Steven Bamidele

Photo by Alex Butcher

Name, where are you from?
Steven Bamidele, from Suffolk, living in Brighton.

Describe your style in three words?
Very oversized tops.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I’ve been to some seriously amazing shows, but the best was Snarky Puppy at O2 Brixton Academy a few years back. Needless to say, they are absolutely killer live, just top-grade musicians. They brought Jacob Collier and Becca Stevens out a number of times too. Congrats to them on the Grammy win.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
Marvin Gaye. I was hugely influenced by MG’s vocal style. When I first heard the album 'What’s Going On' I found it fascinating how he just recorded loads of his vocals and just put it in the track as atmosphere. I started doing that with my tracks after that point. Radiohead. Just one of the best bands for all the reasons we already know, and another huge influence on me, on the sonic and lyrical side of things.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
I grew up in Suffolk which was and is still pretty devoid of any interesting culture. I guess when I was younger I loved pop-punk and skateboarding, so that aesthetic sort of guided me back then. These days I guess I identify with the bedroom producer subculture, if that’s considered a subculture. I’m just a big fan of people doing what they do no matter what anyone says, going against the grain, being stubborn about it etc. I think the best results in art come out of that attitude.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Non-musician, Michael Jordan. I’ve gotten into basketball recently. I’m obsessed with 'GOAT' chat when it comes to that sport. Would love to get in his head for an hour. Musician, James Blake. My whole perspective on creating music changed when I started listening to him. My friend Kerr showed me his self-titled album shortly after it was released. Up until that point I was only into punk/rock and I hated synths/drum machines and anything that sounded fake or produced. That album made me realise what a fool I’d been and made me realise the creative potential in electronic production.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
L’Astral in Montreal, Montreal Jazz Festival 2016! Such a good vibe.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
I lost my dad in November 2019. A couple of days later I went to see my friend’s Stretch Soul Gang play a show in Bury St. Edmunds, they’re my best friends in the world and I’ve watched them develop as a live band over the years. I hadn’t caught them in some time because I’d moved away to Brighton. It was so amazing to see how good they were live and the dedicated fan base they had in Suffolk. I really needed that at that moment. I’m biased because they’re mates but they are seriously one of the best live bands you’ll ever see.

Steven Bamidele recently released his new track 'You Were Wrong'. Listen, purchase or stream it via fanlink.to/youwerewrong.

Steven has also recently announced his new EP 'Uncrowded' which will be released on 15th October 2021.