MC Profile – Madrush MC (UK)
Madrush MC has become one of the scenes truly iconic voices over the last 10 years or so. With a deep vocal tone, menacing lyrical style and a no-nonsense manner, his style clearly warns all those daring to step up to his artistic integrity to do sharp u-turn, or get burned. This B-Boy ethic has earned him a well-deserved place in the ranks of the DNB MC community.
It is this deep passion for the craft and high level of artistry that has seen him rise in popularity, and the demand for his vocals continue to increase to crazy levels. We’re buzzing to have the opportunity to talk to him here about his rise through the ranks, his involvement within the scope of several underground dance music genres and now, excitingly, a brand new multi genre label.
Madrush MC! Welcome in!
Hi INSIDE DNB, thanks for having me!
We have a lot to talk about, but first things first. We HAVE to talk about THE VOICE! There are some really, really good MCs out there pushing the craft to the hilt and really pushing the movement, but if you aren’t blessed with the voice, you’ve only winning half of the battle. So, tell us, at what point did you realise you were sitting on a voice that might really have a chance to take you somewhere as an artist?
As a kid I was always listening to artists like Admiral Bailey, Josie Wales, Tippa Irie, Smiley Culture, Bounty Killa, Capleton, Tenor Saw, Eeka Mouse, Big Daddy Kane,Eric B & Rakim and they all had a massive influence on me. That’s when I started experimenting with different vocal styles and tones, but I actually didn’t start recording anything until later on down the line in my career. I was already doing my thing as an MC, so the whole being an artist thing and recording didn’t really interest me like that until 2001.
My cousin Jeff (aka Jamac) introduced me to an organisation he worked for called GMMAZ. They helped me with developing into a recording artist whilst delivering music workshops to young people across Manchester. I learnt so much with them and I got to work alongside some great musicians, bands and artists that gave me the boost to then equip myself with the tools to take things further and level up in my own career.
Because you’ve been into the scene for 30 odd years, and making and releasing music to the world for over 12 years now starting with dubstep and breaks, your vocal sound has really been on quite a journey since those early days. Your range was pretty wide at the beginning, and the delivery was packed full of energy, so at what point did you decide to drop the pitch right down to your boots and let the signature Madrush MC sound that we know and love develop?
Yeah, Inna Ya was the Dub Step track I recorded with James and Kato, and that’s where the high energy toasting style vocal was born. In 2017 the more laid-back vocal delivery and tone was introduced after experimenting with Nikki (aka Euphonique) in her studio. We did a few tracks together but the recording process of 23 Style and Bumpa Shaker was where my signature style all came about, and from there I have really developed and tailored it to where it is now.
Wikked! what was the big draw towards the breaks movement in the early stages of your MC career? It was a massive scene in its heyday, and was a natural stepping stone for a lot of slightly older ravers looking to maintain the energy of raving but drop the tempo a bit. I’m interested to know how you ended up there?
My breakbeat journey started from the early House, Jungle Techno and Jungle scenes back in the late 80’s-mid 90s, listening to artists like Renegade Soundwave, 2 Bad Mice, Shut Up n Dance & The Prodigy. Then a friend of mine Lee (aka Sabre) was the one who got me MCing to breakbeat at his nights Viagra Fools, Tunnel B1 & Ape in Manchester. But It was Mike (aka Deval) that linked me up with Mike & James (Heavyfeet) and we recorded a track called Vs Up that got signed to Aquasky’s Passenger Records. From there I recorded three tracks for their Bring The Rukus LP that featured artist like Rennie Pilgrem, Ragga Twins and the Leeds based duo 601, who I went on to record After Party with for their Bring The Bass LP which was the last breakbeat project I did.
The list of names you’ve worked with and tracks you’ve featured is almost out of hand. It’s LONG! One thing that really interests me with MCs is where the ideas come from and how they spark into a full vocal track. Tell us a bit about a few of your personal favourites and why, and how those ideas come to fruition?
All of the artists I have had the opportunity to work with has been absolutely amazing like Sub Zero, T>I, Bou, Exile, Dj Hybrid and to be honest all of the tracks are my favourites as each one has had its part in developing, sculpting and making me into the artist I am now. If you listen to my lyrics, a lot of the ideas come from my journey through the club life and is based around me as an MC, the DJs, sound systems, ravers and venues, as this is where I have been since the age of 17 and have fully soaked up the environment. But also, I have written tracks about things that have been happening in my personal life and I always promote positivity.
The list of track features is in the 70+ region now. That’s a lot of work! Do you record your vocals at home or is something that usually takes place in the studio? Also, how the heck do you find the time to do it all?
