Hanging Out With DVNNY SETH

DVNNY SETH is a 22-year-old, self-proclaimed ‘skinny white kid’, fresh from the grimiest parts of London. You’ve probably heard of him, how he prefers his spliff with a cup of tea, or at least seen the video to his track ‘Woop’ (below). Having just returned from a stint in America, this young blood is indeed making his own unique waves in the hip-hop industry. Australia is one of the next goals on his radar, so keep your eye out for this tatted-up and talented young man. Woop.

Whats up Danny? Thanks for sitting down and chatting with me.
What’s good family? The pleasure is all mine. Thank you for having me.

First off, I’m indeed a fan of yourself, codeine & tea parties, so dope work on your first single ‘Woop’. It’s just starting to trickle through down here in Australia, and I know for sure you have some buzz hyping up down here. Talk me through producing the video for ‘Woop’ and the creative direction behind it?
Well to start off, Woop the track was a concept created by me and the producer Jepordise in my kitchen in my small hometown (laughs). We were making beats and came across that sample, the rest is history. As far as the video is concerned, I met up with a bunch of up and coming producer/directors, a clique called ‘IVSEYE’ based out in LA, where I had been staying the past couple of years. We all connected really well visually and creatively. The codiene tea parties were a definite must. I knew I wanted the US audience to feel that mad hatter UK vibe, making sure I stamp my british trademark upon the video. The rest of the video I really wanted to incorporate LA. It has become my home and I wanted my UK audience to see what life is like over there. On the stylistic side of things I hooked up with a good friend of mine, Matthew Baus, and we planned out and styled the outfits for each person and scene alike. The paisley suit was custom designed by the homie, Rick Villa. The video was directed by the lead of IVSEYE Barney Patterson. Again really close homie and did a great job. As far as the future is concerned, now that I have some money, I will be directing all of my own videos and you will see that my art direction and stylistic views will have no boundaries.

More recently you followed up with your second mixtape PRESPLIFFS VOL II. What has it been like looking back on your natural progression as an artist?
It’s been amazing to look back really. I mean, I have only been taking my rapping seriously for about 2 years and every track I produce is a learning experience for me. I’m here to learn from the game, not pretend I know everything about it. I’m young, open and willing to experiment. On the first EP, I experimented in the then ‘up and coming’ trap scene, but quickly fell out of love with it and could have easily been pigeon holed as being an ‘edm’ trap artist. This was something i definitely did not want. So, I went into Prespliffs II with the idea of showing people how diverse I can really be. I wanted artists that I look up to, to listen to the tape and every artist have their own favourite track. For example, I would hope Wiz would enjoy Lazy Days, Pharrell may enjoy FLOW, and so on and so forth. Prespliffs II for me was really about expansion and progression. The reason they are called PRESPLIFFS is because they are the prequels to my tape TEASPLIFFS. I didn’t feel I was ready for a tape yet and felt that it would have been pointless releasing a tape if I had no audience to listen, you feel? So I scrapped Teaspliffs and came up with the trilogy of Presliffs. I really feel that the audience out there should be open minded because my music can go in any direction but remain hip-hop at the same time.

You worked with Taurean Roye & Josh Collard (LNIP) on that mixtape. The energy around emerging artists from the UK, especially within this genre of music, seems to be very productive.
Well, Tee and Collard are the homies. I’ll explain in more depth soon, but as for the scene in the UK, I agree. I think right now, more then ever, the Internet has opened up a pathway which has never before been accessible. Anyone can now stick a video on YouTube and blow up, but the clever ones who sit back and utilise a plan are the ones who succeed. I guess this is one of the main reasons me and Paris work so well, however on the other hand, there is a lot of negativity in the UK. Perhaps more so there than anywhere else, the UK scene is very proud of being grime and UK hip hop orientated and anyone who tries to do otherwise is shunned upon or disregarded. It’s a shame that UK artists don’t back other UK artists as they should, but I’m hoping one day that will change.

Tell me a little more about LNIP.
Ahh, the story of me and Paris (laughs). Well whilst I was in LA last year, I had a call from my producer Zach Nahome, who’s a incredible 19 year old boy wonder producer. He was telling me about this small clique he’s been working with called ‘Last Night In Paris’. I scoured the Internet but couldn’t find much, but what I got sent blew me away. I heard the same from their end, so automatically without meeting each other we grew a love and respect for one another as we both were trying to accomplish the same goals. Whilst being away we collaborated on two tracks whilst I was overseas and they baaaanged (laughs). When I returned from LA straight away we all got to work with each other. Now my producer Zach works with them just as much as I do. Unfortunately I was too late to appear on the EP as it’s been done for a long time, but you haven’t seen the last of me and Paris. Especially me and Collard. We are currently knee deep in a 5 track EP too which I cannot give the title away but entirely produced by Zach and I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised.

