Humble Lion/Spikey Tee
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Links:
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Kolbhalle Cologne
Humble Lion / Spikey Tee
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Base
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Derrick
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Junktion / Nasdia
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Jungle Lion Sound The Baddest Sound Around
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Rydemsplurt
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Ragga Rocker
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Spikey Tee is the Humble Lion.
If you are looking for a track record then Spikey Tee definitely has one. He was first involved with reggae sound systems at the age of 13 acting as a surprise selector/operator in soundclashes in and around London. It was after singing at one of these clashes, he met DJ Fingers from London hip hop crew the Sindecut who are credited as pioneers of the UK hip hop scene and was asked to contribute to an idea for expanding the group. With a love of hip hop culture Spikey agreed, the band subsequently went on to sign for Virgin Records and released the acclaimed "Changing The Scenery" album in 1990.
After The Sindecut, Spikey joined Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart and was lead vocalist for five years. As the group's front man he brought a real edge to their live performances, particularly when he sang The Abyssinians' Rasta anthem "Satta Massa Gana". Considering the quality stock from which he comes (Spikey is related to legend Bunny Wailer no less!), it was perhaps inevitable that he would so compellingly make the Rastafarian connection. Look no further than the emotive Invaders of the Heart single, "Mount Zion", for a sublime example of this particular string to his bow.
All the while Spikey continued to DJ in and around the UK, mixing hip-hop, R&B, ragga, and drum'n' bass. Not content to rest on his laurels, Spikey also made hit tunes for numerous producers, most notably with top-20 UK hit "Dark Heart", recorded for Bomb The Bass, and "Paper Soldier" for Mannasseh.
After a chance meeting with Dom (Blood and Fire Records/Sound System) and Mr Scruff at a Jah Wobble concert in Manchester, Spikey Tee teamed up with the Manchester hip-hop label Grand Central for a number of collaborations. A track with Mr. Scruff, "Is It Worth It", was received extremely well, as was "Erase The Pain" for Tony D's 'Pound for Pound' album, going on to tour with stablemate Aim as part of a 10 piece live outfit.
After striking up a relationship with Blood and Fire Records, he was included in the Sound System line up and performed around Europe with reggae legends such as Dennis Alcapone, Ranking Joe and Horace Andy. Spikey also appears on the Morcheeba album "Big Calm" and their live DVD From Brixton To Beijing, where his vocals feature on "Friction" and "Shoulder Holster". He can also be found on Mark Rae's debut solo LP, "Rae Road", on the final track "Throne" and also on Dual Control's Grand Central Records debut album "Left Or Right" performing "Burn It Out"..
His DJ-ing, MC-ing and singing skills have taken him around the world to Australia (where he now resides), Sweden, Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Russia, and Finland to name a few. Spikey recently collaborated with New Zealand's Auckland based producer Andrew "Sola Rosa" Spraggon and recorded "Badman" for his 3rd album release "Moves On" and has been touring New Zealand as a vocalist with the band playing several festivals over the last 18 months. He is now back on vocal duties, writing and recording his first solo album and is hoping it will be released mid 08. His appearance on DJ Hype's Ganja label on a track "Hands Up" marked his first vocal drum 'n' bass outing. This lead to Spikey being introduced to Potential Bad Boy by DJ Hype, they immediately clicked and recorded Submission which was released as an AA sided single including another collaborative effort entitled "Show Me". You can also hear Spikeys inimitable vocal on True Playaz artist Crystal Clears "Blaze". Other releases include On The Rise and Rubadouble co-produced with New Zealands Agent Alvin. The first of these tracks has been remixed by Breaks DJ/Producer Timmi Schumacher and has received excellent reviews by numerous publications and is blowing up dance floors around the world.
Most recently there have been 2 more releases, one is another double a sided effort which is a collaboration with Sydney producer Ritual entitled "Bun Dem Down" and the flip being a DJ Suv remix of a track entitled "Zero Dub" released on Suv's Playsides label. The 2nd is another collaboration with a very talented producer from the Czech Republic by the name of Rido (pronounced Reedoo) entitled "Life Is Strange" released on Focuz Records.
Having completed a successful dj tour of America last year, There are plans for another trip to the states where he hopes to be travelling with Prime Mover. Always a man to keep himself busy, Later this year Spikey is looking to start production on his Soundclash video game for the Playstation.
Written by: Ali Little.