Yeah, sometimes I can’t believe it myself but I do remind myself that I have worked very hard to be where I am at now and I am grateful for it all and continue to grind away. Sometimes I record in studios, but the majority of the time I just record my vocals from home and send them to producers. That way it keeps projects moving. I try and balance things as best as possible all round and now it’s turned me into a good multi tasker!
You’re a Manchester native, and The North has featured a lot on the site in recent months. Going back through your SoundCloud account I came across your ‘Everyday Bluesy’ tracks with fellow Mancunian and friend of the site Diligent Fingers. You’re clearly an adept hip hop MC as well, so I wondered, is this something you’d think about doing more of in the future?
Manchester has been my home for the last 30+ years and to be part of the city’s music history and culture is an amazing feeling, because you are surrounded by so many legends and new talent. Manchester just keeps on churning out great music and artists all the time and is a force to be reckoned with, from the likes of Trigga, Bou, Chimpo, DRS, Strategy, Children Of Zeus, Hedex to name a few.
Another one is Diligent Fingers who has been a massive inspiration to me and has helped so much over the years and even with my label and Twitch channel. It was him that produced Everyday Bluesy for a project of mine called Stand Up Speak Out and he has encouraged me to keep voicing different genres and to stay versatile. We have actually got some unreleased music we have been discussing releasing, so I think I will be releasing some more hip hop in the future.
Your tune Backhand with Joely was nominated for track of the year at the 2020 DNB Awards. With the sheer amount of music out there that is some achievement, and the track is absolutely kick ass too. I can only imagine that something like that must be a wonderful form of recognition for all of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes in a small musical genre like drum and bass?
Shouts to DJ Obscura who was the one that made the link with Joely happen after he played me one of his tracks at Bloc2Bloc whilst live on a stream. When Backhand dropped in May 2020 It made a lot of noise in a short space of time and it gave us both a lot of exposure that we weren’t expecting. I wrote and voiced the track in a day in February at SEM studios Manchester, then sent it to Joely and he liked what I done, and then the next minute he said DNB Allstars wanted to sign it and the rest they say is history. Everybody was playing, supporting and talking about it. So, when the DNB Arena Awards came around at the end of 2020 we couldn’t believe it got nominated alongside the likes of Pendulum, Shy FX, Sub Focus and so many other big names. So yeah, it was a massive achievement and felt great to have that recognition of your peers.
And while we’re talking about achievements, let’s not forget that you are the only DNB MC to have two number ones simultaneously on both Beatport and Juno Download across four different projects. Proud dad moment?
Yeah, its crazy to think that to be honest, but once again it just reflects the hard work I have been putting in over the years and being in the right place at the right time and collaborating with the right people. I did the first double in 2020 with Backhand and Euphonique with the No Escape EP, and then got the second double in 2022 with Rattle Speaker by Exile on Audio Addict Records which is run by DJ Hybrid and Ignite by Annix (Enei Remix) on Nexus Sound run by Simula.
But once again you don’t think about these things until somebody points it out to you and then it’s another achievement reflecting of the work your putting in. My kids follow my music a lot and know the songs as well, and I always encourage them to enjoy but also work hard at things.
That’s super important. If they’re open to it, getting the kids involved early doors is so rewarding.
On to the label then. Firstly, I have to say I just LOVE the logo! That tiny little emblem means so much to so many, and yet those born after 1990 are at risk of possibly never knowing the importance of that little piece of plastic, and its cultural significance overt the last 70 years. Tell us, why did you choose the 7” record adaptor as the main label logo art? (I’m so glad you did BTW. It means a lot to me too!)
It was Joe (aka MC GI) who actually came up with the idea for me. I just wanted a logo and said to him I wanted something original but different, and he instantly came back with a few ideas but that was the one that stood out straight away, because it was so simple but very effective and had so much history with it. It also reminded me where I came from growing up with one of them on the side of the family record player, but it also represents the roots of all music and how music has evolved.
The logo stands out very different from others and when people see it, they will know what the label represents. I am also in the process of setting up a full-online merchandise shop for the label to get the logo out there even more.
Love that! My uncle Ray had a 1950s Wurlitzer Jukebox full of Rock N Roll 7″s, and seeing that logo really made me think about how important those tiny bits of plastic really were!
You also produce very, very, very funky house under your Groove Surgeon alias (which I absolutely love) and I’m guessing this is where the idea for the label name of ‘Operating Theatre Records’ came from?
