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Kate Tempest and bandmates [sound of rum] for self-enlightenment, Blake and Socrates stated in her lyrics as scripts of choice and in doing so prospered with knowledge, amending her style accordingly. While Kate currently performs with a two strong band, Archie [Marsh] and Ferry [Lawrenson] she has her sights aimed high. “There's loads of rappers I’d love to perform alongside, RZA and GZA from Wutang, Buhamadia, MF Doom, Chester P, also would love to do something with Bjork - and before he died, I would have said Michael Jackson. I’d love to collaborate with anyone that is lyrically exciting and is performing from a genuine place”. Gaining inspiration from artists that have succeeded before her Kate’s library of motivation is vast and varied “Bob Dylan a lot, and Janis Joplin and Cannibal Ox and Pharoe Monch and WuTand and Mos Def and the Fugees and John Coltrane.” Having such a diverse array of inspiration may go someway to explaining Kate’s own talent, writing often moving material her delivery could be accountable to the liking of Mos
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Def and WuTang Clan. Kate’s influences aren’t limited to musicians, “My family have always been very influential, my dad especially, and my friends are a massive influence.” Growing up in southeast London surrounded by an abundance of rappers, poets and artists also had some influence over her work “Hiphop was probably the strongest influence in getting me moving and writing and giving me my passion for performance.” And texts also proved inspirational to the spoken word artist and her constant endeavor to improve “William Blake, great writers, they make me wanna get better.” While admitting she writes for herself and no one else she would like an audience to be moved upon hearing her performance. “Hopefully they'll leave feeling inspired.” And inspired they shall be, it’s impossible not to be, those who are unfamiliar or have an unfavorable view of spoken word will at the very least be intrigued. Kate’s passion whilst in speech is gripping, each poem is
delivered with a fierce tongue, brandishing speed and perfection throughout. Between works, while communicating with the crowd Kate displays a coyness which proves endearing. Armed with a simple but educated moral “Without contraries is no progression - William Blake wrote that.” Kate [with the help of Blake] makes the suggestion that debate improves our own self-enlightenment and growth. Perhaps we’ll take up battle rapping to test this theory. And with that, our email correspondence ends. n
myspace.com/katetempestwords soundofrum.com myspace.com/soundofrumband