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Ny in giggles at a flower stand on Parkway |
Forget New York, we love Ny
INTERVIEW: NY
THE freshest face in ‘Grime’, Nyomi Gray, aka Ny, is a 20-year-old from Highgate Road in Kentish Town, a former Parliament Hill schoolgirl whose 15-year-old twin sisters are current pupils.
After storming the underground music scene with her first mixtape two years ago, Ny’s back with her second, Split Endz Vol II, out this month (buy at www.ukrecordings.com).
Listen to her at www.myspace.com/splitendzvol2. Stars she has worked with include Plan B, Sway, the Streets, and Wiley.
CC: What does Split Endz mean?
NY: It’s about half and half’s: being someone of mixed parentage – my mum’s black and my dad’s white. Growing up in south and north London: I went to primary school in south and secondary school in north. And it’s about the different people who make up Ny – the moody and the happy.
CC: Sometimes you get compared to Ashanti (American r n b star) – does that bother you?
NY: Labels often want to make the British equivalent of American artists. I’m compared to Ashanti or Aaliyah, which is nice, but no – I’m Ny. I’d rather see the real thing than a version. Why would you buy a fake Gucci bag if you can get the real thing?
CC: You performed at Ken Livingstone’s mayoral inauguration once. What would you do if you were the mayor of London?
NY: Well education-wise, the way a lot of subjects are taught are really uninteresting to people – it makes them not want to take it in. I’d make lessons more youth-centred, more bite-size.
As someone who’s musical, there’s such an emphasis on maths, english and science but if someone has a natural talent then that should be nurtured the same.
And every child should be taken on holiday by the government! If you took a lot of kids who think they’re bad guys to countries where there is real hardship it would make them appreciate what they have here.
What they think is the hustle or the ghetto actually isn’t – they should see that.
CC: What would you do if you weren’t a singer?
NY: I’d work with animals. I’ve been a vegetarian since birth – I’ve never tasted chicken! I also want to set up an orphanage with my sister in Ethiopia.
CC: Do you mind being called a grime artist?
NY: Any talk is good talk. I’ve come through the grime scene – that was my avenue and I’m not going to knock it. But my mixtape is soulful: it’s got elements of grime, soul, reggae, and hip hop.
CC: You’ve come from the same place as Ms Dynamite, you had the same manager, and you’ve got the same name (Naomi). Do the comparisons weigh you down?
NY: She’s someone who’s very talented. She’s a brilliant lyricist. When I was growing up she was the best female artist out there. Now she’s settled down and there are new people coming through – of which I’d like to think I’m one. But she’s made an impact and it’s nice to know there’s talent around the corner. She’s got the potential to come back, it’s down to her.
CC: I last saw you perform at Queen’s Crescent in a homecoming-style gig. What was like that like?
NY: I was more nervous coming back than I am on massive stages. There were people from school, parents, local shop owners who I used to buy sweets from as a kid. They were all in the crowd!
CC: In your song Fire, the rapper
Purple says “Streetlife is a prison”.
NY: He’s talking about getting caught up in the drugs game and the mentality that you can have what you want without working for it – you’ll only end up in prison.
CC: You’re due to have a guest slot on Radio One DJ Tim Westwood’s show. Are you excited?
NY: I’m more excited by live stuff but DJs can make your career – if they don’t play you… I’m most excited about the Roskilde festival in Denmark. It’s the biggest after Glastonbury. |
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Your Comments:
NY raises some issues of real concern to young people today, she also has some interesting views of life. I mentor many young producers in Camden (The Roundhouse) and it's great to hear about a local artist doing well, she will be an inspirtion to others from the area who are serious about their music.
Ben Mullon
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