N-DUBZ

To label N-Dubz as an underground phenomenon is almost an understatement. Not since ‘So Solid Crew’ has a group captured the consciousness of youth quite so quickly, or so cleverly. With their Debut Alum “Uncle B” now finally on the table, Xcel caught up with Dappy to uncover the highs and lows of the N-Dubz journey.

So, you guys all grew up together?

Yeah, well me and Tulisa are cousins and we went to the same school. We met Fazer there. My pops had a studio, he used to play the base in a band so it started from there really.

So, is that a help or do you just argue all the time?

We kick, fight and punch each other but when it comes down to work we put more than 150 percent in and get the record done.

When did you know you had the skills to perform and write music?

I was about 13/14 when I started to write. If it wasn’t for my uncle we wouldn’t know anything really. We never went to school, we went to the studio instead. I’m not encouraging people not to go to school though, I got an A plus in English cos I’m good at writing but I wish I could go back now and get the rest of my GCSE's.

Was there ever a defining moment when you thought N-Dubz had made it as a band?

As far as I’m concerned we haven’t made it yet. Yeah we’ve got a high position album at the minute but it doesn’t mean anything to us. We want to get a number one.

So would you say you have caught the London sound?

London does play a big part in our sound of course but we write about everything. Our album talks about love, there’s a lot of boy/girl things as well as what goes through our heads in our everyday lives in London so of course it has an influence but we have our own unique sound.

Who were your influences growing up?

80’s music! Since the 80’s music will never be the same.

So who are you listening to now?

I listen to people like Sting, Phil Collins, George Michael. People that actually write music like Elton John. Starts laughing

Seriously?

Course I am! Sarcastically
What do you take me for?

You made some strong steps at quite a young age have you ever felt patronised or alienated from the music industry?

Not really. It was a very independent thing with us from the start. If anything ever felt too big or that couldn’t achieve it we just went for it and didn’t care. We just went for gold, nothing was going to stop us! We love the mainstream, that’s where it’s all happening, but we still want to keep one foot in and represent where we came from.

What is it you love so much about performing?

For me, I just love doing things that people haven’t done on stage before!

Oh yeah, any N-Dubz trade secrets you care to spill?

You know what, it’s all to do with being aware. If there are two acts performing before us, I watch their performance and from there I just adapt my style cos I know what I have to do to win the crowd over. He he he… Evil giggle!

So would you say you have a definite stage persona?

Mmm – huh! Put it this way, at about ten in the morning I’m me but when it gets to about 8 in the evening and I’m about to go on that stage start transformed into Dappy. Its just what I do.

You write a lot about your own personal experiences on your debut Album “Uncle B”, was it difficult putting the words down for Papa Can Your Hear Me after your father's death and then putting it out there?

Yeah of course it was. It’s a very personal song for me but when I wrote it I made it so people can relate to it. That song is for everyone.

With the recent attacks at the Urban Music Awards and with so much knife crime surrounding Urban Music what advice would you offer to young people growing up around that?

You know what, just do your own thing. I’m not involved with all that. My advice is just stay away and MAKE YOUR MONEY! Just be on point and don’t be doing stupidness that will take your freedom away.

So do N-Dubz see themselves as role models of any kind?

Errr Yeah! Listen if your 13-19 and you haven’t got N-DubZ on your phone you're NOT COOL alright! Go to any college or school and ask have you got N-Dubz on your phone and they’ll be like “Yeah, course!”

Where do you see yourself in five years then?

Well with the help of our fans and with all support around the N-Dubz movement hopefully a number one album and a number single. Oh and Brit Award would be nice! Fingers crossed eh?

What advice would you offer to anyone who wants to follow in the N-Dubz footsteps?

Just go with something original. Don’t try and be another Beyonce or Eminem. Wear some different clothes, put some knickers on your head if you have to, just be different. Get yourself a definite image so that when people see you they can’t forget you whether they love you or not. Also when you hear music think of words that haven’t been sung yet write the word that haven’t been spoken just keep producing new sounds and new things!