AARON UNKNOWN
HAILING FROM SOUTH LONDON, AARON UNKNOWN WRITES AND PERFORMS MUSIC AS HIS PASSION PROJECT ALONGSIDE HIS FLOURISHING MODELING CAREER.
The two go hand in hand for Aaron who considers fashion and rapping as expressive arts where each industry can influence the other. Aaron's music is definitely coming to the forefront - his 'Warm Up Sessions' have reached mass audiences and he's even worked with powerhouses like Stormzy.
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TUNE IN TO AARON'S TOP TRACKS FROM OTHER ARTISTS THAT HAVE INSPIRED THEM TO PURSUE MUSIC.
Aaron Unknown shows us his latest inspirations with his ‘What I’m About’ playlist. Aaron is London through and through and so are the tracks that inspire him as a musician. Listen in to hear the tracks that Aaron vibes from.
YOU STARTED CAREER LIFE AS A MODEL, A VERY SUCCESSFUL ONE AT THAT. HOW DID THIS PROGRESS AND EVENTUALLY SWITCH THROUGH TO A MUSIC FOCUS?
To be honest, music has always been the driving force in my modelling career. Headphones on between castings, it’s usually my subject of conversation. On set it’s another story - no one gets a look in with the AUX cable. It’s like my fuel. The switch was made when I built the confidence to release my first Warm Up Session, a piece which was brewing for a few years. It took many street cyphers with the boys (some prolific names in fashion), on the streets of London, Paris and Milan to name a few and them hyping me up to actually gain the confidence to reach out to Jamal Edwards. I then released my first video on SBTV and the reaction was phenomenal. It was monumental for my music career.
BEST THING YOU LEARNED IN MODELLING THAT STILL APPLIES TO LIFE ON THE ROAD?
Never judge a book by its cover. Give everyone a chance! Strip away my ’status’ and I’m just a guy from Croydon following his dreams.
YOUR MUSIC WENT VIRAL IN 2015, PUTTING THE SPOTLIGHT ON YOUR MUSIC VERY QUICKLY. WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THIS AND HOW HAS THIS PREPARED YOU FOR ALL THE PROJECTS YOU HAVE UPCOMING THIS YEAR?
Be genuine, be yourself. I believe the rawest form of anything is what makes it relatable. Keep it REAL has been my only outlook, and people resonate with that.
WHAT DO YOU RAP ABOUT?
I rap about my life, my family, past experiences and future goals. I also try to express my perspective on world affairs, usually highlighting certain situations perceived as negative, with a twist on how we could positively change that by coming together - power in numbers.
HOW DO YOU REMEMBER SO MANY WORDS, SO QUICKLY, IN SUCH A SHORT SPACE OF TIME? HOW!?
Would you ask a chef for secret ingredients?
GRIME IS THE GENRE OF THE MOMENT, AND ONLY LOOKS TO BE GETTING BIGGER. WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS THE CASE?
The energy has been building for years now, and grime itself has always been relevant. However, it’s always been an ‘underground’ genre which sadly has been overlooked by the media in many cases. It is the voice of the streets. 140bpm (beats per minute) is the perfect tempo for communicating passionate views in a controlled and creative manner. Nothing raises the hairs on my neck like a ‘skippy’ grime flow portraying a powerful message.
BEST AND FUNNIEST FESTIVAL MEMORIES?
Oh wow. Embarrassingly, last year’s Secret Garden Party did it for me. In line with my usual preparation skills, I turned up with no footwear other than my flip flops (RIP) and spent the next few days wading through 6 inches of mud. Very grounding indeed.
WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH SUPERDRYSOUNDS, AND WHAT CAN WE EXPECT!?
I have to say I’m very excited to finally bridge the gap between my music and fashion career with such a prestigious brand on a global platform. My experience so far has been amazing, working with such an open minded and energetic team and has also brought collaborative opportunities musically. Performances are also in the pipeline for this year - all will be revealed soon!
OBVIOUSLY YOU’RE NOT ‘UNKNOWN’ - IS THIS THE STAGE NAME YOU’VE HAD FROM DAY ONE OR IS THERE A GREATER MEANING BEHIND IT?
U.N.K.N.O.W.N. - Under New Knowledge Now Overcoming World Negativity. The name Unknown came from me not wanting to reveal my visual self, and to keep the two industries separate. However the name sparked creative energy, and soon became an acronym for a positive movement, extending into a record label through which I distribute my music.
DESCRIBE SUPERDRY IN THREE WORDS.
Global. Creative. Family.