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SWAY chats to I Like Music

SWAY: I just got approached by the company to do it, I got a proposal and I thought it was a good thing man. It wasn't an opportunity that was around for me when I was coming up, something as big as this. The end result could end up with somebody's CD, like someone's track being given away in a store such as Harvey Nicks, which is a big deal.

ILM: You spent time at school using the music department equipment. What would you say to young people thinking of getting into music? What are your biggest tips for artists coming into the industry now?

SWAY: Determination is very important. Determination and perception. Perception is equally important as determination. Even if you're on your own, you need to appear as though there's more people behind you. You need to create the illusion that you can be successful. People always accept potential. That's why people have credit cards. Potential could mean as much as the actual thing sometimes.

They should always stick to their guns and I don't mean that literally.

ILM: So know what your principles are and stick with that.

SWAY: Yeah, exactly.

ILM: You've been making beats for ages and were winning battles aged 16. Do you still have the first beat you made?

SWAY: Yeah I do and it sounded hideous, but there was potential. So… I'm worried about other people though, I know there's someone out there who I don't speak to now, who's got all of that shit, sorry… stuff.

ILM: In terms of life skills and staying on the straight and narrow, what's your advice to kids?

SWAY: Just to be themselves man and not be followers man. And realise that there's always two parts, two sides to a story. Y'know a lot of your favourite rappers might be talking about shooting and killing and guns and stuff like that, but they're really forgetting the part where people are in hospital on drips for two months having blood transfusions because of how much blood they've lost, you have to remember the full scale y'know If you're going to do the crime, prison is an option as well.

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Related links:

1. Hugo Urban Rules
2. Nationwide Mercury Prize Album
3. Sway - Products
4. Sway - This Is My Demo