Lady Sovereign

How did you get into MCing?

Boredom, and a love of music. I was always into it; I was writing my own lyrics by the time I was 15. I kept it quiet from my parents at first because I didn’t know if they’d take me seriously. They didn’t know I had this talent.

After I left school, my dad suggested I join a drama group and I was cast in a short educational film about a bored teenager who dreams of being a rapper – it was like my life up there on screen! I contributed to the soundtrack, and then the director passed my work to a friend of his, a producer called Medasyn. He was the first person to let me inside a studio.

How easy or hard was your route to success?

I think my introduction to Medasyn was a stroke of luck but my work obviously had to be good enough to stand up, and I do work hard on it. Nothing helped me apart from ambition: there’s nothing else I can do, so I had to succeed. Medasyn and I started making tracks together and it all went from there.

The Make Your Mark campaign wants to make it easier for young people who have ideas to make them happen – do you think that’s an important thing for people to be able to do?

Yes, but youngsters also have to have their own initiative and ambition to make things happen themselves. Determination is key to breaking down the doors you need to get through to succeed.

What’s the best advice you could give to someone who wants to get his or her idea off the ground?

If you’re a budding musician, I’d say get a myspace.com page and put your music on the net…. if it’s good word will spread. For everyone, my advice would be: don’t be desperate; if you’re good, it will happen.

What are your goals for the future – what would you love to achieve in the next couple of years?

I would like to be known and be successful in most parts of the world - and get to a point where it’s paid interviews only…. just kidding!

Lady Sovereign’s Grand Idea: to become the queen of rap

1. Started MCing ‘cos was bored with my job after leaving school – then became really passionate about it and realised I had a talent for it.
2. Performed half-hour live sets recorded into my home computer which could be downloaded online as I put them onto forums and created my stage name Lady Sovereign.
3. Got more well known and did warm-up slots for Dizzee, Basement Jaxx etc etc and secured a record deal.
4. Got even more well known and did my own gigs and recorded my album, Public Warning.
5. Started traveling and promoting and touring overseas particularly in America with the release of my album. Stayed true to myself and made sure I’m still loving what I do.