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Discography
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1. Changing the scenery - The Sindecut
2. Creation Rebel - Rebel MC
3. Element of speed - The Demon Boyz
4. Life on loop - Steve Spyro
5. Just another night on the town - 11:59
6. Ruff life - 11:59
7. Amor - Jah Wobble
8. Tiger Tiger - Jah Wobble
9. Third heaven - Jah Wobble
10.Wine, women and song - Jah Wobble
11.Mount Zion - Jah Wobble
12.Darkheart - Bomb The Bass
13.Paper soldier - Mannasseh
14.Is it worth it - Mr Scruff
15.Erase the pain - Tony D
16.Friction - Morcheeba
17.Shoulder holster - Morcheeba
18.Throne - Mark Rae
19.Guilty - Parry/Gendler/Rennie/Bell
20.Timelocked -Rennie/Konstandinides
21.Stand firm - 2 Dogs
22.You look fine - Submariner
23.Vibration Version - Mannasseh
24.Hands up- DJ Hype
25.Gunshot dub - Resin Dogs
26.Greener pastures - King Kapisi
27.The signal - Noiseshaper
28.Ember - Blue Foundation
29.If Only She Knew -Feelstyle/Submariner
30.Adore You - Resin Dogs
31.Burn It Out - Dual Control
32.Gusto Remix/It's Not Hard - Hermitude
33.Submission - Potential Bad Boy
34.Show Me - Potential Bad Boy
35.Roaring Lion (Re-Rub) - Flexitones (Propellerheads/Eat Static)
36.Simple Jealousy Sindecut
37.Oh Little Sheila Nil by Mouth Soundtrack
38.Badman Sola Rosa
39.Blaze Crystal Clear
40.Future Dub Ting/Zero - Ritual/Spikey Tee/DJ Suv
41.Rubadouble Agent Alvin/Spikey Tee
42.Bun Dem Down - Ritual/Spikey Tee
43.On The Rise Timmi Schumacher Remix
44.Live the life - Sindecut
45.Crack Business - Sindecut
46.Life Is Strange - Rido/Spikey Tee
47.Whip Them Soundboy - Marcus Visionary/Spikey Tee
48.Love Love - O.G/Spikey Tee
For DJ Bookings email Sarah at chocolatesource@gmail.com
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Relocating to Australia from his home in the UK around five years ago, Spikey Tee has managed to carve out his own niche down under. The MC, vocalist, producer and DJ first came to prominence as a member of reggae legend Jah Wobble’s touring band, and over the years has also lent his talents to everyone from Rae & Christian to DJ Hype. He’s headlining this weekend’s Sole Food launch party for Foreign Dub, and we tracked him down for some Q&A.
You’re a Londoner originally; why did you decide to make the move to Sydney?
I moved to Sydney because I wanted to leave England and make one of those broad sweeping changes some of us choose to make in our lives. I’d been here before in 1995 with Jah Wobble and loved it, came back in 2001 with Rae & Christian and found the music scene like it was ready to burst with some really good bands, DJs, club nights, not to mention the festivals in the sunshine… No brainer.
Has music always been a passion?
I would say yes. My dad was my music hero when I was a kid. When he used to play his records it was like watching a sound engineer tuning a rig. Every tune he played would be re-EQ’d to his preference. I got the bug from him when I check it. We would play tunes together and have clashes every so often, it was a great school.
You’re a DJ, singer and producer? Do you have a preference?
Hmmm. The question… I love all aspects of the process, there is a certain freedom that comes with it all, moments of magic, call it Jah’s will, but overall? Inspiration to make something you hope the people who are exposed to it will enjoy.
You’ve obviously worked with some huge names in your career, but have any stood out as being really defining?
Definitely. Jah Wobble has been the most influential on the direction my career path took. Being involved with a band lead by a truly free musical mind was very challenging for a young singer thrust into the limelight, but you have to man up and do the job you are being paid for. I used to think damn; here I am this little geezer from Tottenham getting paid by this famous guy who likes my voice, to sing in his band… Wicked!
Did DJ Hype give you the funk?
Hahahaha. No, but he did get my vocals to a new audience and for that I am very grateful. A lot of people in Europe know me for the other work I have done and had been calling out for me to get on some drum and bass tunes for a while, but commitments and travel kept me off it for a while.
How do you feel the Australian music tapestry differs from the English one?
It is very different because it doesn’t run as deep here and the cultures that brought the music to the fore do not live in this hemisphere… Unfortunately for many.
You say DnB is your passion. What is it about DnB that gets your blood stirring having been in the hip hop scene so long?
Well for me it’s one of the only genres still pushing the envelope and continues to find a way to harness several sources of inspiration. It’s a heartbeat music, it’s in some cases future dub because of the legacy left behind by great reggae producers like King Tubby and Scratch Perry.
You’re doing the Sole Food gig at the end of May. Is it gonna be a huge night?
I certainly hope it’s a big night. It would be nice to see Sydney’s lovers of this music come out and support Foreign Dub because they have been doing these things for a while and to the best of their ability, if Marky was still coming it promised to be as big and thoroughly entertaining as last time. I will say this though, the DJs on the bill can hold their own with the best of us international travellers, have done so and will continue to for as long as there is support for what they are trying to do for drum and bass in this country. Show some love people.
After five years here how do you rate the DnB scene in Sydney?
I have sadly seen it fall off in a big way over the last couple of years. A lot of punters in Sydney don’t understand the music because they haven’t been exposed to the culture that spawned it, I might have a word with Kev… “Come on bruv, you ‘ave to get some more black geezers over here Kev, we could stimulate ya music culture…” Sorry I just channelled only fools and horses.
DnB and dub seem to go hand in hand, but actually are pretty much impossible to mix. Why do you think they’ve become so wedded?
It isn’t impossible to mix, you just have to find the right tune. They are so welded because the thing that made jungle jump out was the combination of the amen break triggered to pieces with a big old school reggae tune that we grew up with sampled in there. It was like a revelation and the scene really grew from there.
You have an album coming out. What’s the vibe of it and when can we expect it?
I have an album that should come out, but it ground to a shuddering halt due to differences with the label and touring. It’s 80% there and I would love to finish it sooner rather than later, but it doesn’t look like the opportunity will arise before December realistically. The vibe is reggae, soul, hip hop, dnb, songs from my heart, songs from Jah. But Jah put the songs in my heart right?
Don’t miss the launch of Sole Food this Saturday May 30th. Check out ITM Whatson for more info.
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