Breakout Artist BARNY FLETCHER Discusses His Newest and Upcoming Music and Much More!

Photo Credit- Bella Howard

Breakout artist and 20-year old UK native, Barny Fletcher, recently released his catchy and tongue in cheek rapid-fire first single, “Christ Flow.”

The accompanying freestyle and visually engaging video just premiered on Highsnobiety and you can watch the video here.  The trendsetting media outlet adds on about the video We’ve been patiently waiting to see what the London MC could possibly do next to top that and were not disappointed with his brand-new single “Christ Flow.”

“Christ Flow” is the first single off Fletcher’s forthcoming debut mixtape and is a follow up to his recent well-received track “Dough,” that garnered spins on Radio 1 and 6Music.  The venerable media outlet, The Sunday Times, added additional praise calling “Dough,” “a tantalizing showcase…that suggests that Fletcher will soar in 2019.”  Fletcher is currently in the studio working with the likes of well-known producers/musicians that include the legendary DJ Shadow, Kid Harpoon (Calvin Harris, Florence + The Machine) and Christoph Andersson (G-Eazy, Cautious Clay) – all early believers in Fletcher and his promising artistic career.

Bright and brash, charismatic and chaotic, ‘Christ Flow’ begins Barny Fletcher’s 2019 with a crashing bang. The track evolved from a playful freestyle, matching Fletcher’s rapid-fire delivery and scattergun beats with lyrics that appear as knowingly careless as they are surreal and affectionate – few new artists, after all, cut through the bombast with a frank admission of crying to ‘The Iron Giant’. The video to ‘Christ Flow’ is the perfect outlet for Barny’s energy, letting Fletcher loose in a tiny Asian supermarket in South London with wild results (directed by Taichi Kimura).

Barny Fletcher was born in the unlikely setting of future-stardom, Somerset, to a photographer father, filmmaker mother and a house crammed full of music. His early record collection ranged from the storytelling of Rodriguez and the skits of old-school Eminem to avant-garde humourists Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band – all of which, in its own way, informs Barny’s brilliantly refreshing twist on classic hip-hop, vintage soul, and killer pop hooks. Barny writes songs about – but not limited to – “Love. Hate. Girls. Holidays. Water. Octopus. Giraffe Coats. Whatever I feel like, there are no rules or regulations. That’s why I chose to do music instead of University.”

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Learn more about Barny Fletcher in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time today! Where does this interview find you?

It’s my pleasure! This interview finds me at home in London. I’m just chilling today. Eating ramen. Writing a song. You know how it be.

Now that 2019 has started, what musical goals do you have for yourself and your music this new year? Did you make any new year’s resolutions?

By the end of 2019 I want my live show to be impeccable. I want to continue working with new artists and producers and generally having fun with it. Being able to do music full time is pretty insane as it is. So being able to continue with that is all I ask for. Haha, I don’t do New Years resolutions. If I want to change something I’ll start changing it there and then. Can’t be hanging around for the new year. haha.

Growing up, how important has music been in your life? Can you recall the moment when you decided that you wanted to be a musician? Was it an easy or difficult choice to make? Was there ever a time when you thought about doing something else? If you weren’t a musician today, what could you see yourself doing?

We had instruments in every room at home. And I had a bunch of different music lessons which I never really followed through with. I just like making noise and figuring out what sound I would actually like. I guess the musician-decision came when it was time to choose whether to go to university or not. I initially had applied to do a fashion design course. I knew nothing about fashion design, but it has always interested me. Turns out they wanted me to do a year of some other courses, and apply again the next year. So, music it was.

What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? What has been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all?

I honestly didn’t come into the music world thinking that rap would even be an option. I’d always enjoyed listening to it, but actually writing and recording it wasn’t something I expected to be doing. But hey, I did, and it sounds good. I find it crazy how DJ Shadow, such a credible voice of the hip-hop world, wanted to create music with me considering how new to this I am. I’d say working with him was both unexpected and also a challenge, which was very welcome.

Let’s talk about your newest single called “Christ Flow.” What was the inspiration for this song? How would you say that it is different or similar to anything else that you have previously released?

I guess I just wanted to make a song which wouldn’t restrict me by it having to make sense. The song really is about nothing. It just sounds good. Although Christ Flow is my first proper single, I did release a song in November last year called ‘DOUGH.’ Which is like, 4 songs stitched together into 1. Imagine if Frankenstein’s Monster was a song. That’s what DOUGH is. Christ Flow has a bit more structure to it. Only a little bit.

What was it like making the music video for “Christ Flow”? How creatively involved with the process were you?

The process was exciting. From the start, I knew I didn’t want the video to have any sort of narrative. We were making a video for a song which is literally about nothing, so there was no need to try being deep about it. haha. I just wanted it to be fun, fast and visually exciting.

How does this song compare to the rest of the songs on your forthcoming debut mixtape? What was it like putting this collection together?

Christ Flow is the only song on the tape that is 100% rap. All the other tracks have hooks. Good hooks. Great hooks. Hahaha. Putting the tape together was super easy. All the songs on there were written within the first 3 months of doing sessions. So I’m looking forward for people to finally hear it.

What has it been like keeping up with your social media accounts and all of the different platforms? Is it hard to stay up to date on it all? What would you say is your favorite way to connect with your fans now?

I mean, right now it’s easy. Nothing has blown up too crazily yet. I keep up to date with everything. I get messages from people saying they like the songs and that’s always cool. But yeah, right now it’s chill. No super fans or anything. I don’t really like giving away too much online. You won’t catch me posting up my every move.

Who are some of your favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely still love to work with in the future?

I grew up listening to The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Bonzo Dog Band, and other classic 60/70’s music. Later down the line it shifted to Hip Hop/R&B. The usual suspects really. Drake, Kanye, Jay-Z. Some more old school characters like Gangstarr and Mase. I listen to a lot of Jazz. Oscar Peterson, John Coltrane, Nancy Wilson. It’s fun discovering new music and it has become so easy now because of streaming. More and more people are hopping between genres as opposed to sticking to just a few. Everything is so accessible.

Where can fans see you perform next? Do you have any kind of a 2019 tour scheduled yet?

The schedule is yet to be announced. But we have a bunch of shows in England, and a few festivals abroad. Lollapalooza in Paris being one of them. I look forward to it. 2019 is gonna be fun.

If you had an unlimited budget and your schedule was free, what would your dream music video look like?

It’d be some weird, Wes Anderson-esque half real, half animated kinda thing. Actually fuck that, we’d fly out Wes Anderson himself, and get him to direct it. Michael Bay would be on VFX. Explosions. Dramatic shit. Maybe a Michael Cera cameo.

If you were going to be stranded on a deserted island, what musical item would you take with you and why?

I’d take a piano. I love the piano. But I’ve never properly learnt it. I think being stranded on a desert island would probably force me to finally learn it.

If your music was going to be featured on any TV show that is currently on right now, which would you love it to be on? Or if you prefer, what is a movie that you love that you wish your music was featured in?

It would work well in an Edgar Wright film. He’s one of my favorite directors. There’s humour even in the way he edits. So clever.

I remember watching Shaun Of The Dead when I was like 9. I’ve watched all of his films since.

At the end of the day, what do you hope people take away from your music?

I’ve just been having fun and I think that energy carries over into the music. I love it, and if you love it too, then even better. And if not, well, that’s fine too.

Would you like to share anything else with our readers about your music?

I have a mixtape coming out soon. It’s fucking fantastic. Some of the best music I’ve ever heard is on there.