$ebbuku – Call The Bluff: $ebbuku shares the angsty, genre-blending new single ‘Call The Bluff’, taken from the upcoming EP JUVENILE.
Blending tasteful, elegantly arranged sampling with the high-octane, post-punk-edged approach of his live band, ‘Call The Bluff’ brings a rich blend of lo-fi conscious hip-hop and a sense of sprawling, fierce intensity. Topped with $eb’s stylistic, vexed social commentary and intense, rhythmic flow, the track is effortlessly infectious whilst retaining a vibrant blend of jazz, punk and funk undertones through its driving and direct, yet nuanced soundscape.
Speaking about the track, Seb explains: “Call the bluff is exactly what it says on the tin. It’s about questioning what’s actually cool and kicking out the actual fools! I feel like the world has this strange rhetoric that if something is spoken in front of enough people then it has to be truthful, but there’s one language that’s always real, and that’s passion and soul.
I took the approach of blending old school brass samples and live instrumentation to create this pumping, hardcore boom-bap beatdown, on which I could paint a lyrical picture on. I just want young people all over the world to realise that you can use your art and passion to actually shout about what you care about. If you have the live platform to be yourself, do it. Writing this one with the band just flowed like petrol out a pump. It was, get in, kick ass, ship it out. The whole thing was recorded in a matter of hours. Sometimes the hardest tracks are the simplest.”
The brainchild of Norwich based rapper and producer Sebastian Bates, the upcoming 6 track EP JUVENILE highlights the creativity and musicality which makes $ebbuku such an exciting project.
Carrying on to speak about the full EP: Juvenile EP: “Having big ideas and a lush vision of the future is something I always had as a kid. With this EP, myself and the band wanted to show how life has a different plan for all of us, but we’re all still just big kids with even bigger ideas. Juvenileis my insight on being a young person going against the grain. Since the loss of my mother and spending time in different schools and hospitals fighting for my future, I’ve realised that freedom to express is worth shouting about. Sure, that sounds serious, but I’m still the goofy, nerdy dude I’ve always been—I just shell angsty lyrics over breakbeats now!
The writing process was the most fun and authentic we’ve had, especially with all the live recordings. Blending live instrumentation, breaking down vinyl, and rebuilding musical puzzles really defines our sound. Whenever we link up—on stage or on Nik’s (drummer) sofa—it’s like lightning in a bottle. I hope the music carries a message: as a young man taking bigger steps in this weird world, it’s okay to reflect on how you got here and still stay true to yourself.
We may all act like Juveniles, but we ain’t kidding around.”
Having made a name for himself on his local scene, $ebbuku (Sebastian Bates) has gained early support from the likes of Reprezent, Wordplay, 1883 Magazine, DMY, Earmilk, God Is In The TV and Notion among others. Playing packed out shows across the East of the UK and at festivals including Brighten The Corners, $ebbuku has also performed live and been interviewed on BBC Local News.
With a new EP on the horizon, $ebbuku is an artist on the rise, ready to take his music to new heights.
Upcoming Live Dates:
Brighten The Corners Festival // The Smokehouse – June 13th
First light festival – June 21st
Wild Paths festival – Oct 17th
Lord mayors Norwich (Unconfirmed) – July 13th
Supporting Meryl Streek at the Waterfront Norwich (Unconfirmed)
$ebbuku – Call The Bluff
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