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Maverick Sabre, the 21 year old singer/songwriter and rapper, is busy preparing for the release of his debut album, Lonely are the Brave.
In between major radio play on Radio 1, a MOBO nomination and filming his new video I Need, the Londoner (by way of Ireland) made some time to chat with Purple Revolver about his music, his ultimate super-group and Phil Collins.
How excited are you for your upcoming album, Lonely are the Brave?
‘Madly excited! I’ve been sitting on some of these tracks since I was 16, if it was up to me I’d just keep releasing tracks and music everyday.’
What can fans expect from the album?
‘Mainly what I wanted to do is give people a chance to get to know me. I wanted it to be classic sounding too, something that would stand the test of time, so in twenty years it would still make the same impact as hearing it now.’
So do you think there is a lot of music being made now that won’t stand the test of time?
‘I think music is coming back, there is a lot of throwaway tracks in the charts but music with a message and meaning is coming back. Like Adele’s Someone Like You, that track could have been made 50 years ago or in 50 years time and it still would have the same impact.’
You rap and sing, was there conflict when you made the album trying to find a balance between the two?
‘I try to find the middle ground – half singing, half rapping. So hip-hop heads can listen to it, soul fans can listen to it, pop fans can listen to it and it doesn’t box anyone off.’
You incorporate blues and soul in your music, do you think that genre is making a comeback? Maybe because of the times we live in?
‘Like people say that Blues and Soul music was more popular when people had something to fight for and that this generation doesn’t have that, but you just got to look at what happened with the riots, the recession and all the wrong doings in the world and you can see that people do need an outlet. ‘
You play a lot of guitar on your tracks, which came first the guitar playing or the emceeing?
‘The guitar came first; I started playing when I was 8 or 9 and then moved onto the Irish rap scene when I was around 14.’
Your music is very personal, where does your inspiration come from?
‘It’s just feelings that I need to speak about so their not crammed up inside. Other stuff just comes from experience and life really.’
What do you hope to achieve from your recording career?
‘I want to put out positive music that can be passed on from generation to generation. I want to make music with a message that people can relate to, everyone’s been hurt, everyone’s been in love, everyone’s been angry, so I want to make music that makes a real connection with people.’
I heard there aren’t going to be any collaborations on the album, but if you could team up with any artist from any period of music who would it be?
‘Well there might be a few surprises on the album, but a collaboration with one person dead or alive? Does it have to be just one?’
OK, what would be your ultimate super-group line-up then?
‘Erykah Badu, Tupac, Ray Charles, Rory Gallagher, Alicia Keys and Bob Dylan.’
We’re launching a 90s season on Purple Revolver and have identified ’93 as a pivotal year in the throwback nostalgia that’s starting to take hold of today’s trends.
What are your memories from the early 90s, ’93 in particular? Any music, movies or cultural highlights that have influenced you?
‘I was only three! I remember football, the 1998 World Cup, but the nineties is a blur of me being a kid and throwing stones at things! And The Goonies! Can’t forget The Goonies.’
Purple Revolver are into predicting the future, what is your vision for the future?
‘Vinyl to make a comeback. I love vinyl, I don’t buy CDs anymore, so I’d love to see vinyl make a big comeback.’
Finally Mav, do you think Phil Collins gets a bad rap for his music?
‘Phil Collins put out some tunes! But he does get a bad rap I guess, but Tupac sampled him so he’s OK with me.’
Lonely are the Brave is due for release on January 30th on Mercury Records