Interview Time: Marvin The Martian
Marvin The Martian Describe Hoods and Badges concept?
‘Hoods and Badges’ the mixtape and the E.P, the whole thing is really about trying to capture the sound of the best city in the world. Taking from the best music, the most exciting music and creating something that speaks to as many people like me as possible and at the same time, tell those who don’t live here what London is right now, not just musically, but physically.
Single ‘I don’t go (Alone)’ (With Good Books) describe?
‘I Don’t Go (Alone)’ is a song about three times in my life when I was truly alone and panicked because I knew it couldn’t carry on that way. It’s about getting to the edge of your ability to deal with a situation, the very edge and making the right choice. Not everybody makes the right choice.
The track ‘Stay off the kane’, what does Kane mean is it a drug, describe the track?
Ha-ha. Kane is an addiction! Whatever you’re addicted to, whatever you’re chasing. That’s what Kane is. Kane is weed to me; Kane is probably destructive women to me. Kane is something in your life that is there, and you probably don’t even realise it shouldn’t be.
The new label given to your music Grindie, how do feel about this label do you think it represents your music well?
I don’t like labels. I’ve got a song called ‘Music Man’ and it’s called ‘Music Man’ for a reason, the title’s pretty self-explanatory, I just make music, whatever label it is given is cool, but I don’t label it. As for the “G-word”, I don’t think it will really last longer then a few songs and that’s being optimistic.
Partnering with Akira the Don on a track do you share his political views in general?
I think that politically I’m almost Akira’s exact opposite. Not exact opposite, but Akira’s a lot more liberal then I am about a lot of things. The music has grown so much because of indie and Grime’s current growth, obviously if you do something and you see that people of other genres are doing better you either get on their wagon or get step up your own. The strength of British music right now is benefiting everybody over here.
How old are you?
I’m an 80s baby. A quarter of a century on earth.
What do feel you have learnt through out the hard times in your life, which you can pass on to the younger generation?
I try to pass on my hard times through my daughter, so getting across my life’s lessons would be hard to sum-up. But I will say that having my daughter as young as I did has meant I’m better equipped to share my story, my history and my lessons with younger generations. I’ve been through a lot and continue to do so, my writing style has become so autobiographical over the last few years that there’s always something in a song from me to you that can be learnt from, whether it be my attitude growing up, my paranoia, my trust, my frustration, I’m giving you my all. I want everybody to take something from my life.
What are your musical influences?
What influences my music? Life, the streets, the clubs, the police, the T.V, the radio, the internet, existence. Who? I’d count my main corner stone influences as Jay-Z, I love the way he handles his music and business together, to me that’s beautiful, really being able to something you love as a career, on top of being the best rapper of all time. Marilyn Manson’s got the ability to make me want to listen to every word constantly; he gets emotion across so well. Art Brut for their live performance and the way they do so much when it seems like they’re doing so little. Sway as well, he inspires and influences me with his achievements, on top of being a great rapper of course. Sway’s somebody we really need to be proud of.