{"id":78522,"date":"2020-05-24T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-24T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/?p=78522"},"modified":"2020-05-13T12:52:03","modified_gmt":"2020-05-13T11:52:03","slug":"regarded-as-one-of-the-first-female-vocalist-in-grime-singer-songwriter-gemma-fox-talks-the-highs-and-lows-of-success-her-hiatus-from-music-and-future-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/2020\/05\/regarded-as-one-of-the-first-female-vocalist-in-grime-singer-songwriter-gemma-fox-talks-the-highs-and-lows-of-success-her-hiatus-from-music-and-future-plans\/","title":{"rendered":"Regarded as one of the first female vocalist in grime: Singer-songwriter Gemma Fox talks the highs and lows of success, her hiatus from music and future plans"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Tell us what motivated you to seek a career in music.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was brought up in a very musical family. Not so much in the instrumental or playing aspect but the different styles of music that were constantly played. From rock n roll, to soul, staxxx, rare groove, reggae, hardcore to name just a few. My cousins had a band and we would go and watch, and my brothers had a sound system. I guess it became apparent that I wanted to be a singer when Mary J. Blige first appeared on the scene. I was in complete admiration of her and her music.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s when I knew music is certainly something that I wanted to do. Plus I was always good with poetry, so songwriting was second nature. It’s a great way to express yourself!<\/p>\n

You are regarded as the first female vocalist in grime, what led you to choose this genre over another?<\/strong><\/p>\n

That\u2019s a great title for sure. Firstly, we all evolve from something, a sound a genre previous singers, so before myself was Rose Windross, Kelly Le Roc and Shola Ama. I raved garage from the mid 90s, but when I came into the music scene myself, garage seemed to be birthing grime. I certainly enjoyed the edgy-ness and it almost gave us an outlet for our creativity. Garage then was very dressy, glamorous where grime was gritty, darker harder MC based which expressed the rawness of the streets and the youth culture at the time. That\u2019s certainly why I was attracted.<\/p>\n

Younger artists and MC\u2019s, young new producers and DJ\u2019s, we all worked together as a unit. It was not easy to be a vocalist in such a hard scene. I had to start out as an MC and fight for the MIC at events and then sing. I certainly had to have a tomboyish attitude [laughs]. It\u2019s amazing to see a scene that they initially attempted to \u201cblock\u201d become one of the biggest genres in the UK. It has successfully given birth to some of the UK\u2019s best acts, it\u2019s fantastic!<\/p>\n