Existing in the intersection of hip-hop, electronic, club “and being a big gay head”, vocalist/producer Grove will lure your brain and heart into a sweet but false state of vulnerable comfort with their deftly emotional lyricism and melodic tones, then proceed to shout about how much they love the sesh and how whack your boyfriend is. Thriving in a live performance setting, you’ve got to see it to believe it.
For fans of locs, ladies and lager.
So Grove what have you been up to the last 6 months/what projects have you been working on?
I’ve finished a debut EP as a solo artist, ready to release over this year, as well as touring Australia with Frankenstein: How To Make A Monster, an acapella, beatbox hip-hop theatre remake of the book with the Battersea Arts Centre. Also JPDL and I have written a few songs together to form an EP that’s ready and raring to be released when the time is right.
Has the lockdown affected you in any way or has the unexpected solitude allowed your creativity to flow?
Being a natural introvert, the solitude has been quite homely. And, having just reconnected with family I’m filled with a lot of positive energy and creativity to bring to the situation. Feeling very blessed in that sense.
Will what’s gone on change or influence your work in future?
I think so, yes. In both a sense of being grateful for having the opportunity to perform and entertain, and also, being more critical of political structures since this pandemic has shown how fragile and unequal the society we live in is.
Will it make you look at life differently, if yes/no why?
It’s already changed the way I look at life. At things I previously viewed as priorities and how they aren’t truly priorities, but ways to feed the ego or unhealthy behaviour. Starting on my journey to re-align and prioritise family, community, eating well, exercise and having a good living environment. How I view it, if those things are balanced, then the body, mind and creative process will follow suit.
What can we expect to see from you when the lockdown’s over?
For me to be collaborating all the time, performing these new tracks all the time, and not taking one single thing about the experience for granted. It’s scary thinking about how venues and live performance spaces might not be open for a very long time, with there being intermittent lockdowns and businesses going under , but trying not to think about that too much at the minute.
What are you looking forward to the most?
Connecting with other humans again
If you had to be locked down with another Artist with the view of writing in collaboration, who would it be and why? #LockdownWriteDown
JPDL! We’ve written plays and EPs and all sorts together already hahaha. He’s a truly inspiring writer, performer and overall human, work ethic is off the chain and there’s a lot to be learned from him as well as a whole heap of laughs.
Is there any particular music or artist that you’re listening to as a way of lifting your spirits/inspiring you during these uncertain times #LockdownGetDown
Eva Lazarus _______
Do you find yourself eating different food during the lockdown, have you a favourite go to comfort food? #QuarantineCuisine
I’ve actually got way more into cooking. Going through a load of different cuisines and plenty of new dishes to cook for my partner (and trying to keep the dishes vegan… – apart from when my Nan gave me her chicken, rice and peas recipe… which is my favourite comfort food
