A&R scouts must be enjoying their desk jobs. The best place to find new music these days is not in the clubs, but on SoundCloud. Just ask acclaimed Canadian producer Ryan Hemsworth who spotted young Brisbane producer UV boi after he uploaded tracks Thank U and ghost, and went on to collaborate with him on Gods. Triple J also took note, naming UV boi their Listen Out winner in 2014.
After launching his latest track LUV, UV boi – AKA Emmanuel John – announced a national tour, including a spot on the Splendour in the Grass lineup. Here he talks about how SoundCloud has changed the music industry, attending his very first Splendour and the dream of seeing the Beastie Boys play.
You’re currently on your first national tour. Which has been your favourite city to play so far?
Each show I’ve played so far has been 11 out of 10. Adelaide kicked off the tour and that show was kind of like set the path for the rest of the shows, Adelaide set the bar pretty high, so yeah.
Which song gets stuck in your head most often?
Your Planet by Chrome Sparks. That returns to my head every now and then. It was the first song I fell in love with and ignited my love for music.
What song reminds you of being a little kid?
My family always said I listened to one song when I was younger and whenever I think about that, it takes me back. It’s Junior Senior, Move Your Feet (Don’t Stop the Beat).
You were discovered after you posted music on SoundCloud. What’s the best way to find new music on SoundCloud?
Go on someone’s profile and see what they’ve reposted, then you’ll spiral deeper and deeper until you find something. People I follow on SoundCloud [Shash’U, Soulja Boy, DJ Smokey] tend to repost songs that I like.
How has SoundCloud changed the industry for artists?
It’s given everyone a chance to display their abilities without having to join a label. And you can express whatever you want, you’re not locked to any particular genre. You can make an idea in five minutes, upload it within a minute and you’ll have 1,000 people listen, hopefully.
Given you’re not keen on being tied to one genre, how would you describe your music?
I explain it as melodic and 808 driven. Heavy on one end but still having colour and character up top. I tend to put a bit of emotion in it too.
Who has influenced you most?
Chrome Sparks as I mentioned. He’s one of the first artists I listened to before finding the love for music. There have been others like Flying Lotus and Flume. [Flume] showed that if you make whatever you love, you can achieve whatever. To see him doing that, I thought okay, that could be possible.
What motivates you?
Music drives me. I find it hard to express myself and music has given me that outlet. [Also] now I have people who follow my music, that gives me another drive to create and make music. And I’m making my family happy and proud, so that’s another one.
You are playing Splendour this year. Who else are you looking forward to?
I’m keen to see Porter Robinson, Young Franco, Cosmo’s Midnight, Allday, Tkay Maizda, Japanese Wallpaper. I haven’t seen Peking Duk play live and they’re friends of mine. It’s going to be my first Splendour ever and to have so many friends on the bill and going, I can’t wait.
Which musicians from the past would you like to meet?
I’d really like to meet the Wu Tang Clan, and ODB, he’s a really fun character. And the Beastie Boys too.
- UV boi plays Mr Wolf in Canberra on 17 July, then Sydney, Perth and Splendour in the Grass in Byron Bay
