“There’s so much history and people that make up Lewisham. I didn’t really have too much of an idea of how musical it really is,” says Coby Sey, about the vital heritage and vast creative tradition of the place he was born and raised. “I’d hear about the old sound systems—like Saxon Sound Systems and stuff like that—to even Cream, Ginger Baker, but I didn’t really know like, ‘wow, there’s so many other musicians that reside here, and have been doing things, and even to this day there still are people doing things.” Speaking to editor Steph Kretowicz for AQNB’s latest Artist Statement podcast, the London-based musician and producer talks about his dream-like post-grime releases, and ongoing work as part of the loosely-defined South East London collective and now label, CURL.
Organised by Coby with friends and collaborators Mica Levi and Brother May, the project involves such eminent underground peers as Tirzah, Farai, Kwes, Klein, and many others from the area, some of whom also contributed to director Steve McQueen’s recent Small Axe anthology series. Coby’s own practice is similarly broad and eclectic, having released his first EP Whities 010: Transports for Lewisham—inspired by his love-hate relationship with London’s public transport system—as well as a handful of other experimental drops that contain a palpable emotional strain unique to his environment. Coby’s also a long-time NTS Radio cohort and presenter of a show sharing his music in conversation with his hip-hop, drone and ambient influences.
‘Sitting on the Bus’ is the latest in our Artist Statement podcast series, with past episodes, featuring Jam City, Maria Minerva, Colin Self, Akinola Davis Jr, and more. The full episode is accessible to our subscribers right now on Patreon. Sign up now: www.patreon.com/aqnb.**
