Inspired #251 - The New Consistent
Midlands newcomer The New Consistent has just released his new single ‘All That We’ve Got’ - a care-free summer breeze track that we all need in our lives right now. He took a moment to talk to us about the inspirations behind his music.
Who are your top three musical inspirations and why?
It does change month by month to be honest! Right now though I’d go for the following:
Enny, who is a rapper from London. She only begun her career just over a year ago but is popping off massively at the moment. I love how her attitude and authenticity just oozes out of every song she drops. She really inspired me to start being more myself when I’m making music and to not hold back, especially with things like vocal delivery. Her producers are really good too, theres a really nice blend of old school hip hop, jazz and soul in there. It sounds very modern, but its like she’s been around for years!
Dave has probably been one of the mainstay inspirations since I started making music. I think he definitely taught me how to tell a story. His tracks literally drip with such strong emotion, not necessarily his songs that hit the charts, but tracks from his album, and from his early EPs especially caught my attention. He’s one of the only guys I’ve ever seen rap and play the piano at the same time so beautifully too!
Finally, Loyle Carner is definitely the first artist that I listened to that made me think I could make music, when I’d just turned 18. The attention to detail in his lyrics, the transparency in emotion, showing vulnerability that I’d never seen before, especially on a rap album - it just creates art that I find so poetic.
Is there a certain film that inspires you and why?
To be completely honest I couldn’t tell you the last time I’d watched a film in full! I really struggle focusing my attention on them sometimes. I remember when my mum showed me The Breakfast Club when I was 14, that had a huge impact on me. I think it taught me so much, theres so much social commentary in the script, even though its nearly 40 years old, it still holds such relevance today, and she definitely showed me it at the perfect time.
What city do you find the most inspiring and why?
Theres a few that come to mind! I’ve always wanted to go to Berlin. My mum went a few years ago and it just looked incredible, loads of art, music and culture - the streets are literally plastered with it! I’d love to go there and write an album one day, spend like a month or so there, thats definitely a dream. This is a boring one, but London does inspire me every day too. The class of jazz, hip hop and contemporary musicians that are coming out of the city every week is just incredible. I do like how active the people are there too, and how creative certain areas can be, I’ll no doubt find myself heading down there to create more often after lockdown has passed! I’d never wanna live there though, but I can definitely admire from afar and head down when I need to haha!
Who is the most inspiring person to you and why?
Probably - especially at this age - my parents. I learn stuff from them so often, and as I’m getting older its interesting seeing parts of them in me more and more, good and bad. Being able to then reflect on that and see how I can change from them, or follow their paths is really inspiring, it makes me think more, which is a good thing when it comes to writing music.
What were your inspirations when writing your new track?
In terms of the lyrics, I was mainly just taking inspiration from thoughts and feelings that I’d had when seeing friends again after lockdown last summer. There were good times, but there was also this weird, anxious haze over everything, which I think most people were feeling. We were trying to have a good time and look out for each other because of everything, and its just kind of an expression of that. Musically, I really wanted to just continue the natural development that I was going through. I knew I wanted to start leaning towards rapping more, rather than more simple spoken word, and I knew exactly what kinda sound I wanted it to be on. I think I’d been striving for this kinda sound since I started so again, that was just the natural evolution as I’d been creating and learning more and more. Listening to a wide variety of artists helped me a lot. Picking out the best bits from different genres is the best way to do it I think, from the likes of Neil Young all the way through to Jay-Z! Both story tellers, but just telling them from a different place.
How would you like to inspire people?
I’d like to let people see that its okay to be transparent with others about how you feel and show vulnerability sometimes, and that it helps to move things forward and keep the ball rolling with life and relationships. I hope that with the art I create and the messages I give across, not just in my music but on social media and through meeting people (when we’re allowed again!) that I can help push for social change, and play my part in the bigger picture as a creative. There is a lot of wrong in the world and If I can help move things to a better place with my art then that would be great. I know the part I play is tiny, but I hope I can inspire people to unite and come together; people in my creative community, the community where I live, the online communities - if we all pushed in the same direction, a lot could change for the better, and we’ve seen that recently with certain things that have happened. I think the creative industry plays such a huge part in uniting people and its important to remember that as a creator of art. However big or small you are as an artist, you have some level of attention on you, and if you can push good thoughts, ideas, and energy to the people that are watching, whether thats 10, or 10,000 people - then you’re bettering the world around you