Urban Vault caught up with South London-based emcee/producer Zelly One to ask him some questions about his latest EP, FIVE WAYS TO LIVE  & more…

Hailing from South London, Zelly One is a self-sufficient producer and rapper. Known for making his own instrumentals, he has been mixing his own beats since he was a teenager.

With a strong aesthetic and brand, Zelly One has been building up his repertoire, being picked up by BBC Music Introducing London & Radar Radio. Also lending his voice as a rapper and singer, he cites J Dilla, Madlib, and Dwele as his key influences.

What is your name?

Zelly One

Where are you from?

South London

How old are you?

25

How long have you been making music?

13 years

How many songs/albums have you released to date?

I have released two mixtapes & five EP’s

Can you tell us about your new ‘Five Ways to Live’ EP, the background, and the inspirations behind it?

The purpose of this EP is to share the different experiences, my peers, & I may have gone through in the past. I also used a naming convention technique for the tracklisting in order to complement the project title ‘Five Ways to Live’.

Who have you collaborated with so far in your career?

A few artists including my older brother Dornik, Skripture, Crafty893, Verbz & a few others.

Who would you like to collaborate with in the future? 

Westside Gunn, Kendrick Lamar, Dave East, Erykah Badu.

How have you ended up in the music industry?

During my formative years, I had noticed that various older family members were musicians. My fascination for their musical talent inspired me to want to discover my own path as a musician. This led to learning music production, writing songs, and engineering for other artists.

What do you think of the music industry in 2021?

50/50. It has its benefits in terms of streaming which makes an artist’s music more easily accessible, therefore it helps keep track of a potential growing fan base. The cons may be that fewer people will make an effort to purchase your music when in demand. This is due to cheaper & quicker methods of listening through streaming services.

What have you got planned for the rest of 2021?

I plan to release another project this summer which will be a collaboration with my friend/producer Yuknwmynme. I’m also looking to release a few videos & singles as well as producing for other artists.

What inspires you when you make your music?

Life experiences. Listening to my favourite artists.

What’s your favourite track at the moment?

Benny the Butcher – Trade It All

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

I work at an online warehouse store at the moment. I also like to cook various meals for myself &others ranging from chicken n waffles to mac n cheese & fried rice.

Which do you prefer, Facebook or Twitter, or Instagram?

Instagram

In a few words sum up your thoughts about Urban Vault and what we’re trying to do?

I believe Urban Vault has a great team full of ideas that will benefit themselves & artists who are promoted by their brand. I would highly recommend that more people check out their blogs as this is good way to discover new up & coming artists who are aiming to expand their fan base.

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

Zelly One – Five Ways to Live EP via iTunes/Spotify

www.facebook.com/Zellythe1st
https://twitter.com/Zellythe1st
https://instagram.com/zellytheking