SONOS CLUB : CIGGY SMOLS
INTERVIEW
What are some early memories of music from your upbringing that shaped your taste today?
CIGGY SMOLS: Going on drives with my dad, he had cassettes of mix of Micheal Jackson, to vandross to Gregory Isaacs, actual mixtapes hahaha, and growing up around sound systems at barbecues, to teenage years of running around squats.
Growing up, my mum got me a scrappy left handed guitar form a charity shop for like £5 it sparked an interest, trying to play back what I heard on the radio, just remember trying to stretch different chord positions was the most uncomfortable thing.
How do you integrate your heritage or identity into your DJ sets or productions?
CIGGY SMOLS: Sometime gotta slip in with some old school jungle breaks with the dj sets to liven things up. When comes to production, chopping samples, like to find something jazzy and soulful. When it comes to guitar, I love jazzy chords, which come from blues. Its all interconnected, black classical music hahaha
Are there any specific artists or genres from your background that have been particularly influential to your craft?
CIGGY SMOLS: Hell yeah, METAL FACE DOOM, sick sample selection, dusty boom bap drums, and the bars, how you think he’s gonna say something and flips it. And all these characters finessing the rap game. Genius.
Always been drawn to the sound of babyshambles, how they mix heavy hitting rock with, catchy riffs and tongue and cheek lyricism.
Genres most likely, hip hop, soul, jazz, punk, rock
When you’re crafting a DJ set, do you have a particular story or vibe you aim to convey? How do you build it?
CIGGY SMOLS: Read the crowd, cant be feeling yourself too much hahahahaha.
What’s your process for discovering and selecting new music? Any go-to sources or methods?
CIGGY SMOLS: Deep diving down YouTube more time, Soundcloud has some really good stuff on there
Can you talk about a track or mix you’ve created that holds a special meaning to you? What’s the story behind it?
CIGGY SMOLS: Made a pop song on YouTube about an ex and make lyric video like a karaoke sing-a-long and everything hahahaha
How important is representation and visibility for you in the electronic music scene?
CIGGY SMOLS: I think it’s about the art not the artist, music is a feeling if its felt, its felt. Thats good enough for me.
Have there been moments where you’ve felt your identity helped you stand out or connect with your audience in unexpected ways?
CIGGY SMOLS: Hard to say really. Maybe friends supporting.
What are some emerging trends in electronic or experimental music that excite you right now?
CIGGY SMOLS:I have no idea about trends honestly, I just like what I like, but people been imitating that 250 bpm hyperpop, 100gecs sound. Not sure if it excites, but does something.
How do you envision your music evolving in the next few years? Are there new sounds or ideas you want to explore?
CIGGY SMOLS: Hell yeah, want to get more into jazz guitar and drums. Also started learning the piano around a month ago, dont have a full scale. But the theory is the same as the guitar but the playability is so much more simple because you're just going across as apposed to up, down and across.
If you could curate a dream lineup for an event, which artists would you include and why?
CIGGY SMOLS: I’d go for vibes, different stages, one, heavy, one techno house, one soul jazzy stage.
How do you stay motivated and keep your creativity flowing, especially during challenging times?
CIGGY SMOLS: Honestly feel like I have to express myself or things get dark
What’s one message you hope people take away when they listen to your sets or mixes?
CIGGY SMOLS: Vibes
SONOS CLUB is an initiative from Sounds of Craft Records, designed to highlight the eclectic electronic music scene through the perspectives of the BIPOC diaspora and marginalized communities, while being open to all.
