UK emcee Roots Manuva has never been one to easily pin down. Not afraid of experimentation, his latest LP, ‘4everevolution’, proves that even after 18 years in the game Roots refuses to go stale.

“I guess I’ve been a bit lucky really and I’ve kind of thrived off breaking every rule. I just always pictured myself as being up against every establishment there was. If the rap style was all about catchy misogynist metaphors then my style would have been, say anti government or being a lovable, sensible human being,” he laughs heartily. “I always tried to picture myself as the complete opposite to what’s going on. I never tried to fit in.”

Throughout each of his albums, Roots Manuva has consistently been able to evolve and utilise diverse and unique influences, a trait he traces back to his days volunteering at studios around South London in the early ‘90s.

“I started off in a community recording studio in Brixton, South London, as an assistant and voluntary engineer to get access to the studio. I had to do all sorts of stuff like R&B, gospel, and rock. Being around such a wide variety of artists in the early days could be a real eye opener. I now have the situation where I have my own production company, so I don’t have to do that anymore. Back in the early days, I had to listen to a lot of music that I didn’t like at the time only to find that these production influences were creeping into my own style of what I called hip hop.”

Released late last year, ‘4everevolution’ was met by rave reviews once again praising his left field vision and bold exploration into new territory. Clearly one who enjoys working in the studio, Manuva is candid and seems enlivened in describing the recording process.
“Technically I recorded the album outside of a record deal so I didn’t have any preconceptions about how it was going to turn out or whether it would be accepted. I was off on my own thing, enjoying myself,” he says.

“Initially when I first started recording I wanted it to be kind of three individual albums. An alternative rock record, a dance record and a traditional hip hop record. Toward the end of recording I ran out of money and it just sort of became this big eclectic thing that all morphed into one,” he chuckles quietly.

Addressing the album title, Manuva is quick to dismiss any political connections. “It’s just me taking the piss out of myself taking forever to finish the record when it technically could have been handed in a year earlier.”
Australian audiences will be among the first in the world to see Roots Manuva’s new live offering, as he’s bringing a live band that he’s slowly been developing.

“I’m bringing a band, yes! I don’t know if you could call it a full band or not. We have drums, percussion, synth, guitar, and decks. There is no brass section and no string section. It is not like a traditional band,” he continues, describing how his live show has evolved over the years. “It’s just kind of more open ended. Back in the very, very early days it was me and the DJ, but that changed quite quickly really because by the second album I was touring with a string quartet and a drum machine, so I was always doing something quite out there for the live spectacle.”

Australia has been a touring destination on Roots Manuva’s travel itinerary for more than a decade now, and he is well versed in Australian music, having watched the hip hop and electronic music scene explode from a small grass roots movement to a national institution. “I’ve been coming down there for quite a long time now. The first time I came out was 2000. Literally everything was so underground and then all of a sudden some day everything seems to have blown up! Whether it’s domestic hip hop or domestic dance, everything has grown into your own sound and your own flavour.”

When pressed on his favorite Australian artist he remains deliberately vague. ”There’s a few, there’s a real thriving thing going on down there. My ex musical director now lives in Melbourne and he has played me quite a lot of things. I’ve heard all the local MCs and DJs and they’re all great so it really wouldn’t be fair to mention one person, although I’ve always liked 1200 Techniques ever since I worked with them and I like the latest Hilltop Hoods album. There’s a big antipodean flavour and feeling and there other things and influences coming from the South Pacific and New Zealand like Fat Freddy’s Drop.”

For some, the distance between the UK and Australia may seem daunting, but Australia is really like a second home for Roots Manuva.
“A lot of personal things have happened as well. Like a lot of people who were based in London have moved to Australia. It’s like there’s a corridor where people just move backward and forwards. Even though it’s a day and half away, it really feels like a secret part of the UK. It’s so weird but it really does feel like home. It works both ways because there are so many Australians in the UK just like there are so many relocated British people in Australia.”

When offered the last word Roots Manuva hesitates for a second. “Get the biggest fucking shrimp and throw it on the barbie! Roots Manuva is coming home!” His laughter is deafening.

Roots Manuva plays the Hi-Fi March 9. ‘4everevolution’ is out now.