When it comes to ‘foundation’ grime producers, Terror Danjah’s name should come up in everyone’s mind, having been involved in the scene since 2001 and helping to launch the careers of Mz Bratt, Tinie Tempah and Bruza. Since dropping two free albums over the summer, Terror Danjah is to release his forthcoming ‘Undeniable’ LP on dubstep pioneer Kode 9’s Hyperdub Records. Nick Russell chats to Mr. Danjah about the album, his international audience and how vinyl sales are as strong as ever, exclusively for The Wrap Up...
The Wrap Up: How much has the grime sound diversified since you began making it in the early noughties?
Terror Danjah: The artists/MCs have become more successful, especially since they've been making the beats themselves; for instance the likes of Wiley and Skepta, they've stripped down the music to suit their vocal. Also on the dancefloor and stage show, it's become more hip-hop orientated, which is good on one side, but on the other, it's killed the music as an art form for the rest of us who are making the beats and trying to make a living off of it. However, what's happened recently for instance with Hyperdub, is that we're able to take our music and DJ at live shows and make a living off of it as well. As we already know, sales have dropped and we were lucky to sell 500 units, but since the labels have believed in us again it has rejuvenated our careers.
TWU: OK, so why do you think that is?
Terror Danjah: I think in the early days they wanted to get involved, but it was too early and also it had a predominantly UK fanbase. But now the independent labels have grown and some are almost as powerful as certain majors, so now they can sell the records.
TWU: What was the reasoning behind the two free releases you gave away?
Terror Danjah: It was to promote myself, the album, everything. I sat back and watched Wiley do it, but I thought he did it out of frustration, so I chose to do the same and in August, giving away free music became something that was fashionable. A lot of people questioned why I did it, but I knew a lot of the music wasn't going to be used anyway, so I thought I might as well give it away. At the time they were ground-breaking albums, but I thought there was no point in trying to sell them now. Even though a lot of the content I released was unfinished work, it worked in my favour because everyone was going crazy when they heard it. A lot of people’s production levels have gone way down, so this helped to set me up for the Hyperdub albums where they'd hear a big difference.
TWU: Tell us about your new record…
Terror Danjah: They say I'm one of the pioneers of the grime scene. I've been around a hot minute - my career spans the last decade and on this album, I wanted to make more than just grime and wanted to encompass everything I've played and been involved with over the last ten years. I wanted to prove that I’m more than just a button pusher.
TWU: How did you get involved with Hyperdub, who are releasing your ‘Undeniable’ album?
Terror Danjah: I've known Kode 9, who runs the label, for many years now and I've seen him in and out of raves, often times playing my music, so we just decided to get it cracking and put this project together and here we are today. It will be out on CD, Wav, MP3 and flacc and of course on vinyl.
TWU: Hyperdub isn’t generally known for releasing grime music, so why do you think they decided to invest time and money into ‘Undeniable’?
Terror Danjah: In the early days it was all the same music. Grime and dubstep stemmed from the dark side of the garage scene, so when I was making stuff on TeeBone's Solid City label (the label behind vintage bangers such as Pay As U Go’s 'Know We' and Roll Deep’s 'Terrible') around 2001/2002, I had a release which was sounding even darker than them. Back then it was all related, but they have their own sounds now in 2010.
TWU: Which artists can we expect to hear on the album?
Terror Danjah: I've got the man of the moment, D Double E, he's my school friend so it had to be done. It also features my college friend Bruza, as well as the newcomer Dream McClean, who's in my tips for 2011, watch out for him! We've also got Lauren Mason, Griminal and Mz Bratt on the album as well.
TWU: Are you planning on doing a tour with this project?
Terror Danjah: We're doing an event at the Boiler Room in Shoreditch in October and I'm also in Edinburgh on the 25th September and playing at a festival in Poland. There’s also a tour across the US, Australia and New Zealand in planning at the moment.
TWU: Has Hyperdub's global following helped you get the album to places out of the ordinary?
Terror Danjah: Since I released the first single in January, I've been touring over the EU more than the UK, so the following is definitely there. The digital sales are strong across the various download stores, but what's surprising to me, is that I'm still selling thousands of vinyl - predominantly online, as the traditional shops are closing down. To be selling a few thousand units when others are only selling hundreds is surprising. The sales are also good on my own label, Harddrive, which will also be releasing other producers’ instrumental tunes.
TWU: Which artists should we be looking out for?
Terror Danjah: Mz bratt is already very much on everyone’s radar. I’m working on her album, but she's also been working with other producers and finding herself as an artist and I recently got my name back as a credible producer (after being away for a while) so when we work together our names will be as powerful as each other’s. Other artists to look out for; definitely Dream McLean and definitely Maxsta.
TWU: Do you think there's an emerging market in the US for grime and dubstep to exploit?
Terror Danjah: The only thing with the US is that we still follow them. So what will happen is they'll come here, replicate our sound and send it back to us! Producers like Timbaland and Pharell would come to Ministry, sit at the back and nod their head and then go off with the latest style back to their studio. Hopefully we're putting a stop to it and they'll set up shop here, like Island did with Bob Marley.
TWU: Do you think the mainstream media's exposure of the grime scene (The Sun, The Guardian, Channel 4 et al) has shaken the negative tag off the scene?
Terror Danjah: The scene has changed and a lot of the grime artists like Tinie Tempah and Tinchy Stryder and even Wiley and Roll Deep are well behaved, becoming pop stars and making the music for the masses. I don’t think the media turn their nose up at grime anymore.
TWU: Which relative newcomers in the production side of things are doing it for you?
Terror Danjah: No one’s really grabbing me at the minute, but I would say Swindle who’s relatively new when it comes to what he’s put out. I like Rude Kid and Teddy and there are a few others that I've picked up on, but I don't want to say anything yet, let’s get the ball rolling first. Just watch what happens with my Harddrive label, that'll dictate who I'm feeling!
Terror Danjah: 'Undeniable' - is out November 1.
Stay up to date with Terror Danjah on Twitter - www.twitter.com/TerrorDanjah
Words: Nick Russell
Online editing: Joseph 'JP' Patterson
