PLACE OF BIRTH: C Shorty – Leeds, Me – Hammersmith. D: London

DATE OF BIRTH: C The band was born in 2001

 

Shorty are currently defining UK hip hop, with their unique and experimental blend of funk and rock with an occasional dip into American jazz and soul. They are made up of seven members, with Celeste on lead vocals, Cisco (MC), Ducane (MC/vocals), Jim Reynolds (guitar), Dan French (bass), Hudge (DJ) and Charlie Taylor (drums). The band are already well-known in certain circles, winning the Diesel-U-Music hip hop award, making appearances on MTV and an international advertising campaign for Pepsi. They have spent the past few years working with some of the UK’s best hip hop producers and touring around Europe supporting the likes of Roots Manuva, although they have sold out a crowd by themselves in London. Their totally unique yet iconic British sound never fails to win over a crowd and they have now become renowned for their live performances. They have recently signed to Gravy Records, which led them to billings at a whole host of the summer’s festivals. QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY DAN AND CISCO.

C - Straight after gigs we tend to hit the bar, drink and talk to people. It sounds quite narcissistic but face-to face you can really tell what people think even if they tell you you’re great!

C - Apart from not killing each other I’d say this year has been great for us. We’ve started to get the Shorty name out there and receive more acclaim for what we’re doing. Playing 02 Wireless and Ashton Court were mind-blowing. We’ve always seen ourselves as a live act more than anything else, so getting to do what we do best at this level just felt right... if not a little nerve-wracking.

D - Originals and Innovators. Artists with longevity who stick to their guns, take their own route and who aren’t distracted by fads and trends.

C - I’ve always been influenced by Jimi Hendrix and early hip hop and rock acts. I remember stealing my brother’s cassette copy of an early KRS 1 album and thinking, “man, I wanna do this!” I like people that take risks musically and lyrically and that won’t conform just to fit in.

C - I think the vibe at Shorty Central is one of expansion. We’ve got our foot in the door now and it’s definitely time to kick it open and let people know we’re here. We know we can hold our own in the festival scene so we want to push that more and start doing bigger and better ones. We live for that stuff! On top of all that, we’re writing new material, gigging more, and recording the second single and the album.

C - There are loads but right now I think it’s important we concentrate on getting our sound out there as us. I’m not saying we’re not interested in guest spots and collaborations but with seven of us throwing ideas in already it’s tough enough.

D - For me, there’s loads. Stevie Wonder being one but he’s got some explaining to do after that Blue business.

C - All of us fighting like dogs until we finally agree on something special. I don’t think we’ve really mastered our recipe yet, but we’re definitely on the right track.

C - Jack Daniels and home cooking. Honestly though, I’ve yet to experience anything that can meet the buzz of playing live music with the others to a large crowd. There’s something crazy about it.

C - Spam email, loyalty cards, adverts in papers for literacy classes, things like that drive me mad.

C - The last lot I bought were Amp Fiddler, The Kooks, and Rage’s first album that somebody stole off me

D - Drawing, designing, inventing and being creative - a gardener?

C – I would be a depressed, bored, and grumpy old man, with six similarly depressed friends who all meet up at least twice a week and dream of what could have been

SHORTYS DEBUT SINGLE ‘I TRY’ IS AVAILABLE NOW. CATCH THE BAND AS THEY TOUR THE UK THIS AUTUMN. TOUR DATES AND A FREE MIXTAPE DOWNLOAD (PRODUCED BY BABY J) CAN BE FOUND AT SHORTYONLINE.CO.UK AND WWW.MYSPACE.COM/SHORTYONLINE.