The time period “good issues come to those that wait” isn’t used sufficient, particularly on this planet of music. We’re presently dwelling in a time the place the whole lot is demanded immediately; music, with visuals, need to be dropped weekly to garner eyes and engagement and mixtapes are step by step dominating common music greater than ever earlier than.
In more and more impatient occasions, it’s uncommon that we come throughout contextualized and soulful music, written from the center and for the center. It’s even rarer to construct a strong discography that’s jam-packed with substance, and songs that turn into part of your on a regular basis life and routine. However for Manchester’s soul and hip-hop duo, Children of Zeus, high quality over amount is the whole lot.
Comprized of Tyler Daley and Konny Kon, the 2 buddies used to make their very own solo music with different crews, earlier than they met at a present in France and realized they have been from the identical space, period and shared the identical perspective. Following their connection, the duo launched its debut album Journey Mild – an instant-classic in its personal proper, which offered Daley’s grainy, but polished vocals with Kon’s melancholic raps that glide over a sequence of jazz and soul instrumentals, with an actual and pure dwell ingredient to it.
Nonetheless, for the reason that debut album, C.O.Z. has gone on to launch its sophomore album, Stability, which is a matured effort which paints an image of native struggles, unrequited love and their life previous to music success – all whereas paying homage to the hip-hop legends (resembling Wu-Tang Clan) that got here earlier than them.
Now, the Manchester-raised musicians are strolling a brand new path, one which sees them escape of the shadows and actually put their faces to the title. Connecting with fellow Mancunian Ste Wing on a brand new artistic marketing campaign, C.O.Z. are reborn – and stepping out of their consolation zone like by no means earlier than.
“Music is a small a part of it this present day – individuals need to see it in addition to hear it. Even in the event you take a look at our album covers and movies, we attempt to not be in it,” Youngsters of Zeus rapper, Konny Kon instructed Hypebeast. “We’ve by no means been too tapped in, and we have been conscious that we have been combating it.”
Hypebeast lately sat down with the Youngsters of Zeus boys over Zoom to speak about their music journey to date, rebranding, their relationship with style and way more.
Hypebeast: Music apart, how are you guys?
Tyler Daley: Personally, life is bliss – I can’t complain. I’ve received children, so so long as they’re good, the whole lot is calm.
Konny Kon: Me too man, the whole lot is calm. There are lots of people which might be struggling on this planet, so I’ve to remind myself that issues can at all times be worse.
Being from Manchester, how a lot does the wet metropolis affect your music?
KK: Sound-wise, perhaps not. However community-wise, rather a lot. I feel the individuals which might be round us and town are vital to us, so once we launch music, we characterize Manchester’s music as a complete. Manchester is a really tight-knit group, not simply throughout the form of music that we make, however throughout the whole lot. All of us assist one another.
TD: I feel it’s vital to be included within the dialog particularly in soul music – as a result of that’s what we’re bringing to the desk. We’ve been doing this for a very long time, and the truth that we are actually included within the dialog is a giant factor for us.
Ste Wing/Youngsters of Zeus
As actual pioneers in Manchester’s soul scene, how is the remainder of the scene doing in your opinion?
TD: I really feel like there was a scene effervescent simply earlier than COVID. The music has been there, the expertise has at all times been there, and the group is there. However I feel we’re presently missing an infrastructure that brings all of it collectively – however talent-wise, it’s all there. I don’t assume we’ve ever been wanting expertise, it’s at all times been there.
KK: I agree, I feel there’s quite a lot of expertise that doesn’t know what to do with themselves and there’s no one serving to them. After we say infrastructure, we imply labels, administration, and other people additionally don’t have the enterprise aspect of issues checked off in order that they know what to do with themselves. Now although, the music is touring additional than it ever has earlier than, however the {industry} simply must pay attention extra.
I feel if we had a model, it could simply be being an underdog – one that individuals relate to and need to win.”
Though your numbers aren’t a number of the greatest within the U.Ok., you’ve one of the crucial loyal fan bases within the nation. How and why do you assume you’ve garnered such a powerful following?
