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Queen hitchLady Sovereign on the perils of
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“The Canadian border can be a bit cunt-ish at times—sorry.” Sic the dogs on her if you like, it won’t stop a certain English imp—Lady Sovereign to you, Louise to her mum—from making her way back to Montreal. She’s played this town as often as a local band since issuing her Public Warning in 2006, a debut LP that showcased the 24-year-old’s many talents: rapping, toasting and singing rhymes packed with spit, wit and vitriol, over heavy beats and tasty hooks (many of them courtesy of her main producer, Medesyn). Even prior to that, she had a local connection in Ghislain Poirier, whose remix of “Fiddle With the Volume” was a highlight of the Vertically Challenged EP. On this tour, Lady Sovereign brings the gift of Jigsaw, her sophomore record, which finds her independent (following the departure of her bud Jay-Z as Def Jam’s CEO), working the pop angle harder than the hip hop one, and reflecting on the dark period between albums (for the full rise-and-fall story, read the bio at ladysovereign.com). The Mirror reached Ms. Harman in her garden. Mirror: Are you glad to be off Def Jam? Lady Sovereign: It wasn’t all bad, I just got overworked and I didn’t really get a say in much. It was stressful but everything happens for a reason. Now I’ve got my own label, it’s like everything’s falling into place. I have no regrets. M: A lot of artists in your position would have made a much darker album than Jigsaw. LS: Yeah, I could’ve said a lot more on this album but I just didn’t feel the need to dwell on it. I’ve got a lot of young fans and it wouldn’t be suitable, you know? I was pretty depressed and feeling suicidal for a bit and, uh (laughs), it’s best left unsaid, or to talk about in an interview rather than make a whole song about it and get really deep. M: So I gather that you had an easier time breaking America than breaking England. LS: It upsets me. I’ve tried so hard over here and I never seem to budge from the same spot that I’ve always been in. My name is bigger than my music, and it sucks ’cause I know I’m fucking talented compared to some people. M: Do you think your appeal is partly due to the fact that you’re, ahem, exotic? LS: Ha, I knew you were gonna say that! Well, yeah, that’s one reason, and it was the right time to come out for America and Canada, I guess no one had ever heard anything like it before. There’s still no one of my calibre, really, that does what I do. M: Not that you need it, but is your live show going to be a big production? LS: Maybe if I was still with Def Jam but I’ve only got a certain budget to work with so it’s just gonna be me, my drummer, a DJ and new songs. I’m glad I could at least bring a drummer ’cause if I was just going on the road with a DJ, I’d be like, “Ugh.” M: Two turntables and a microphone? LS: Boring! It’ll still be good either way, yeah. Alcohol. WITH HOLLYWOOD HOLT AT CLUB |