Yes, I have been producing house & garage under my Groove Surgeon alias for a while now, but never actually done anything with the tracks I made and I reckon I had around 60 plus tracks just sat there. So now I have made the time to get some of them out to people and I currently have four releases out at the moment with London garage labels Pogo House Records, Smashing Trax Records, House Of Dreems Records and my own Bandcamp.
The idea of the label name did come from my Groove Surgeon alias and it was a radio show at first called Operating Theatre Radio Show on Guidance Sound System Recordings TV which is run by my cousin Jamac and also on Bloc2Bloc Radio which is run by Banner before I finally turned it into a record label. The label has its own weekly show on Twitch TV every Wednesdays 5pm-7pm (GMT TIME).
We love house music here, so we’ll defintely be keeping an eye on the Surgeon! The plan is for the label to be completely multi-genre right? You don’t see many labels like this nowadays that aren’t part of multi million-pound corporations, so this is a very exciting venture and seems like it might really open up some doors for artists of all genres?
Yes it is, and I am going to be releasing house, garage, DNB, jungle and bassline, and if it sounds good and fits the label then I will release it. I am very excited about this journey and hope to attract many more artists from different genres like some of the ones I already have ready to unleash to everybody. Shouts to Dapz from Compound Audio for making sure all music sounds consistent for the label.
Primarily though, it’s going to act as a vehicle for you to get your own music out on your own terms. Why is this important to you, and what does the statement mean to you?
Yes, the label is just going to be an outlet for my own music under both my aliases Groove Surgeon and Madrush MC, so some of the tracks will be ones I have produced and the others will be tracks I have collaborated with vocally. There are labels out there who like to make themselves out to be more important than the artist and even go to the depths of controlling artists music by changing their sound, appearance and even giving them really bad deals, rather than backing the artists properly and fairly.
So, the statement is to make artists understand if you’re at Operating Theatre Records, we put you and your music first. We want you to be happy with your music and if we like it then we will release it. Also, as a label, I wanted to be able to put music out when I want and do things my way rather than following others, and the main priority is always delivering good quality music to people.
Sounds amazing. It’s such a shame that there is so much poor business going on in our music. The first release ‘Poppin Off’ is an absolute belter, and a collab between three artists from three different countries across Europe. You’re promoting global and musical unity and inclusivity from the offset, and that’s a pretty important message for a fledgling label. What other statements are you hoping to make with the project?
Yeah, I am from Jamaica, Cramz is from Germany and Magenta is from Prague, so there is a diverse mix of cultures between us but the main thing that brings us together is that the music is a universal language that us and everybody understands no matter where you are from. The track itself brings together all our cultures into one dancefloor good vibe banger. Me delivering in my Jamaican style vocals and Cramz and Magenta with their jump up style of drum n bass productions. We just want everybody to not be afraid to let themselves go and just jump up and down and keep skanking all over.
I’m guessing you already have a whole heap of releases lined up for the coming months, so if you can, please give us a little insight into what we can all look forward to?
With the launch of Poppin Off on 14th June with myself, Cramz and Magenta, I also have the labels first garage track lined up for mid-July with UK reggae and lovers artist legend Ken Martin called Waiting For Caroline Remix and Brazilian producer Acuna and plenty more but that’s all I can say at the moment.
And when it comes to nurturing new talent, how are you planning to draw people in and scope out new music. From people I’ve talked to before about this, it seems like one of the hardest parts of running a label. What you put out defines who you are as a label after all?
I am always working with the next generation of artists, as the majority of my releases have been with a few of them like ALR, Pengo, Stance and DRZ. To be honest there are so many good artists out there making some amazing music, but often don’t know where to take it and I even get many messages asking, so now I have the label there it’s going to be an option for them.
Finally then, you have a big following out there and this project launch marks the start of a brand new chapter for you as an artists. What would you like to say to those people that are both familiar with you and are also maybe discovering you for the first time through this interview?
Big love to everybody who is supporting all my music from all over as I appreciate each and every one of you to the highest and I will continue to deliver good music to you all. To those who are just discovering me, my name is Madrush MC aka Groove Surgeon, I am an MC, DJ and producer of drum and bass, house and garage music and also now label boss, so come join me on my journey through the UK Bass music scene and check out my social media platforms!
BIG UP! We wish you every inch of success with the project and really hope it opens up lots of new doors!
FIND OUT MORE HERE:
Stream Operatingtheatrerecords music | Listen to songs, albums, playlists for free on SoundCloud
Stream Madrush Mc music | Listen to songs, albums, playlists for free on SoundCloud
Stream Groove Surgeon music | Listen to songs, albums, playlists for free on SoundCloud
https://www.instagram.com/madrushmc