KK: We don’t actually contemplate ourselves to be a model, however the one factor I feel persons are drawn to is the truth that we’re individuals’s little secret. Some individuals take heed to us that wish to preserve us to themselves, and we’ve at all times thought that if take off to a different degree, lots of people can be postpone by that. I feel individuals choose the battle and natural development, moderately than the industry-plugged superstars. So, I feel if we had a model, it could simply be being an underdog – one that individuals relate to and need to win.
TD: Particularly in Manchester… once we first began, there wasn’t any soul or hip-hop, everybody was making grime and dubstep. And now it’s come full circle as a result of everybody else is doing it, however we’ve caught to our weapons and we’ve now received a following that follows us and reps for the whole lot that we do in a giant manner.
“We felt like we have been getting left behind with everybody doing photoshoots and style shoots. So we spoke to Ste and defined how we would have liked assist.”
Your music may be very juxtaposing to the areas you each grew up in. How do your backgrounds and total sound align?
We each come from an aggressive model of music, just like the arduous hip-hop that we each used to make. However we’ve each at all times had a love for soul – that’s the dialog we had once we first met, we each grew up on soulful music. I feel it will get to a degree the place you must be courageous and sincere with your self, and for me, I needed to make the music that I really like and be real about. Clearly, we get a bit older and wiser, however you must go towards all of that generally. Your setting would possibly swing it a technique however generally you must counteract that and go together with the factor you’re keen on. We’ve received over ourselves and the ego, grew up a bit, and determined to make music that’s sincere and from the center.
Discuss to me in regards to the new artistic marketing campaign with Ste Wing. What was the reasoning behind the rebrand?
KK: Personally, I don’t assume we ever had any regard for a picture earlier than that. If somebody mentioned to us that we are able to make as a lot cash as we would like off of music and do what we would like, we’d in all probability simply sit within the studio and no one would see us. Clearly, music is a small a part of it this present day – individuals need to see it in addition to hear it. Even in the event you take a look at our album covers and movies, we attempt to not be in it.
KK: We’ve by no means been too tapped in, and we have been conscious that we have been combating it. We felt like we have been getting left behind with everybody doing photoshoots and style shoots. So we spoke to Ste and defined how we would have liked assist – and most of it was his enter, to be honest. We underwood that we have been going to be uncomfortable with it, however we trusted the method – we had our sneakers off! [laughs]
TD: But it surely was refreshing for us to have some form of course – we wouldn’t have worn a lot of the garments, but it surely got here out dope and we’re tremendous proud of it.
Ste Wing/Youngsters Of Zeus
Ste Wing/Youngsters Of Zeus
Ste Wing/Youngsters Of Zeus
Ste Wing/Youngsters Of Zeus
Ste Wing/Youngsters Of Zeus
What’s your relationship like with style, who and what evokes you?
TD: I personally come from carrying winter garments – black tracksuits! I come from that form of setting. However lately, I simply go together with no matter I’m comfy with. I’m massively impressed by the tradition of hip-hop and simply winter, all-black, hideaway stuff.
KK: Me too, I don’t assume I’m a follower of style, however I’m a follower of hip-hop tradition. I feel many of the world is, quite a lot of style comes from hip-hop with out individuals even realizing it.
TD: I might love nothing greater than to put on some large, slick-rick-type jewellery [laughs]. It’s not sensible the place I’m from, to be sincere, so I’m restricted in that respect, however I’m impressed by the rappers that put on that form of stuff. The primary musician I noticed put on that form of stuff was a rapper known as Simply-Ice, he had gold in all places; throughout his tooth, the four-finger gold rings, the large chains. That stuff impressed me again within the day, carrying it outsized, and flipping it. Something that introduced a little bit of shock worth, that’s what I used to be into.
What’s subsequent for Youngsters of Zeus?
We’ve received manufacturing for different individuals popping out, we’re presently negotiating the plan round our personal music, however we’re going to try to shine gentle on another individuals. We now have quite a lot of manufacturing for different individuals, but it surely’s simply taking so lengthy to return out… it’s all resulting from drop quickly! Maintain it locked.
