100% P‑Rallel: the vibe and beat maker
You might recognise this guy as slowthai and Lava La Rue's tour DJ. Now, he's about to drop his own tunes.
Music
Introduction: Amy Francombe
Photography: Jack Cullis
Tour DJ to the likes of slowthai, P‑Rallel has long been soundtracking some of London’s funnest nights. As a regular fixture on NTS and Boiler Room, the 20-year-old has built a reputation for being able to get the whole room grooving. Spinning a heavy rotation of hip-hop, grime, trap and leftfield club music.
He’s also producing his own stuff, and has collaborated with fellow Elevation/Meditation collective members such as Lord Apex, Louis Culture and Finn Foxell. P‑Rallel’s forthcoming EP In Due Time takes inspiration from his dad’s jungle tunes and the London jazz scene, and it features vocals from Lava La Rue (who he also DJs for) as well as House of Pharaohs rapper Sam Wise.
The EP’s dropping 8th November. For now, check out his 100% answers.
10%: Where were you born, where were you raised and where are you now based?
Was born, raised and trained on the west side of the River Thames.
20%: What’s a piece of advice that changed your life?
Can’t really think of advice I’ve been given, however I think this thing we call life is all a game/simulation so I like to bend it to my rules if I wanna make something happen.
30%: What kind of emotions and experiences influence your work?
The sense of being free, no restrictions, no rules. One thing that does drive me the most though is hearing what my friends are making and being mad that my shit don’t slap like that.
40%: You can only listen to three albums for the rest of your life. What are they?
Erykah Badu – Live
Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid, m.A.A.d City
Kid Cudi – Passion, Pain & Demon Slaying
50%: Break down your typical day at work…
Wake up, maybe roll a joint. I’m either working at home or I’m going down to Lily’s Studio. See what the emails are saying then eventually open up Ableton and get cracking.
If I’m DJing, calling up some homies or home girls to travel down with, couple pre-drinks… get there a bit early to feel the vibe of the club, then slap them USBs in the CDJs and try to turn the club upside down!
60%: What can artists do to help save the world?
Stop catering to an ongoing sound. Make music that is you, not what is going to get you bit of limelight.
70%: Love, Like and Hate?
Love stressing over an ongoing project or anything I’m working on. Like meeting new people. Hate not doing nothing.
80%: No.1 holiday destination?
Home, Barbados. I go once a year, every year. Keep your dead holidays in Spain.
90%: Who would you most like to see on the cover of The Face?
My family, so anyone in Elevation/Meditation.
100%: You rule the world for a day. What went down?
Somehow create an island for musicians only. Kinda like a members club… but it’s a whole fuck-off island.
