I love. So yeah, they’re consuming my time, but there’s a happiness that comes with it. I feel very honoured to be in that position.
It’s a happy existence.
Yeah, definitely. But there’s a difference between living and existing, and I would say I live life to the fullest without a doubt.
Plus, you’ve got your whole twitter life as well.
Yeah, for real, definitely!
Well good luck with everything, I’m sure you’re all over the place?
I’m at Sheffield doing the Tramline festival and another one in the evening. I’ve got fabric tonight.
I’m surprised I haven’t caught up with you so far throughout the year, I’ve just been unfortunate, but we’ll catch up at the carnival?
Yeah, definitely come down, it would be great to see you, come and check out the show.
So how are you travelling tomorrow? Are you on a tour bus? Are you flying to Sheffield in a helicopter?
No, no, me and my Dj, we just drive down there.
They must have had enough of getting the tour bus all symmetrical and colour-coordinated?
No, it’s not even like that. There is no ‘they’, I control my own stuff. I’m the boss of my own things, if that makes sense. So there is no ‘they’ that needs to organise a tour bus and that kind of stuff, it’s not like that. I’m very much in control of what I’m doing. There’s no need for a tour bus, because it’s just me and my dj. Sometimes I might bring a friend or two, and there’s always space for that, but I’m not a person that needs a big tour bus and a big entourage. I do my work and then I come back to my son, and that’s it.
I thought there would be people running around you, but you’re taking control?
Yeah, no one can really not let me do anything. Whether it’s in music or any aspect of my life, I’m in control. So it goes how I want it to go!
Hi, yeah I’m well, everybody's really good thanks.
Nice, I hear you’ve been rocking crowds and stealing shows?
I’m glad you’ve been hearing that! Yeah, I’ve been good I’ve been really enjoying myself.
So I heard you had fun at Hideout?
Yeah man it was wicked I loved it, Croatia is soo unbelievably beautiful, honestly, it was amazing, I really really enjoyed myself. And I got to stay for like half a day the next day so it was really nice. I got to see a little bit of it which we don’t usually get to do so it was really good.
Half a day, what kind of a holiday is that?
[laughs] It’s not a holiday, that’s the whole point, it was work!
So have you managed to take a holiday over the last year?
Um no, I took a holiday in the new year, so December/January I went to Jamaica with my son so we got to spend some time together.
So have you got anything planned over the next year?
Well, yea I mean I just see how my schedule goes and figure some time out somewhere. At the moment it doesn’t look like it’s gonna be anytime soon, just do what you gotta do you know!
Well, as ever you sound like your really on your grind...
Yea, I don’t believe in doing things half-heatedly, so its gotta be one hundred percent otherwise there’s no point in doing it at all really. I'm definitely there, one hundred percent.
On the music side, whats to come?
I’ve got the single which is going to be released on the 28th of August and that's Never Soft with Labyrinth and we’ll just take it from there. I like to do what feels right, as and when it feels right.
I was talking to Pete Rock yesterday and I was thinking I would love to put Ms Dynamite over a hip-hop Pete Rock tune...
Do you know what? In fact I did work with him but it was a couple of years ago. He was doing something with Talent Kwali. I was in the studio with them and I think Andy Stone was in the studio at the same time and they had this beat and wanted me do something on it. I just remember meeting them and they were really really cool and they always said it would be cool to do something in the future, so yeah that would be all good!
So, we all listen to inspiring music right now, I’m listening to Roots how I got over. Have you got that album?
I’ve never seen Roots, but I heard there gonna be at the Forum on the 19th. Yeah, I’d really love to get there and see them.
So what are you listening to at the moment?
Do you know, I find I'm doing more reading than listening. The last thing I was listening to actually was Grace Jones, her album which is wicked, really really love that.
So, any books you can recommend?
The book I’ve been reading for quite sometime is a book called Women Who Run With Wars, with Clarissa Pinkover.
Is that the same woman that did the girl with the dragon tattoo?
Yeah, she does a lot of that, shes like a spiritual healer but through old storytelling and I’m really into healing and alternative therapy and she does that kind of thing. But this particular book is good, it’s really good; but I have to read over each page a couple of times because she writes in such an artistic and beautiful way. There’s a lot of messages in there and a lot of metaphors, one of those books you have to read in between the lines. So I really have to make sure that I’m taking it in. It’s cool.
So, is the album in the making now, how far away is that?
I reckon there’s maybe a quarter left to do, but I like to have everything together and then take it from there. Yeah, its going really well; I’m really enjoying it, it’s taking up nicely with lots of different elements of what makes it musically.
So its all about the time being right?
Yeah definitely, 100%.
Your very down to earth, how do you keep your feet on the ground when your always on the move?
I’m just very healthy, I eat well, I try to eat well. I love what I do, I love life. I have a son and I just feel really appreciative of every aspect of my life. I think every body's a bit crazy if I’m honest, I don’t think any of us are quite what we seem. I think when your feet are not on the ground though you start believing the hype, and your not really appreciative of the position that you have.
You sound like you live a spiritually grounded life. You said you try and eat well; does that mean you try to sneak in a big mac now and then?
