Cornish rapper Hedluv has gone from inhaling radon gasses in Redruth to gigging in Brazil - with the help of 20 Casio keyboards and his "enigma" of a sidekick, Passman.
You're releasing a Christmas song this year, and are up against X Factor, Peter Kay and The Wombats. How do you think you'll fare?
Hedluv: We need a number one - we've pumped all our savings into it! So give a little something this Christmas and buy 'Christmas Rappin' on iTunes. Come on Cornwall - this could set us up for life!
People compare you to The Streets, Goldie Lookin' Chain and Akira The Don. Do you worry what would happen if they all started writing songs about parallel parking, Redruth and playing Donkey Kong?
Hedluv: I do, quite a lot actually - I've had nightmares about the next big thing being a witty, Yamaha keyboard playing rapper from Devon!
Tell us about how you got into making music!
Hedluv: I was encouraged to take piano lessons when I was younger, and I stuck it out as far as grade 6 - but I found the songs that I was writing were a lot easier to play! as highlighted in the track 'My 3 Notes' on the album Cosmic Sounds, available from hedluv.co.uk for only £5.99!
You recorded your album Cosmic Sounds in your bedroom. You must have saved some money there, which is commendable considering the economy at present. Any tips for other aspiring/poor artists?
Hedluv: Recording the album cost me around £500, and, considering the amount of hours I spent doing it (literally thousands), it would have been inconceivable paying a rate in a studio. My advice to everyone is to get a PC and an audio interface.
Lots of rappers launch business/vanity projects. Mike Skinner does Beat Stevie, Jay-Z has Roc-A-Fella, and Derek B apparently runs a used car-lot in Stratford. Will you be going where the big money lies too?
Hedluv: Passman wants to do his own line for Topman like Kate Moss didn't, and I dream of one day running my own pasty chain.
So about Brazil, we hear you're really big there. What's the deal with that?
Hedluv: Actually it turns out we're quite a lot smaller here, what with Brazil being so massive. We're gigging in Sao Paulo at the moment and we're estimating that it could be at least five times the size of Truro - and we're not even big there!
What's 'Casiotone'? (It says it on your YouTube tags).
Hedluv: Casiotones are these beautiful little keyboards that Casio made back in the 1980s - they've changed my life! I've got over 20 of them at home, but in the live shows I only use my favourite.
Rory McGrath, Phil Vickery, Kristin Scott Thomas, Mick Fleetwood from Fleetwood Mac and Aphex Twin all have strong connections with Redruth. And of course, you're from there too! Why is it such a hotbed of talent?
Hedluv: The only thing I can think of is perhaps the radon gas from all the granite we've got mixed with a lack of any decent distractions from our creative pursuits. This lot all honed their skills in their bedrooms too! Actually we have our first gig in Redruth on 29 November at the Melting Pot in our old school.
You're quite funny on stage and there's usually quite a lot of banter coming from you too. Do you follow the same script and tell the same jokes every night like comedians do?
Passman: I dunno if you could call them jokes! we find comedy in tragedy, an' if you've been to a show then you'll know what I'm talkin' about!
Who is Passman?
Hedluv: Nobody really knows the Passman - he is a bit of an enigma! I've known of him since I was in infants' school and I still don't get him!
Passman's dancing is good. Does he have any tips?
Hedluv: Passman is here with me now and he has this to say on the subject:
Passman:
* Make sure that everythin' you do you do wit' conviction!
* Dance to enjoy yourself, not to try an' look cool!
* Don't worry about it if people point an' laugh an' stuff!
* Make your gestures large an' your moves extravagant!
* Girls love a guy who looks like he knows what he's doin' on the dance floor! or guys for that matter! an' guys do girls! an' girls girls! it works for everyone! dancin' an' sex are closely related!
* Dancin' is fun! don't miss out!
