RW: Usually with this, I’m actually with the person but this should be cool…

N: Yeah it’s strange bro, I feel you.

RW: I guess the first thing that I wanted to note was this project, Quantum Leap, you originally dropped in November 2020. What was it that led you to release a fully instrumental EP?

N: Well, the EP has a purpose. The purpose of it was to add a soundtrack to the mentality that is displayed in the title itself and that is depicted in each song.

RW: Wait, so you came up with the title first?

N: Nah, I had these records and I usually name my songs with purpose anyway and I wanted to make a project that gave someone that Quantum Leap mentality - these names and songs usher them into this mentality. If you look at the titles on the project, the original project, not the BBC Deluxe version, you’ll see that they are all positive and success based.

RW: Yeah, that’s what I wanted to mention also because this is an entirely instrumental project, aside from the intro. You are talking over the intro and summoning these positive messages - what made you put that in? Did you consciously think, ‘that’s the one track with vocals in it’ or did you not need to think about it?

N: For me, I wanted to add a bit of my soul to the music. You can hear my voice but still appreciate my creation and I approach the music Biblically - like how God approached things.

RW: So what is it that brought you to this space and these influences in your sound because it really sounded to me like a collage, it definitely wasn’t all London or British, it felt more global but definitely U.S and definitely West Coast influenced?

N: I think I can summarise this whole point by saying I do what I like, you know. For example it seems to be a common theme for the music industry to follow the music industry. For me, the music industry doesn’t exist. I’m my own industry. So when I sincerely enjoy music or a sound, that’s going to grab my ear and have an impression on my own approach to my music if I let it. That’s how I work, more so than just following the times. Now it’s not to say that I neglect the times, but at the same time I am an individual built up of my experiences, so my music has to reflect who I actually am if I am to make music from a pure place, of my character.

RW: I hear that. Talking again about more 2020 released work, I felt that Novelist as a musician and artist as a whole had stepped up another gear. I knew you were talented but I felt so pleased to hear you flipping between influences and genres, there was so much great music coming out, all of a high quality and consistency. If you compare "Active", "Different Shoes" or "Pay What is Owed" to "Stay With Me", "30 Seconds Flat" and "Major Player" they are different ends of the spectrum, sonically. I was so excited to hear the variation and versatility together with the momentum that you had with releases and the consistency in quality - I felt that you had really grown as a true artist. 

N: For sure. I believe I was labelled by other people before, I didn’t label myself and I’m not on a label. So I make whatever I feel like making. Last year, I just thought to myself like bro, I realised most people didn’t actually know me because I had been limited. I had to show them glimpses of how unlimited I am, in my world. Bro, I’m so content as well to not release music because I live unlimited. I thought that people needed a glimpse of my capabilities because I got to the stage where I was ready to not be boxed in. I had to come to my own understanding to realise I didn’t need to be boxed in.

RW: I think as well because you haven’t stifled yourself, you’ve carried yourself and you move like a unit of one. You’re your own producer and MC… and engineer.

N: Yeah, and engineer.

RW: That’s being self sufficient and can only help.

N: It certainly does.

RW: As a producer, are there any artists that you have in mind to work with?

N: No I don’t - that answer always depends on natural vibes. I’d have to be inspired on the day or meet someone and know within myself that I want to do something with them. I don’t really like to premeditate music collaborations or working with people. Most of the stuff that I do, if not all of it, comes from a very authentic place. It’s even like us two working, yeah, like bruv we’ve got a rapport. It didn’t come out of nowhere you get me. It’s probably more like that with you because at the end of the day fam, I’m not making music for anyone. I’m not even making music for the fans, really.

[BOTH LAUGHING]

N: I appreciate that I have people supporting me on my journey and obviously whatever I have to give I offer it to them, that’s the exchange.

RW: As you said, right now, you are independent. I know the music world has changed a lot within our lifetime, like it has in fashion/clothing whatever, the role of a label or a big entity isn’t required to propel the artist to the forefront. I was going to ask what kind of advice would you be able to share with a new artist looking to break into music?

N: I’d say if you are an artist, the main thing you should focus on - but it depends on why you’re in the business really I guess? I can only talk from my perspective and why I am in the business. I am in the business because I love music. And I think it’s fair that I make money from what I love doing. I don’t want to live a life where I don’t love what I’m doing. I’d say, to an artist starting out, extensively study becoming the greatest version of yourself, skill wise. Be great at music. And then the opportunities will be infinite because you’ll be able to build off of every one of your capabilities. I have a lot of stuff to offer because of my different skill sets within music so I’d say that should be the main focus. Also, everyone should have an understanding of being business savvy too, as a human being, because we’re in a world that requires you to handle your business. 

RW: Yeah, and being aware at all times. 

N: So I would say to anyone starting out to get business savvy because you need to be business savvy. But the main thing is focus on the art and focus on being able to execute. You never want to be stumped, where you feel like you can’t execute your idea.

RW: 100. Another thing I admire in your work but also as a person is the feeling of community and pride for your people and area. Have you lived in Brockley your whole life? How was it growing up in South London?

N: Yeah, I’ve always lived in Lewisham and Brockley my whole life and it’s been great man. It’s been hectic - I’ve experienced life and death. I nearly lost my life. There’s been a lot of love, there’s been a lot of fights. I have friends that aren’t here anymore. It’s been wild, still. But every hood in the world is the same, the dynamics might be different but the heart of man doesn’t change. It’s the same everywhere. There’s people that are blessed, there’s people that are envious, there’s people that are greedy, there’s people who give a lot, you make friends, you lose friends. There’s people that you grow apart from. For me, my part in this has just been to maintain the integrity of my character. So no matter who I am around, they can feel comfortable in knowing what I’m about.

RW: It’s like an enlightenment. You are enlightened at that point.

N: Yes you are enlightened, that is exactly it. That’s a great way of putting it. You are enlightened.  It’s like you let your light shine when you know inside yourself that you have a light to shine. 

RW: With everything that is going on right now in the world, not just in music, it was good to hear your positivity on the Quantum Leap project with the intro especially like “let there be”… and the song titles themselves. As a musician you carry yourself very matter of fact, I guess because you’re feeling that enlightenment that you’ve just mentioned. What are your goals for your career over the next 12 months?

N: For sure. My goal is to prove to myself that I can do better than what I have been doing. I want to get better at producing, I want to get better at singing, better at mixing down, better at my skills because that’s all I need. I don’t need all this other stuff. There’s a lot of bravado. There's a lot of additional things but at the end of the day bro, I started with my skills. I started with my own mind and my own soul so I want to build on what I possess. I’m not really looking for anything more than what I have. I know that the fruit and the results of doing well is that you are more blessed so I’m not really chasing a blessing - it’s more a desire to build on the foundation that I already have. 

RW: Yeah that’s what I was going to say because you are so well equipped and you know your goals, how are you going to measure them? 

N: Exactly, I measure it by looking at myself bro. I look at myself like ‘wow, I remember when I couldn’t even do this.’ Or when I wasn’t doing it at least. 

RW: Why was that? Why weren’t you doing it?

N: Just because with life everyone evolves. Like, we weren’t having this phone call 5 years ago. 

RW: Exactly.

N: But we knew each other 5 years ago. You know what I’m saying? So it’s like we are still ourselves but there’s just more now. That’s really what I want to work on, just building myself.