Santan Dave

When I'm performing, the crowd just disappears, it's like everyone merges - one big person. You just say the words and people will say the words back to you. And it's just so rehearsed. I have a lot of songs I couldn't forget the words if I tried. So you get in there, you lose yourself and it's all good.

Music and football are two industries where black people excel, because talent is undeniable. You can't deny an amazing voice. You can't deny amazing athletic prowess. Physically, it's evident. But in other industries, circumstance is more of a thing.

There was a sort of chain in school. I wasn't, like, mad at the top, but I wasn't right at the bottom, either.

I've given her bragging rights. That's something my mum's definitely big on, like any African parent. Like any parent.

I'm not really good in public spaces, I'm not really good with people, I'm not really good at a lot of things.

The moment I started learning to play the piano it changed my whole dynamic with music and with school. Suddenly I had a reason to be there, or at least at my music lessons; it just took hold of me.

Prison hosts a lot of normal people, a lot of family men who were caught in a tight situation or in a dark place.

I'm not a grime act, I'm not a rapper, nor am I melody man. I just make music.

For a black person who's Senegalese, growing up in France, or a New York Jamaican, that's a completely different relationship with being black and how you might be accepted in that culture or that world. Everyone's experience is different. Especially black women and black men.

Rap, for me, I go at any tempo and any sound of beat and incorporate melody as well.

Grime is its own sound. There's a lot more to it. It's like a sound, culture, style - the way that they dress and speak.

I'm always looking forward and trying to improve.

A lot of people devote their lives to me and what I do. It means the most to be able to repay that faith.

I've always like 'Dragonball Z' and 'Naruto,' that kind of drawing. My older brother draws so he was always drawing 'Dragonball Z' characters and so I got into it from there.

I like soundtracks. I love Hans Zimmer, the score for 'The Dark Knight Rises' is one of my favourites. I also like 'Man of Steel,' 'Inception,' 'Interstellar,' 'Braveheart,' 'Transformers' - Steve Jablonsky with 'Arrival to Earth.' 'Schindler's List' too, that's beautiful.

I've always had a different ear for music.

I think it's crucial to go out and explain to people who you are and where you come from, your hardships - that's the kind of stuff I connect to.

I couldn't care less about criticism.

Psychodrama' is a form of therapy and it is just expressing how you feel in whatever way is the most creative to you. Some people act it out, some people sing it out, people find their own different ways.

I've always listened to different styles of music to make sure I'm balanced. I feel like if you only listen to your type of music you can never go outside of it.