So this month we thought we'd formally introduce a guy who has been on our radar since last year. He was so much on our Radar that we invited him down to play at Example's 2nd birthday party where he completely smashed it.    

Manchester born Sparkz started writing lyrics and producing his own tunes when he was just 15 years old.  In 2009 he won music competition "MCR Superstars" and was awarded the prize of travelling to New York to meet various hip hop artists and have the chance to work in the studio with them.

Inspired by his win Sparkz began to work harder on music by improving his production skills and getting his hands on the microphone at nights in Manchester.  With hype building and his name appearing alongside the likes of Mouse Outfit, Broke n £nglish and Skittles he's ready to show you his combination of laid back productions and honest real life lyrics with his first free download.

We caught up with Sparkz to find out more about him and more about his first ever free download the "Back To Basics EP" 

Example : For those that don't know who are Sparkz and what do you do ? 

Sparkz :  What a question. haha... manchester born writer, rapper, host, performer and producer of Hiphop, Dubstep and nuff next tings. Looking to add more to the resume.  

 

Example : How did you start out and when did you start making beats?

Sparkz :  well I say I started on grime but I wrote my first lyric wen i was around 14/15  to a hip hop beat. Infact it was 'Simon Say's' by Pharoahe Monch...with the lyrics on...  ano!  but anyway,  began hittin' youth clubs, getting involved in music projects, making beats and spittin' on sets. At about 17 me and a few friends got together and made a tune called Rain Drops, which was to be the first tune from the 'Kollektive' (Sparkz, Laylay, Dubbul O, Too Shugs and Simba). Got to collage, learnt nuff stuff and met nuff people. One of them became part of the kollektive (L Digz). Since then we've all bin making tracks together. Recently though we've been workin on solo projects...

Cue 'Back to Basics'...

Example : You've just got back from the states.  how was that?  what did you get upto?

Sparkz: New York was sickk... I came 1st in a compitition called 'MCR Superstars' couple years ago, and that was the prize. It was propper dope! Nice weather and all that gear. Ate loads of food and not much sleep. Jet lag done me in big time! I went out to a few clubs and was introduced to some artists on the hiphop sene. Made a couple links while I was at it.

 I mostly chilled in Manhattan, but we went to brooklyn to record a tune on a beat of mine with 'Afu Ra' and 'Squala Orphan'. which was a bit of a big thing for me to be honest. And to top it all off, we got there just in time for Independance day (minus the alien invation and Will Smith). So ye, it was goin' off really!   

Example:  We can cop your first free download now from your facebook page.  What can we expect in there? 

Sparkz :  This is just a taste of things to come. I've put together two of my more chilled hiphop tunes with a bit of a wild card, reggae styliee. Also featuring on the 'Back to Basics' (freE.P) is 'Helen K' with some singin' and 'L Digz' with some rappin'...

Example :  What's next on the cards? 

Sparkz :  Some more of this hiphop stuff (mabey a tad upbeat) and definitely a bit of dubstep for ya! Plus plenty of                                                                                          collaborations with other rhymers, vocalists and producers. Hard Work Ahead...

Example: Whats your favourite tune at the moment? 

Sparkz : Hmmm difficult... 'Born This Way' by Lady GaGa.... Big tune! LoL

Example :  Any shouts? 

Sparkz :  Big thanks to ExampleMag ofcourse... Big thanks to Helen K and L Digz for jumpin on the Ep. Shouts to my kollektive people each and every... and big ups to all my fellow manchester artists making good music. 

The Back 2 Basics Ep is available for FREE download exclusively from Sparkz' Facebook page.