Artist Takeover: ELMZ XIX

New Art Exchange introduces Elmz XIX – an unsigned Rap Artist, Songwriter, and Producer from Nottingham, UK.

He is noted for having a deep, captivating voice and profound lyrics often accompanying his own experimental production.

The themes of his music range from having a good time to covering current socio political issues. His underlying theme is advocating peace.

He draws inspiration from old school Hip Hop, Grime and Reggae as heard on his BBC Introducing debut track “Passa Passa” and is carving out his own future sound.

Recently a part of Capital Xtra’s Music Potential, a collective of the best young Musicians across the UK. He performed at Outlook Festival in Croatia 2018. He is also part of NAEs Experimentor artist development programme.

Credits include performing at Outlook Festival, Y Not Festival, Rock City, Rough Trade, Capital Xtra Music Potential, Nottingham Carnival, and more.

He is currently working on his debut EP “Don’t Look Down” to be released in 2020.

This is the documentation of Elmz XIX’s takeover for NAE’s Instagram channel from 7 – 12 July 2020.

1.

“Better Days” is the title of my self-produced track about the hope of better days ahead.

This image is a collage of the song lyrics.

Inspired by the current events of the Covid 19 Pandemic, Lockdown and the Black Lives Matter protests this is an uplifitng song to keep spirits high in this current climate.

Chorus:

Sometimes

A elevate

When a meditate

through the vibes and the melodies

Sometimes

A elevate

When a meditate

through the vibes and the melodies

Some – times

A elevate

When a meditate

through the vibes and the melodies

A need

Good vibes and better days

Good vibes and better days

Verse 1:

Good vibes and better days let’s elevate

Ah, through the hard times better days –

there pushing our buttons until we detonate

So we hit the pavement and we demonstrate

Cus we’re sick and tired

Of living like this

The racial hatred

The instant bias

We’re sick and tired

Ah, cah

Am looking for peace of mind,

It’s not that far a can see the signs –

It’s The reason why – a keep the fight

Alive inside the fires bright

so I can free the mind

Of those that need healing,

And better understanding,

Yeah

And better understanding, ah

Chorus

Verse 2:

Good vibes and better days let’s elevate

Ah, through the hard times better days –

there pushing our buttons until we detonate

So we hit the pavement and we demonstrate

The time is now,

The time is here,

Take a stance, fight the fear

Cus we have to pull together –

To make racism disappear

Ah, cah

Am looking for peace of mind,

It’s not that far a can see the signs –

It’s The reason why – a keep the fight

Alive inside the fires bright

so I can free the mind

Of those that need healing,

And better understanding,

Yeah

And better understanding, ah

Chorus x2

2.

“Better Days”

To listen to the song click here.

My self-produced track is titled “Better Days” as a window of hope for the current situations that have accumulated in 2020 (Covid 19, Black Lives Matter Protests, and Worldwide Quarantine/ Isolation ).

The artwork which I designed shows a dark and gloomy vinyl case representing the mood of the current climate but also the nostalgic feeling of the recent past that we’re unsure will return.

In the centre the paper is torn and I’m standing with bright clouds behind me.

This illustrates breaking free from gloomy days and into the hope of brighter days ahead.

The song reflects on the worldwide protests of June 2020 against Racism/Systemic oppression triggered by the murder of George Floyd. The song also reflects on the Covid 19 Pandemic and on ultimately moving forward into “Better Days”.

There’s still hope for a 2020 vision.

3.

This image is a glimpse into my bedroom converted into a last minute studio due to the Covid 19 lockdown.

The six inch memory foam mattress on the left acts as acoustic treatment to dampen room resonance.
The propped up mattress on the right does the same thing enclosing one side of this make shift recording booth.

This small perimeter has been my creative breeding ground and took my mind away to a higher space sonically.

On the left speaker is a childhood toy to remind me of the playfulness of making music which we can forget as Artists amongst the machinery and the pressure of trying to break into the music industry.

This where I created “Better Days”.

Creativity cannot be dampened regardless of any situation.

We adapt and move forward.

4.

Sunday the 7th of June 2020.

The Forest Recreational ground becomes centre stage for the Black Lives Matter protest in Nottingham.

I stood anxiously amongst the crowd of 1000s. The fear of being exposed to Covid 19 was looming but people’s convictions for the good of humanity stood stronger.

Despite being in the midst of a pandemic the unity amongst the community was great enough to bring people together for the greater good.

George Floyd was murdered on 25.05.20 by Police Officers kneeling on his neck for 8mins 46 seconds!

In honour of his cruel, agonising and unjust death we knelt on the cold ground beneath us for the same amount of time he was executed.

As my knees dug into the cold, wet dirt and my back started to cave in I realised the time and extent of the suffering George Floyd endured from his merciless executors.

I could only imagine if the softened dirt was instead hardened concrete with the bodyweight of three grown men on top of me with my last breath squeezed out of me by the knees of oppression.

This was one of my inspirations to create the song “Better Days”.