Never ever, ever, nothing like a big mac. Occasionally the chocolate sneaks its way in, or maybe a little bit of cheese. Actually, I don’t really struggle too badly with chocolate, its only if I see someone else with chocolate. If I go into a shop, I’m completely prepared for the chocolate stand. But cheese, oh my gosh!
You’ve mentioned in some previous interviews that you have some OCD kind of complex. What kinds of crazy things does that lead you to do where you think ‘oh do I really do that’?
Oh my goodness, there’s so much stuff I wouldn’t know where to begin! Everything has to be very tidy, very clean and in its place. I have to wash my hands quite a lot sometimes. But everything just has to be in its place at the right time.
Does everything have to be symmetrical?
Yeah, symmetry and colour coordination are definitely on the top of my list in terms of OCD.
So everything in your fridge is symmetrical and colour coordinated?
Yeah, if I’ve got cans of beans or anything all the labels would have to be facing me, and if I had two cans of beans they would have to be together, the cans of spaghetti would have to be together. Everything has to be facing you. See this is why I didn’t want to go into this!
I think you should tweet out the pictures of your cupboards; that would be quite funny.
If I tweeted the pictures of my cupboards people would be like, wow we need to get her some help.
Haha Your performing soon at SW4, are you looking forward to that?
Yeah definitely, can’t wait.
Have you got any other big shows? We’re going to see you at carnival I hope?
Yeah definitely at carnival, I’ve got another tomorrow at Sheffield. And there’s loads of other festivals coming up before summer is over.
I see there’s a reggae festival in Birmingham with Barrington levy your doing?
Yeah, there’s so many. Im looking forward to all of them, they’re going to be good.
When you see hard work ahead of you, what percentage is making music and what percentage is touring?
I don’t really see any of it as hard work, I love everything I do. I feel blessed to be able to do something I love to do, and to be getting paid. That’s a blessing, that’s not hard work to me. Hard work is having to sit down 9 to 5. Even though it would probably take less energy, it’s hard work because its not making me feel inspired.
But speaking sort of time wise?
Time wise, my immediate future is touring more and making music is going to come more after the summer period.
So is there a whole years worth of partying ahead of you and maybe then you’ll settle down to some hard work?
On the making music side of things, yeah. I don’t really view that as hard work either.
It’s like partying, being on tour though, isn’t it?
Yeah, kind of, its different, but it’s still a lot of fun. It’s like being creative.
So tell us about your live show now. Are you at the top of your game, or is there still work that needs to be done on it?
I always feel like on the one hand it’s the top of its game, I give 150% on every performance that I do. But then at the same time I always feel like there’s more that I could be doing. I think now, because we’ve sort of been doing a similar set, I really wanna look into, probably towards the end of the summer and going into the fourth quarter, I want to look into updating the set a little bit more. But in terms of energy and everything else about the performance, I always feel like I’m giving 100%. Occasionally, you think things like the sound could have been better, but that’s out of my control. I just don’t ever bother to worry, if it’s not in my control I’m not going to worry. I just do what I can do and keep it moving.
So, outside of music, what’s on your mind at the moment?
Erm, what do you mean ‘what’s on my mind’?
You know, everyone has things that occupy their thoughts. I know you’re always thinking about work, and of course your family, that’s another full time job. But what about you? What’s in your time? Have you got a boyfriend?
There’s no me time. There’s my family’s time, there’s my loved ones’ time and my musics time. But that’s about it, that’s my life. Family, loved ones, music - that’s as far as it goes. To me that is me time, because they’re the things that make me happy, that I love. So yeah, they’re consuming my time, but there’s a happiness that comes with it. I feel very honoured to be in that position.
It’s a happy existence.
Yeah, definitely. But there’s a difference between living and existing, and I would say I live life to the fullest without a doubt.
Plus, you’ve got your whole twitter life as well.
Yeah, for real, definitely!
Well good luck with everything, I’m sure you’re all over the place?
I’m at Sheffield doing the Tramline festival and another one in the evening. I’ve got fabric tonight.
I’m surprised I haven’t caught up with you so far throughout the year, I’ve just been unfortunate, but we’ll catch up at the carnival?
Yeah, definitely come down, it would be great to see you, come and check out the show.
So how are you travelling tomorrow? Are you on a tour bus? Are you flying to Sheffield in a helicopter?
No, no, me and my Dj, we just drive down there.
They must have had enough of getting the tour bus all symmetrical and colour-coordinated?
No, it’s not even like that. There is no ‘they’, I control my own stuff. I’m the boss of my own things, if that makes sense. So there is no ‘they’ that needs to organise a tour bus and that kind of stuff, it’s not like that. I’m very much in control of what I’m doing. There’s no need for a tour bus, because it’s just me and my dj. Sometimes I might bring a friend or two, and there’s always space for that, but I’m not a person that needs a big tour bus and a big entourage. I do my work and then I come back to my son, and that’s it.
I thought there would be people running around you, but you’re taking control?
Yeah, no one can really not let me do anything. Whether it’s in music or any aspect of my life, I’m in control. So it goes how I want it to go!
