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Meet Faze Miyake

  • Music
  • Interview
  • 5 minute read

Talking to him about his new project, working with Nasir Mazhar and what’s next for the UK.

For years Faze Miyake, 27, has been a household name in the U.K’s music scene and has been making bangers for the best part of 7 years. Grime, Garage and Funky House, he’s put his own stamp on everything. If I had to summarise his work, I would use the word versatile.

I bumped into Faze at a show in Camden back in February and proposed the idea of having a chat with him for The Basement and he agreed. Closer to the time he unleashed on me that he had a new EP coming. Being a fan of his music I wanted to know more.

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So to someone that doesn’t know, who is Faze Miyake?

Faze Miyake can be whoever you want him to be at the time. Currently he’s a producer/DJ.

If I had to describe my genre I would say it’s very London, not UK, but very London. It’s right in between underground and commercial. But all of my work, my fashion and who I am, is just a reflection of what I grew up around – Novelist said to me once ‘your tunes are actually you’: I can’t remember how he worded it though.

It’s almost been 18 months since we heard new music from you, what have you been up to?

I’ve never stopped making music, but I’m really about putting out good product, I like all of my stuff to be perfect. The Album (Faze Miyake, 2015) came out exactly how I wanted it to. I did the Woofer USB’s as fillers between my actual projects. I just have fun creating, even when I’m not putting out music. Keeps me going.

Let’s talk about your new project, “N.O.T.”  

My new EP is like an old school single, back in the day it used to have the main tune, a remix of the main tune and a couple other bits on there. Which is how I wanted to release it.

The main tune is called ‘None of that’ featuring Merky Ace and AJ Tracey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXAGvjgQSFo 

What was it like working with AJ Tracey and Merky Ace?

I’ve always liked AJ and there’s always been like mad respect for each other, and seeing him grow into this huge star is beautiful. It was natural though: the way I link up with new artists is always natural.

People have always said to me, that I’m like the ‘go to guy’ at a point in their career. I just like to make really good product, as I said. So I need to believe in the other artist to help us all make great work.

We just make sick tunes together, and that goes for anyone I’ve worked with. Just being natural is just what I believe in. I’m not into forcing things.

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Nasir Mazhar is involved in your new video, is there any history between you two?

Me and Nasir have been working for a minute. He booked me and Merky for a fashion week presentation in 2012. When I was dropping my album that came out in 2015 I thought it would be sick to get him involved. He did the art direction for the album and it was amazing. See him as a good friend now and I’ll always have him involved when I think it’s right. Big up Nas!

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Who would you like to work with in the future?

Just the biggest people, man. I’ve got new aspirations now, new targets and new goals. I just want to be the best I can be and work with the best people I can work with.

It’s great to see the UK where it is now, getting bigger on the world stage, it’s all I’ve envisioned for the past couple of years.

I’m spontaneous: I’m down to work with anyone.

Who or what is up and coming right now that you have your eye on?

I’m really excited about this UK ‘road rap/Afrobeats’ style. It’s the most exciting thing coming out of our country. Way more exciting than grime, for me personally. Artists like J Hus, Abracadabra and Kojo you know.

It reminds me of the funky house days, it’s a party vibe – even if men are still spitting crud. With grime, all you can really do is jump up and down and gun fingers, but with this you can dance, and that’s sick.

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Whats next for you?

Just constant releases, I’ve played a lot of my career teasing people and being exclusive. Like holding stuff back. It’s got me to where I am and made me credible and respected.

But now, I’ve got new goals; I’ve got new targets and new places to get to. So I’m going to take it up a notch

Words by Jacob-Earl 

Photos by Vicky Grout