Urban Vault caught up with London based Dancehall royalty LADY CHANN to ask her some questions about her music, inspirations and collaborations, prior to the release of latest single ‘Not Me’ featuring Rage, out December 13th…

From The Worlds End (estate in Chelsea), to Dancehall royalty; Chanelle Williams aka Lady Chann is a formidable female presence in the world of dancehall and bashment. She released ‘Sticky Situation’ as part an the EP pf the same name on Toddla T’s Girl’s Music label which earned her plaudits from the The Guardian, The Fader, and Clash amongst others. Lady Chann has worked with the best names in grime, dancehall and dubstep, including Sticky, Toddla T, Durrty Goodz, Congo Natty and Skibadee, to mention a few. A staple London carnival favourite, Chann has been responsible for some bashment classics over the past few years including 2009’s ‘Your Eye Too Fast’ and 2010’s ‘Sticky Situation’ and ‘Feel Calm’.

What is your name?

Lady Chann

How old are you?

Whatever age you want me to be

Where are you from?

London, UK Chelsea then Harlesden and Stonebridge (West and north west london)

How long have you been making music?

For ages!

How many songs /albums have you released to date?

Countless songs , no album so far

Had I am Somebody when I was with my collective Suncycle , we recorded tons of songs and real eased our I am Somebody album with Toshiba EMI in Japan .. Solo wise Sticky Situation , Eye Too Fast, Informer, Treble to Your Bass, Feel Calm, Equilibrium, Here To Stay , Slew Dem and Dun, I Duppy Riddim, Ruff Ride , Rise Up Riddim, Dun Dem Season mixtape 1 , 2 and The Trilogy etc etc etc ….

Can you tell us about your latest song/album, the background and inspirations behind it?

The new track is called ‘Not Me’ ft. Rage it’s the 3rd single from my Grime Meets and Hangs Out With Bashment Collab EP called ‘CorrupChann’ it’s adult context about what I accept in the bedroom and my errrrrmmmm demands! Hahahaha!!! I’m a dancehall artist that’s all the inspiration we need, we are honest and raw within our music and I translate it into when I also make Grime aswel.

How have you ended up in the music industry?

I don’t really know… I just liked singing and entertaining , realised I could spit, was around cool people like Suncycle, studied it in college and then got noticed by sticky, made Sticky Situatuon and a load others with him and I’m still here.

Who inspires you when you make your music?

Myself, what I see, why I live and go through , current affairs and what I see people close to me go through. I’m pretty much autobiographical.

Who have you collaborated with so far in your Career?

I’ve been privved to collab with lots.. Errrmmm.. Sticky, Skibadee, Suncycle, Gappy Ranks, Congo Natty, Navigator, Zomboy, Manga, Flowdan, D-Power, Flirta D, Stormin, Sukh Knight, Bless Beats, J2K, Blacks, Big Narstie, Romeo, Dready, Swiss,Mike Skinner, Killa P, Sir Spyro, Mojam, Rage, Ayak, Milk and Sugar, Toddla T etc etc

Who would you like to collaborate with in the future?

Anyone that can do something vocally that I can’t

What do you think of the music industry in 2015?

It’s what you make it, it’s more power to us artists in some ways as we have the power of the Internet and technology on our side. But there’s still some protocols that are a bit different .. Radio plays are more limited as much more shows are almost 100% fully play listed .

What have you got planned for 2016?

Normal life stuff, home stuff and more music .. Life is about balance I like to focus on home life and my family and loved ones and where we are going to go in life and making some important plans and decisions that excite me just as a woman. Then as an artist jut more music when I want , more projects, mix tapes , eps and aim for a great album, gigs, tours.. Whatever is presented to me that make sense I will do.

What was the first album you bought?

Hmmmm….. Probably an early Maddonna one to be honest , mum already had Michael Jackson Bad and his prior ones I caught up on as she was a big fan of his from her childhood.

What’s your favourite song at the moment?

I still like my oldschool we elections of R&B , Hip Hop , classic bashment and Grime.. They all played religiously in my car on my journeys .. But if I have to say something really current ? Errrmmm lemme think …. I like the new Naught Boy with Beyoncé on it.. I also like Body On Me – Rita Ora & Chris Brown.

If you had to sell your music collection tomorrow, what album would you leave in your draw?

Fugees, The Score.

What do you do when you’re not making music?

I knit scarves lol! I’ve got pretty decent at it , couple peeps commission me to make em for when it hits the cold months so I start by end of autumn makin em.

I run after my toddler, she keeps me on my toes tbh.. And I just spend time with my loved ones, go to couple functions and events as I’m a very social person aswell, and then I like to chill with home with my close one and watch tv . Nothing else much, I can flip into homebody mode .. Especially when it’s cold. Just depends.

Facebook or Twitter?

Both . FB for instant feedback to my promotions , and Twitter for updates etc.

In a few words sum up your thoughts about Urban Vault?

A great blog who supports The Lady Chann movement .. They recognise it’s DUN DEM SEASON!

Thank you for your time and may you carry on making dope, fresh music….

Thank u for supporting me I appreciate it loads!

‘Not Me’ will be out on its own a week before the entire EP release (Dec 13th) and as a single December 6th.

Check out Lady Chann perform live: 1st November (Bristol) and 21st Nov (Manchester)

https://twitter.com/ladychann
https://soundcloud.com/ladychannofficial
https://twitter.com/RageSlewMafia