Gig preview: Saul Williams at Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds

Saul Williams, hip-hop artist, poet and actor, will be heading to the Belgrave Music Hall next month to perform his eclectic mix of rap, rock and dance to an loyal Leeds crowd.
Saul WilliamsSaul Williams
Saul Williams

After a few years absence from releasing material, Williams returns on fire with his new album MartyrLoserKing. He spoke to us about his dreams, ambitions and inspirations.

You played Leeds HiFi Club some years back promoting your Niggy Tardust album and played a passionate and intimate set. What’s in store for fans at your gig at the Belgrave?

Call the police. Now.

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What’s more fun to play live, the rock based songs or the pop/dance material from the Volcanic Sunlight album?

As long as it’s loud it all rocks.

You’ve released your first album, MartyrLoserKing, in five years to critical acclaim. What topics have fuelled this album?

The death & brutal murder of our conscience. The technology of awareness. The 3rd gender.

In your absence from studio based releases, who do you feel has being putting across or carrying the torch for your message musically and who is influencing you?

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MartyrLoserKing is produced by Justin Warfield who guested on Placebo’s song ‘Spite and Malice’. If you could collaborate with any person alive or dead, who would it be?

Shaka Zulu or Rachmaninov.

Which of your albums do you feel represents you the most?

Neptune Frost.

Do you still stay in contact with Trent Reznor and are rock-based producers more in tune with your style and approach than hip-hop producers?

Haven’t spoken to Trent in a minute. Rock producers have been good at helping me balance the equation.

Martin Luther King famously had a dream. If you could dare to dream one thing, what would it be?

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To switch dreams for reality & reality for dreams. You go to sleep to pay bills, wake up & fly.

Saul Williams plays at Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds on Friday July 1. For details visit http://saulwilliams.com/performance/

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