Sidders

What’s your name and where are you from?
My name’s Sidders and I’m from North London.

Describe your style in three words?
Mellow, Comfy, Honest.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Pieces Of A Man: The Gil Scott-Heron project in 2016. It was crazy. A night dedicated to an icon of mine at the Roundhouse, there was Kwabs, Loyle Carner, Kate Tempest and a bag of other talented musicians painting a background for every track. To hear so many people talk about our surroundings at that age was inspiring, it showed that through music we can shift change and start a conversation.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
Ahhh, it would have to be Lauryn Hill & Prince you know. If you haven’t seen Prince perform 'Cream' at Webster hall go peep it. The guy oozed character. To take in that energy and learn from him would be sick. That’s what it’s about, ain't it? How you can grow with the artists around you. Then I saw Lauryn Hill in Brighton last year and it’s a memory I’ll never forget, the emotion and delivery was levels. From growing up listening to her lyrics to seeing her relive every track on stage, whatever line-up she blesses is where I’d wanna be.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Soundsystem from being with my dad when I was younger. We’d be in the car with radio rips of clashes or sets with by a guy shouting over the tune more than the actual lyrics. Through the years he’d be involved in the carnival setup too, so August was for tracks he’d try and show me that no one else had or what his stall was saying for that year. Then following that probably UKG. Growing up in London wouldn’t have been the same without Grime or UK Funky so no doubt it's affected my taste and attitude. The other side to that is Britpop as well, would always be impossible to avoid that.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Muhammad Ali. He’s always been an inspiration to me, regardless of his prowess as a boxer but for the man he was outside of the ring.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
You know what, it would have to be the Roundhouse. It’s where I first started making music, paying £2 to record with other artists every Sunday back when I was about 13 so to perform there has been a goal of mine for a minute. The setup of it is crazy too, the way the crowd surrounds the stage just hits different.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Sam Wise. Unapologetically himself and crafting his own lane.

Watch exclusive panel talk on ‘Music & Identity’ featuring Sidders at All Our Tomorrows Festival 2020. Find out more here.