Rapper Blue Saint discuses his EP release, creative influences and the power of story-telling.
There are people in the world born to tell stories. People who hold poetry on their tongues like sherbet, who can transform words into vehicles and take people to different worlds entirely. Congolese-British rapper, Blue Saint is one of these people. I recently sat down with him, and as we sipped on hot chocolate and green tea, I was lucky enough to be transported into the world of his Mynd.
He tells me he was “lost in another world” as a child and fell in love with words thanks to his sister who was a bookworm at the time. Whilst watching him perform at Black Fest Rhythms in September I could see his creativity sparking off him. During his set Blue Saint disappeared from the stage, only to reappear in a black balaclava. He then jumped over the metal barrier and began spitting bars into the crowd, up close and personal. His electricity spread like wild fire. This was my first introduction with Razor Raze, Blue’s alter ego. He appears in Blue’s EP Mynd and Pensus on tracks such as Dr Frankenstein and Know about Raze. Raze represents the darkness which exists within us all and Blue tells me his initial inspiration for this derived from the concept albums he listened to whilst growing up. Since then Blue has created an entire world where in which music, archetypes of personality and poetry all collide. Within his EP we meet Amina Hatter, representing a conscience. If Amina is Blue’s ‘shoulder angel’ Lamith Tramell is the devil. We have a narrator, Mr Guide and meet Reporter Langston. These characters exist within a world called, the Myndverse and build the rap verses, short stories and graphic novels which pour from Blue’s imagination.
Although consisting of the conflicts and conversation these opposing characters cause, Blue’s EP is a beautiful harmony of songs. Crafting his work with such precision, Blue has created a balance within his Myndverse,as well as in his music. He tells me how these oppositions give the EP it’s life, for example the melancholic melodies of Anima Hatter in Conscientia contrasting with the up-beat, sassy vibe of Lamith Tramell. This sense of balance and harmony reflects Blue’s personality, he allows this sense of self to radiate out of him which in turn creates his art. Blue’s story is woven into the fabric of this EP, he told me, “The track L.I.L.I stands for Life I Live In, but is also about my mum as her siblings call her Lili.” Within this track we are allowed a glimpse of Blue’s experiences in Congo and his relationship with his mother. Exploring various elements of rap music, such as rhyme and flow, Blue creates new sounds that well and truly take you on a journey. I feel confident that Blue Saint is definitely one to watch, with many more ideas bursting from his head and new projects on the horizon. He is a new, fresh voice currently helping shape the sound of UK music today.
https://birthday.mfy.org.uk/events/thefutureisnow
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