As the U.K. drill scene continues to flourish worldwide, we’re seeing increasingly surreal shifts in the culture: we live in a world where Drake links up with Headie One, where Piers Morgan reacts to the genre on live TV, where Michael Jackson & drill mash-ups secure millions of views online. But growth in the culture also comes with investment in its future: drill, through its globalisation and widening influence, is becoming a fertile ground for new philosophies. And nowhere has this been better seen than in the 808-driven world of its production – a world where East London’s Bluey Bluetooth is making his mark.
Bluey is fresh off the back of his biggest track to date, “Rise & Prosper,” a spurring, melodic collaboration with Brixton rapper Ard Adz. The core behind the track is a signature style that Bluey calls “DrillSoul,” a sound as emotive as it is stalwart. With a career behind the boards dating back to 2007, Bluey’s wide influences have culminated in what he describes as a “soulful melodic twist” on the drill genre, a sound that infuses the scene’s frenetic grit with more emotive and harmonic notes. The effect is as versatile as it is fresh: as well as adding pain-laced gravitas to Lady Ice’s “No More Secrets” and introspective vibes to Sho Shallow’s “Tay K,” Bluey’s newfound sound has landed him work with U.K. legends including President T and Ghetts. And with plenty of new collaborations teased via his Instagram, there’s no doubt that the “East London Magician” is set to reach new heights coming into 2021.
To kick off the new year, I spoke to the Newham musician about DrillSoul, Nando’s, and the future of the scene.
D: Let’s kick things off with an introduction, for those who might not have heard your music. How would you describe yourself to somebody who’s never heard your tunes?
B: I make heartfelt music that moves the soul; I’m all about the feeling and the vibe; my sound tells a story and makes you feel like you’re on a journey. I make all kinds of music, but have been focused on a new wave of Drill music I created in 2019 called “Drill Soul,” which has the dark & punchy Drill sound blended with a Soulful melodic twist, fused together with different genres. This fusion of sound evokes more emotion, and although upbeat, gives more of a chilled vibe than the typical Drill sound.
D: How did that “DrillSoul” sound first come about?
B: It was mid-summer 2019, I wanted to bring a new sound because I felt the Drill sound was getting repetitive, and how I wanted to hear it wasn’t being produced by anybody at the time. So that’s when I felt inspired and decided to start experimenting with the sound, and fused together different genres to create Drill Soul. I knew it was something that was missing in the scene – as soon as I released my first Drill Soul beats they quickly gained attention from DJs across the industry, getting played on stations like BBC 1xtra, Rinse FM, Mode FM & many more.
D: There’s definitely a gap in the market for those melodically-driven drill beats, as we’ve seen producers like yourself and Chris Rich capitalize on. Have you got any predictions for how the scene is going to evolve this year?
B: Well, I think although the dark Drill sound is still quite dominant, we are going to hear more melodic Drill throughout the year. Not all artists want to sound the same, and are looking for Drill with a spin to it; the sound is becoming more familiar, due to producers like myself pushing it into the market. I produced “Rise & Prosper” for Ard Adz last month, and since then it has racked over half a million views in just two weeks: an example of the transition of Drill, and how Drill Soul is allowing artists you wouldn’t usually hear on Drill jump on this new wave with ease.
D: For sure, you’ve worked with a surprising number of grime artists for a Drill producer – Ghetts and Prez being obvious examples. Are there any other unexpected collabs you’d like to make happen this year?
B: I wouldn’t really class myself as a Drill producer, as I’ve always been making an array of different genres. I actually started making Grime before anything – over a decade ago now – but Drill Soul is testament to all my musical influences in one. I’ve got quite a few collaborations in the pipeline for 2021 – I can’t say right now but there’s definitely some great things to look forward to, and as of now I’m just busy working on multiple projects.
D: I’d hoped you’d mention that, haha – people might not know, but you used to rap as well, on earlier tapes like Connect In Time. Do you ever see yourself picking up the mic again, or are you finding the production side of things more fulfilling?
B: You’re on point with your info, haha – I’ll definitely be picking up the mic again. All in due time, but expect to hear more of my production first.
D: Looking forward to it! Last one for the culture, and maybe the most important question of all – what’s your go-to at Nando’s?
B: Well you can’t go wrong with a Medium 1/2 Chicken, Garlic Bread, Rice & Halloumi.
D: I can’t argue with that.
You can keep up with Bluey’s latest tunes over at his Instagram and Youtube.
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