Artist Spotlight: SamRecks
SamRecks is cool. Don’t bother denying it. From his breezy intonation to tight rhythmic nuance, a verse from Recks brims with charisma and gusto, bouncy and boisterous, like that one mate who always gasses you up.
Having caught the ear of alt rap fans with early hits like On Me and Rotation, this year has seen Sam plunder into the wider scene, with help from the brazen battering ram of TikTok. Singles like Don’t Tell No One and Love & Attention caused a huge splash on social media, with Sam ensuing to dip his toes into the waters of success on streaming services. His beat selection is always blithe and dappled; his style borrows from the classic alt rap sound whilst flirting with Afro and Drill tendencies, resulting in a timbre that is rousing yet relaxed. Would You Let Me is the latest single in a busy year for the rapper, once again consolidating his endearing charm and technical astuteness, depicting an ambiguous romance with verve and poise.
I caught up with the budding star to chat sound, style, socials and the new single.
Who and what influences you?
I would say I’m influenced by a lot of different things, not just artists but life and things that have happen to me. Certain situations I’ve been in, have stood out and left a lasting impression, I use these key points as influences. In terms of artists, I prefer to draw from career moments that I related to the most, like the early Drake Come Back Season mixtape times, Wretch 32’s Black & White album or when A$AP Rocky dropped Peso, Purple Swag, or Kendrick's Overly Dedicated mixtape. These were all moments when I was finding out more and more about my love for music and just thinking - rah these artists are cold and what they’re speaking about is different.
What are your musical origins?
I grew up surrounded by music, my mum always played old school traditional Nigerian music, both Yoruba and Benin songs were constantly playing in the background. As I grew up, I found and listened to a lot of alternative rap, hip hop, drill & R&B.
How did you find your sound?
I wouldn’t say I’ve found my sound, I think I make music that is true to me and people resonate with it. I like versatility and I definitely take that into my music. I like to experiment and try new things, today I might want to make a slow kind of song and tomorrow I might want to make something up tempo with a different structure and instruments. My sound is dependent on the day and my mood.
How would you define that sound?
REKKI, my sound is REKKI. It’s unapologetically me, in that, It’s nothing like what you’ve heard before, it’s timeless and you can never predict what’s coming next but just enjoy the ride.
How do you think you stand out in a congested alternative rap scene?
My cadence and flow will grab your attention first - the way I hop on beats is different. I always package my music in way that maximises my listeners enjoyment, good vibes is a must.
I think the way I dress and carry myself also makes me stand out. I’m heavily into fashion and I want to bring a whole new way of dressing to the UK, I feel like London hasn’t really stepped out of its comfort zone in terms of fashion yet especially not the mandem on ends and I’m hoping to push the boundaries over time.
How would you say your style has progressed since your emergence?
I'd say I'm still emerging but to answer your question, I like to express myself with my clothes and music. My style has progressed in a way that shows me being open to trying different things and not being closed minded, which has allowed me to grow. I try not to say anything is dead without trying it first. I use to be quick to shut things, down but I quickly realised that way of thinking only limits your mind and thoughts. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.
What I really like about you is how you encapsulate a vibe whilst lyrically showing a deeper nuance - how have you worked to simultaneously master both?
Over time I’ve realised that when you do something over and over you’ll eventually master it. I love the way melodies sound on R&B songs, the sound just sticks in your head, so even if you don’t know what I’m saying you’ll remember the melody. I work a lot on the structure of my songs, making sure my chorus leave a lasting impression but at the same time I love writing bars and making you think - rah I didn’t clock that the first time I heard this. I’ve been rapping for years, so I guess over time I’ve just been able to make songs that have both elements.
Lately you’ve been doing the rounds on TikTok, did you purposely target the app to raise your profile?
Yes, I actually studied the app for a solid year, looking at what others were doing, the good things they did that went off, the mistakes they made, the trends, the effects, how they typed out the captions, every last detail. Then I slowly started trying it out myself and I have to say, it wasn’t easy. I had no followers and just said let me see what I can do, watched a few YouTube videos that said I needed to post 3 times a day to build a following and I did just that. I brainstormed ideas, used everything I’d picked up during my research and started posting on the platform nonstop and this helped me build my audience. TikTok is one of the greatest tools out there for reaching a new audiences, so I am very intentional in using it to get my music to a larger audience.
Talk me through the latest release Would You Let Me - what was the creative process for the tune?
Leprof sent me the beat and I was in the studio with my sound engineer ABiggy, as soon as it was played, I instantly hummed ‘ah yeah ah yeah‘
I started the song, recorded the hook and first verse then my friend Jedida came to join us in the studio and I felt having a female sing the 'ah yeah ah yeah' bit would make it sound more sexy. So I taught Jedida how I wanted that section sang and she sang over what I had recorded. I wanted it to sound like a sample, so i asked ABiggy to pitch up her vocals to give it that vibe. And as they say the rest is 'Would You Let Me'.
When you hear that song it’s all REKKI, no samples just my vibe and how I felt at the time.
What are you trying to convey with the track?
I was talking to someone at the time who told me ‘I got you‘ but this was still early in the talking stage, so I was a bit like yeah right, but I just thought yeah let me make something that captures that vibe, where you're infatuated with someone but it’s like it’s too early to know what it could be so you’re almost in doubt.
If you were introducing yourself to a new listener, what track would you play them?
I’d have to play them Love & Attention. I feel like that song connects with people the most because I was just speaking frankly about what I was going through at that time. I was and still am, juggling finding love, my work and chasing my dreams at the same time. The person I was talking to at the time, did not really care to understand what I was going through or why I was so busy, with nearly no time for myself but I did and that kept me going and focused. I'm not at my final destination yet but Love & Attention is relatable and applies to everyone's unique circumstances.
Where do you want to take your artistry?
I want to make SamRecks a household name. I am working toward being a part of UK rap history not only for my musical artistry but for my fashion and everything else my creative juices can create. It’s going to be a long journey but I’m ready to keep going and I just hope everyone that comes along this journey with me, can see how much effort I put into everything I do
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on my EP, hoping to drop it next year. The EP is going to be an introduction to REKKI. We’re in the fast food era of music but I don't want to pander to that demand. I want to put out bodies of works that captivate my listeners and stands the test of time.