Mike Skinner recently moved to London from his native Birmingham, which, he says, is the only place ‘to do proper business’. Is that what it’s become? Borne out of the bedroom and the mind, Mike Skinner now orbits a very different world to the one he did when the Streets began, with brilliantly hooky debut Original Pirate Material. “It is a business,” he states, “but that doesn’t mean that it’s not really creative and a dream to do. I think it’s to the artist’s disadvantage if they don’t get that right in the head, and they’re the artists who end up feeling like they got fucked over by the industry.”
The Streets’ third album, The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living, explicitly detailed Skinner’s own trials and tribulations as part of the machine, as Original Pirate Material was followed up with the better again A Grand Don’t Come For Free. That second album made Skinner a star the world over – even America began to warm to his Brummy charm, brilliant lyrical and narrative sense, and outstanding beats. “It’s really fun to be able to make the music,” he says quietly.
If that ain’t a flat statement as to his thoughts on the business side of things, well, hmm. Of course, Skinner is now part a head honcho himself, starting up his own label, signing up the likes of the Mitchell Brothers, Professor Green, and with hopes to bring Sceptre onto the label as well. Where does the boy find the time to pump out an album nearly every year, and head up the label at the same time, when most musicians tend to struggle scratching and sniffing at the same time?
“It’s all just making music really,” Mike explains. “I’m definitely more focused on the Streets lately, but early [in 2006] it was all about the label. The next album [for the Mitchell Brothers] is a different kind of angle that they’re taking, and it’s very difficult for them and it takes a lot of bravery to come out of that world and make really experimental music. It can be quite boxed in in that world – it’s all about who’s the toughest. The Mitchell Brothers are making really creative music, and it’s not about how tough they are.
I think the problem is that it’s such an enclosed world,” he says of the current grime scene. “You’re talking about a few miles around Hackney, and I think it’s very difficult for most kids to identify with that life. They’re making honest music, but kids want rock music at the moment, or kids talking about suburban life.”
The Streets tour Australia on the Big Day Out:
Sun Jan 21 – Big Day Out, Gold Coast
Thu Jan 25 – Big Day Out, Sydney
Sat Jan 27 – The Metro, Sydney
Sun Jan 28 – Big Day Out, Melbourne
Thu Feb 1 – Prince Of Wales, Melbourne
Fri Feb 2 – Big Day Out, Adelaide
Sun Feb 4 – Big Day Out, Perth
Stay up to date on all things BDO with the inthemix Festival Page HERE!
untitled-1 says...
side show perth pleeeeeeese????
charlicopping says...
I saw then in the UK about3 years ago! Was one of the best gig's I have been to...was very chilled out but awesome! Wasn't going to go to Big Day OUt...maybe I will now! :)