Tricks Are For Kids: Tricky Heads Our Way

Trip-hop pioneer Tricky had a well-documented tough upbringing in Bristol’s Knowle West. Seven albums and a film career later, he revisits his youth on Knowle West Boy. And now he comes to Beijing to headline the InMusic Festival.

Before his arrival, the Beijinger tried to find out what makes Tricky tick ...

the Beijinger: When your debut album came out there was nothing else like it, were you surprised how well it was received by both fans and critics?
Tricky: I’m lucky enough to have an individual sound, I was pleased that people liked it, but that’s not why I make it.

tbj: What are the three favorite that you’ve made yourself?
T: I don’t listen to my own music once I’ve made it, so I don’t have favorites.

tbj: What are your three favorite songs made by others?
T: “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” Paul Simon; “Black Steel,” Public Enemy; “Check Out My Melody,” Rakim.

tbj: Your latest album, Knowle West Boy, explores your younger years. What made you go back and tackle this subject, eight albums deep?
T: It’s not so much about me. It’s about council estates in England and how kids that live there grow up. It’s a ghetto album.

tbj: Has your style fundamentally changed over the last eight albums, or is it in essence what you started out doing?
T: I’m still learning on every album – I’m still trying to find my way. Every album I learn a little more, but I try to stay naïve.

tbj: What do you think of the whole “trip-hop” tag? Is it still viable? Was it ever a description you were happy with?
T: No.

tbj: How much influence do you think your style and its subsequent imitators has had on the artists of the last 15 years?
T: A lot – I hear something every day.

tbj: For a while in the 1990s, you had a bit of a fall-out with the media. Has time made you more mellow when it comes to such things?
T: I’ve never had a problem with the media. The UK press made me who I am now. It’s just I’ve been doing interviews for almost 20 years now – you’re bound to fall out with someone.

tbj: What have been some of your favorite collaborations? Who would you still like to collaborate with?
T: PJ Harvey was my favorite. I’d like to collaborate with Britney Spears, or Beyonce’s sister – Solange.

tbj: If you could go back in time and give yourself some advice, what would it be?
T: I don’t look back – I just keep moving forward.

tbj: Do you get more pride from producing music for others or making it for yourself?
T: I have no pride – making music is like meditation. I love doing it. I lose myself in it. It’s like yoga or tai chi.

tbj: Did Gary Oldman really lose his rag with you for eating a Twix on the set of The Fifth Element?
T: Yes.

tbj: Who (apart from yourself) is the best thing to come out of Bristol?
T: Thirteen is my lucky number.

tbj: What does Tricky do to keep fit?
T: I do kick boxing, Chinese boxing and Muay Thai. I’ve trained with William C.C. Chen for many years.

Tricky performs at the InMusic Festival at the Zhangbei Grasslands on Aug 9. Visit www.inmusicfestival.cn (English coming soon) for full details.

For more details about the festival and a list of artists, click here.