Bumble J: Inside 'Useless Poetry'
- Meganne Gerbeau
- Jul 12, 2017
- 5 min read
We’ve caught up with Digital Film student and Hip-Hop newbie, Bumble J, to discuss what his first EP ‘Useless Poetry’ is all about. More commonly known as Josh Goodwin within the University of Brighton community – he reveals his passions, influences and plans for the future in this exclusive interview.
So, what’s ‘Useless Poetry’ all about?
There is a lot of thought behind [it] I’d like to think. Hopefully I've been able to craft some intricate lyrics without coming across like a ponce with a thesaurus who's been listening to DOOM and Jam Baxter too much!
I've kind of tried to be dishonestly honest. In the sense that, what I explore in these songs are things that I feel and think about a lot and it's easier for me to say exactly how I feel if I say it in a way people have to dissect, also I think I just like being weird.
Hopefully it seems visceral and mildly interesting. The album title and artwork means a lot too. The whole useless poetry thing is about the idea that although we say magnificent things they kind of mean nothing. Words are bulletproof but they don't make people bulletproof yet they make the person saying it feel that way.
How long has making music been a passion of yours?
I never thought I would ever be able to release anything and I didn't think it would be Hip-Hop either. I was in a punk band that lasted for about two weeks when I was 15, we were terrible. Then I started free styling with friends in the last year and half, I just wanted to spit every chance I could and then after hanging with Theo (Ill wisdom) and grabbing a mic, I wrote the EP and we recorded [it] super quick. Now I can't stop wanting to make more tracks.
What influenced you to create this EP?
My thoughts and memories, books, films, comics and cosmic states of inebriation. I would say that a big one has been Fargo series three weirdly. Looking at the home sprung philosophy in that and the constant juxtapositions made me want my songs to contrast each other, instead of just making the same track six times (even though I did release an alternate version of one track so don't judge).
Musically, who influences your sound?
MF DOOM is a huge one as he is the G.O.A.T. The man’s internal rhymes are insane and his beats are always phat! He is so sick and he has influenced me to write from several perspectives. Even if it is only told from one character he looks at their opinions or position in the song's situation. ‘Fancy Clown’ is a good example of that and my favourite DOOM track.
Also, Mr. Key because he stands out and makes unique and punchy tracks. I hope my stuff can knock people on their ass as much as he can in a single track. I still can't listen to ‘Missing You’ without getting shivers. The Cure also influence me a lot I think.
WATCH: MR KEY & GREENWOOD SHARPS - MISSING YOU (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
Have you had any help making this happen?
I can't produce. I suck at it man. Luckily I have Ill Wisdom bringing me that good, good all the time. He is so talented and we met through skateboarding when I started university as he lives in the town. I can't think about making music without him and my songs would [be] nothing without him. Man just has the magic and any sample you could think of he can find, especially that jazz or funk yo!
And then there is InZain, another extremely talented dude who produced ‘Halved Hearts’. We met through university also as he was in the year above me. One more person who was involved with the album was Moët. He spits like no other. Watch him he is gonna go far. Big up!
What's nice about working with them is that they listen to exactly what I want and vice versa so it becomes a real collaboration and everyone wins.
What is your opinion on the current UK Hip Hop scene?
It's banging. High Focus are holding it down and there is always good stuff coming from the north. Chie is one sick guy I have just gotten into, the geezer is savage on a mic. It seems that it's only gonna get better and I'm hopefully starting to do shows in September/October, so hopefully the scene will stay thriving. I study near Brighton anyway so I'm super lucky as there are a good army of proper Hip-Hop heads lurking constantly.
Is this something you see yourself getting into in the future or is it purely just for fun?
I'll definitely stop doing it if it ever ceases to be fun. If you’re not enjoying it what's the point? I'm gonna keep doing it for as long as humanely possible. If it goes anywhere that will be awesome, but if not it doesn't matter. I just want to make music we can all be proud of and wreck a stage or two.
What’s next after this?
I've got about three features in Boy Bill's mixtape ‘Cooking in The Lab’ which should be about by August. [It’s] sounding so sick and I'm proper proud of him. Keep those eyes peeled for that as it will be killer. Wisdom and I are working on a collab EP which should be cool and I'm doing the same with Moët at some point. My biggest project over the summer though is getting everything done for a 20-30 song mixtape I wanna release by October. Other than that, [I’m] working on two music videos for myself [which] should be interesting... I hope.
Safe Mel! Big up to anyone who helped with this little project and whoever just sat in and smoked with us while we were recording! P.S. Safe to Rowan Bailey for the peng album cover art!
We also briefly caught up with Ill Wisdom, Theo Sapsford-Eades a.k.a the man behind the beats, to find out how he found it. He had: "lots of fun producing and recording for Josh" and revealed that the last verse on most of the tracks was freestyle and mostly done with one take. Impressive stuff.
Released on Wednesday 21st June, you can stream ‘Useless Poetry’ here. Bumble J brings in a fresh new sound to the Hip-Hop scene with clever bars, flowy beats and catchy rhythms. We predict big things here! Before you go, check out our top tracks from the EP:
1. Halved Hearts (Prod. InZain)
2. Hello Stranger (Prod. Ill Wisdom)
3. Kotos In The Ghetto ft. Moët (Prod. Ill Wisdom)
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