100% Sam Wise: the genre-bending rap artist
The south London House of Pharaohs member is flying solo with his debut mixtape Sorry You Were Saying.
Music
Words: Amy Francombe
As a founding member of the Frank Ocean and Virgil Abloh co-signed rap collective, House of Pharaohs, Sam Wise has spent the past two years soundtracking London’s underground scene. It’s a stint that’s seen him jump on tracks with Octavian, 808ink and kadiata, while racking up air time on Frank Ocean’s “blonded RADIO”. He even featured in Nike’s global Nothing Beats a Londoner ad.
Now he’s stepping out on his own. With a small slate of singles under his belt (including 2017’s big hit Lizzie), Sorry You Were Saying is his highly anticipated first full offering. The 11-track mixtape is set to showcase the musician’s spirited creativity and knack for crafting genre-bending rap, while granting fans a more intimate insight into his life.
Be sure to check it out tomorrow. In the meantime, listen to his latest track Towndown, accompanied by bouncy, pop art-inspired visuals.
10%: Where were you born, where were you raised and where are you now based?
I was born in London. Raised in Kennington, still in Kennington.
20%: At what point did you realise you’d be able to do what you love for a living?
I feel like I’ve always had drive that’s made me do what I want to do and to achieve what I want to achieve ’cos as long as you’ve got the right mindset, you’re capable of anything.
30%: What’s a piece of advice that changed your life?
So much wisdom has been passed down to me I can’t pick one thing. But I definitely think it would be something from Alan Watts. He broadened my perspective and helped my understanding.
40%: What kind of emotions and experiences influence your work?
As I’ve grown up, I tend to be more in touch with my work in the sense of my emotions and reflect on how I feel in life and being honest with myself. I feel like I’ve really grown in that aspect as an artist. [On] lots of this project you’ll see me touching on real life subjects whereas you still have the fun side and the fantasy side.
50%: What can you tell us about your next project?
I feel like it’s a cool introduction to me and what I want to contribute. I feel like I spend a lot of time in my head making a lot of music and listening to it feeling like a lot of my listeners haven’t been able to take part in that journey, and now it’s about really opening up as an artist. I hope it touches them and that they can apply it to their life in their own way. I feel like it will speak to people.
60%: What can artists do to help save the world?
Our artists can be honest with themselves and their audience. Our artists should inspire. Our artists should encourage people to challenge the status quo.
70% Love, like, hate?
I love seeing people happy. I like food, I love food to be honest, and I hate hate.
80%: Finish the sentence: dear diary, today I…
Ate vegetable soup and it was yummy.
90%: Describe your seven minutes in heaven…
I don’t know. I feel like I’ve got 700 seven minutes in heaven. Just enjoying it – laughter.
100%: Biggest pet peeve?
Poor communication.
