Skibadee: Drum ‘n’ bass can get even bigger than before

The mention of Skibadee in drum’n'bass speak is equivalent to that of MC royalty. As one of the true masters of the ceremony, he has been the main hype engine for many an underground rave since the embryonic stages of jungle and its superseding relative, drum’n'bass. Here, he divulges on the start of 2012 as well as touching on the state of a scene which he helped fortify.

How have you been and what have you been up to over the last couple of weeks?

I’m very well thanks, just been getting my plan of action into gear for 2012. January was pretty quiet, but had my birthday event Bangers n Mash in January, which was very busy! I’ve been back on the road as usual for the last few weeks with shows in Leeds, Exeter, London and Bristol to name a few.

If you cast your mind back to the time of Desert Storm in 1994 and similar events when you were starting out, what was it about jungle that appealed so much?

I suppose it was the first time I had witnessed UK MCs and DJs perform live. As soon as I got into the rave scene, I wanted to be a part of it! Mainly the energy and the good vibes motivated me.

What influenced you into rhyming double time?

The speed of the music really. Also the likes of Stevie Hyper D, MC Det and MC Fearless, those were the guys I looked up to when I came in the game. I guess I just wanted to do what they did, but I wanted to put my own stamp on it. My own little twist.

You’ve been in the game for a while and have both the awards and respect to show for it. What is it that keeps you going?

Mainly the love of the music. I love performing in front of crowds and making them go crazy. I think winning awards just gave me a little boost at the right times to keep going really. I never actually really wanted to be the number one MC, I just wanted as many people as possible to hear me. That was the main drive for me.

Obviously now things have moved on and artists like Chase & Status have made drum’n'bass more accessible to the mainstream. How do you feel about the state of the scene?

I think it’s pretty healthy in terms of events going on, and also production wise it’s in a good place. I still believe it can get much bigger than it has been. And it’s getting there, slowly but surely.

Along with the likes of Harry Shotta (who you helped out quite a bit), who would you say are the ones keeping the MC role alive?

Eksman MC, MC Dynamite, SP, Messy, Funston to name a few.

Finally, have you got anything in the pipeline to look out for?

Yes, a new album to release this year, also a few live shows in preparation for the road. Time to take things a bit further than just the DJ/MC set. I’ve done that for so long now and always will but I’m just trying to go one step further! Wish me luck.

Skibadee will be performing at Innovation in The Sun 2012 in Spain along with a host of other drum and bass heavyweights including Netsky, Brookes Brothers and Andy C.

Recent Posts on Arts

• Owen Howells: From the UK to Australia and back again (and again!)
• Brighton Fringe 2013 - Is everyone sitting uncomfortably?
• The Fall 'Darkness Visible' - Series 1, episode 2
• ‘Vicious’ – Series 1, episode 4
• Game of Thrones 'Second Sons' - Season 3, episode 8