I also hear you’re about to launch a fashion label. What’s been the most challenging aspect of setting up this project? And what can we expect?
Yep that’s correct mate. Me and my partner skarie, my graphic designer, responsible for all my artwork, have been in the process of setting up a high end accessories line called ‘Boadicia London‘. Boadicea, being an ancient queen of England. We have been setting up for the good half of a year, really building up a following without even releasing anything. We’ve just had artwork and small buzz around myself. Of course behind the scenes everything is now ready: we have secured manufacturing over in the states and lined up some nice people we would like to represent it. The main aim is too keep it exclusive and high end. We want people to have to research about Boadicia, rather then it be pushed in your face. Our first release are our custom print Boalex boxer shorts and Boalex reversible bucket hats, which should be available from mid march on our website. Even though I will be part owner and creative director, I do not want my face to be the push of my brand. This is a separate venture that I will be advertising if you feel, so this isn’t merchandise for DVNNY SETH, this is my own label on the side.

In respect to this latest venture, who is your favourite designer?
Tough question to be honest matey. As a younger, I used to worship people like Nico, Verbal, and of course Pharrell, but as I grew of age my pallet grew and started hanging with a bunch of up and coming designers out in LA (Roark, Skingraftdesigns, Mookee by Yuskee). Living in the thick of the LA fashion scene really helped me get a view of the market I wanted to dabble in and choose the right point of entry. I fuck with Clothsurgeon, [and it’s] good to see someone so influential and young coming out of the UK. I don’t want to go ahead and say all the obvious designers like everyone else, but to choose an overall would be difficult… if I had to go with [one it would be] Nigo, purely due to my childhood.

So you made the transition back from America, how are you settling in?
Well actually I just made [the] transition back from America [and am] in London right now, got a couple European shows. But I love it there man, met such amazing people and a part of me stayed over there. My track split persona explains a lot (laughs).

If you could pick anyone in the world to produce your next album, who would you like to work with?
Without a question, the Neptunes or just Pharrell himself. The first rap album I bought was Clipse: Lord Willin’. To this day [it’s] still my favourite. Their production is, and has always been, my favourite. From Pharrell’s solo career, to the production on clones. I’m [also] a huge Micheal jackson fan. One day down the line I would love to have the honour to work with the likes of Quincy Jones, but that’s [on] some album shit (laughs). But can’t forget people like [Yeezy], another huge inspiration to me. College Dropout is still in my car to this day, don’t think that will change anytime soon… Would also definitely like to link up with the likes of XXYYXX, Clams Casino, Noah 40 Shabieb and would love to make a slapper with Lex Lugar…

What Australian producers are popping up on your map?
Flume & Yumo. Feeling alot, been getting vibes off these guys man. But my ears are always open to suggestions, so make sure you send me a bunch after this (laughs).

In terms of art direction, Virgil Abloh inspires alot of my work. Who have you been following, and who you will be working with in the future?
Again difficult one, I too love Virgil! Trying to get my hands on some Pyrex as we speak (laughs). But the whole trill collective is [a] massive influence on what I’m trying to achieve. Obviously goes without saying, if you mention Virgil you can’t not mention Kanye, another huge influence to me. As well [as] Ricardo Tisci, and how he really transformed Givenchy into a name known throughout the streets, as well as keeping the high end on smash. However, in terms of inspirations  I really try and push myself to do better then my last project. I find [that] myself [is my] inspiration sometimes. No one tells you to do better than yourself at the end of the day. The visions I have for myself and my future videos are so clear, unfortunately right now my finance is limited as I’m not trying to sign to a major label yet. But money will come, and as it does, as I said before, my visions and boundaries and endless.

Top 3 producers of all time?
There’s a lot of young’n I’m fucking with heavy right now, but if it’s of all time then: Pharrell, Kanye (old Kanye) [and] Quincy Jones.

Can you share with me the weirdest thing that’s happened on tour so far?
Well unfortunately I haven’t had the pleasure of touring yet, but we are in midst of planning. But from the shows I have done, wow, there have been some memorable moments. I think when I went in the studio with Sonny Digital in Atlanta, I realised mid-way through a session with him that he produced ‘geeked up of them bars by Juicy Jay’… Probably the anthem to my life. I felt very emotional. (laughs) But as for sexual things, I keep those to myself (and my iphone) (laughs).

When can we expect to see you down in Australia?
If the energy stays right should be by summer my G. I’ve come a long way in a little time, and I’m confident this is just the beginning sir! Thank you for having me mate, and before you know it I’ll be out there G, big ups!