Words With: Benjamin Zephaniah

Benjamin Zephaniah – poet, novelist, campaigner, presenter... the list goes on!   A man of many talents, Zephaniah has had his fingers in so many different pies (no, not literally) that it’s not surprising he’s turned back to making music again. 
His latest album, Naked, was released on the 14th February, so Gigwise caught up with him to find out what it’s all about…

Gigwise: It’s been ages since you last made an album - what made you decide to make another one?

Benjamin: Well if you look at the time space in between my other albums you can see that there’s no regularity with them.  I’m always doing other stuff like writing books and poems and campaigning, which keeps me really busy, but all the wars and the famines going on in this world made me feel the need to make this album.  I wanted to get my message heard. 

G: So what is the new album about?

B: I wanted to be true to myself, I wanted to feel free, but I felt frustrated - so I have expressed myself through my writing and put it to music.  This is an album that’s very political.  Its message is similar to much of my other work, but it’s really relevant for now – for today.

G: How much of a say did you have over the music that was used as backing to your poems?

B: I had the last word over everything.  Trevor Morais came to me with rhythms either half formed or almost fully formed and I made changes wherever I wanted.  He was always checking that everything was how I wanted it and would always ask me: ‘Are you happy?’ – I wish my girlfriend would say that!  It seems my producer is the person who’s most bothered about me being happy!

G: What sort of market do you think your album will appeal to?

B: Usually my records are dub reggae but with this album I’ve made a real departure in terms of style.  I’m hoping that reggae fans will still listen to it because the same reggae message is still there.  The album is really modern in the way it’s been recorded, so I think it will appeal to younger people as well, like hip-hop fans.

G: What was it you liked about BANKSY’s illustrations that made you want to use his work?

B: Well, he would say he’s not political, but I think he is, and I like what he does.  I like the irony and the satirical nature of his work, and I think his graffiti goes really well with the lyrics in my album.

G: When you refused to receive an OBE from the Queen for your writing, you said it was because you are ‘anti-empire’.  What did you mean by that?

B: The word ‘empire’ to me is a negative thing.  In my family, you only have to go back a few generations and you see the slavery we were subjected to.  I don’t see that there is anything for black people to celebrate in the British Empire, it only reminds me of slavery.
When I turned down the OBE loads of people congratulated me because they felt the same way.
People in this country are always going on about the Jewish holocaust – what about our holocaust?!
Anyway, I guess the bottom line is that I create art to make people think, I don’t do the things I do to win medals.  I hate awards ceremonies!

G: Do you think you’ll be able to perform your new stuff live?

B: I’m not sure.  This album was very much a studio based thing, so it’s hard to say because we are still considering the possibilities.  I might do the Jools Holland show and maybe a Peel session, but I don’t know if it will be live or just a recording.
 
G: OK, so what are your plans for over the next few months?

B: Well I’ll be doing loads of PR for this album, and my last novel (Gangsta Rap) is going to be turned into a musical next year, so I’ll be working on that.  I’m also going to be presenting the BBC World Music Awards again in March.  I did it last year and for some reason they want me to come back – I thought I’d messed it up last year but I guess not!

G: Are you planning on playing at any festivals this summer?

B: I don’t know yet, Glastonbury maybe.  I’ve spent the last few years mainly touring abroad so I want to spend some time in this country because I want to get down and do some more writing.

G: Do you have any other plans for the future?

B: I’m going to be doing some presenting for the BBC on a programme about travelling, and a Channel 4 programme for schools about politics and sports.  Then I’m touring Portugal in May, and Kenya in June, but beyond that I really don’t know!