Interview: Take A Trip Into The Ether With Dream Mclean

The Essex ryhmesmith talks 'Greyscale', the miscast "new wave" of grime, and his love of the rave scene.

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To date, the story of Dream Mclean has been one of cautious experimentation and discovery. As a figure of the once heralded "new wave" of grime, Mclean has progressed right in front of our eyes. A quick internet back-search is all you'll need to spot the adoption of influences and styles as the years have gone go by, and now it appears the steady honing of his craft has finally afforded him the necessary space to fully express. Having recently released his debut album, Greyscale—to favourable reviews, might we add—at present, we find the Essex rhymer in his most comfortable and confident groove yet. The album could best be described as an unedited journey into the more sullen and morbid side of Dream Mclean. Complex met with the rapper to dig deeper into the mind of the man, one who has finally found his way around the mic.

Interview by Tobi Oke (@TefTobz)


How would you explain your current sound and what makes it different to maybe a year or two ago?

It's grown, lyrically. Like, the way I'm rapping now, it's very different. I used to be focused on flow and punchlines and things like that, but I feel like now it's more mature in a sense that it's more about a subject and not just showboating. It's me trying to find meaning in the song, and I think a lot of it is to do with what I'm listening to; what I take from music is different now. Before, I'd listen out for technicalities like multi's and punchlines, and now I'm after the full meaning of the verse. I appreciate when rappers say less and mean more.

With the album out now, how would you view your current situation at MTA Records? Has it all gone to plan?

In my head, anyway, when I signed the deal, I wasn't in a place to have a real plan. I was just along for that ride for most of it, you know? Now though, I've got to a stage that I can actually start taking the reins and have a vision for myself. As much as I'm taking advice and listening to people, I've grown through the journey and I'm making my own decisions. And, as a label, MTA have given me the freedom to do that.

Can you give us a bit of background into the making of Greyscale?

Greyscale was a work-in-progress since I signed, so it's been at least three years in the making. The EPs have come from elsewhere, as they were just tracks I was working on, on the side. There's music and content on there that has been on the side the whole time, and it's only just now come together. I remember doing interviews when I got signed saying that the album would be out in a years' time, because that was the original plan. But I never got to a point that I felt it was ready, and I didn't want my first album to be rushed. Being on MTA allowed me to grow, and now I'm ready. 



Being on MTA allowed me to grow, and now I'm ready. 


You initially popped up with the so-called "new wave" of grime back in 2010. Did you guys acknowledge the label, or was it more of a media construct?

Coming from Essex and not really being around, I never felt too much a part of it all. As far as the media were concerned, I was only in it because of my age and the timing of when I came out. I can only speak for myself, but I feel it was more of a media thing. They're trying to say that even now, with the new talents that are emerging, and trying to box them as this "new wave." It's not all a bad thing, though.

So what do you think helped you stick around, whilst most of the initial "new wave" fell off?

I think it's very difficult to stay around. The biggest challenge you face is the challenge within yourself; looking inside from the outside, people don't realise all the setbacks and knockbacks. The easiest thing is to just say, "Ahhh! It's long! Let me go and do something else." Most of the people who go away, they lost the battle within themselves, but you've got to keep on going as that's the only way it happens. Anyone who's anyone, they'll tell you that nothing happens overnight—it's all an illusion that it does.

Your new single, "D.W.I.D.", it features Pro Green and CAS. How did those connections come to be?

The hook-up actually happened through Green. I don't really know how he got talking to CAS, but I think he was a fan and just reached out. CAS is cool, he's a proper geezer! [Laughs] We're all fans of each other so, we just got in the studio together and because we all have common ground, we just clicked. CAS and Green? They're my people. 

There are only two features on the album. Was this a deliberate move to ride solo for the majority?

You know what? It wasn't a conscious decision like that, I don't think. Like, it wasn't a decision of me saying I didn't want features. I just always want features to be right for the song; some were supposed to be on other tracks, like Siris.

He had a great verse on "Titanic", but haven't heard too much since then. What's the situation with him?

He's finished writing his next EP and he's been working mad hard, finding his own sound and stuff. He's going under the name Alex Osiris now, too. He's actually got a new track out called "Time", which is the first bit off the new material. I've heard it all, and it's sounding wicked.

You're a big fan of house and techno music, too, right? As you've entered the rave scene a lot more, how has that affected your own music?

The whole of last summer, it was completely separate. There would be a time I was doing my music or writing, then I'd have a lot of time either out in Ibiza or London, just on the rave scene. But it's tricky to merge that kind of music with what I do. I didn't ever want to come out and make a track on a house riddim—it would be dead [laughs]. The way we ended up doing it was, I suggested a few sessions with a few producers that had a style we could adapt to hip-hop. I hooked up with electronic producer, Tom Demac, and we came up with "Colour Blind", which is the second track on the album. It's the exact sound I had in mind.

Lastly, what job would you be doing if you weren't doing music?

Working in New Look...

New Look!?

Yep!

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