What are your names?
Shack Baker & Ivory Clark
What is the bands name?
ALLOY
How did you come up with the bands name?
alloy freebase /ˈalɔɪ ˈfriːbeɪs/
ALLOY – FREEBASS – A sound in pure form containing a fusion of tempo and varied style that has an enhanced potency and greater strength. This blend becomes a more intense audio compound creating a somewhat addictive experience that is resistant to corrosion.
What is your genre of music?
Alternative dance & rap
Give us a little bio about you.
Ivory: We’ve both made music for a while. Shack has his own Rap group called Bakery Boys that have had some hits on MTV Base and Radio 1 and mashed down Wireless Festival couple times. And i’ve been an MC and artist in the Underground dance scenes touring around the World with Drum & Bass DJ’s like DJ Fresh and Garage music guys like DJ Deekline.
Shack: What he said. Been doing music for a while now alongside running a couple businesses.
What made you go in to music?
Ivory: It wasn’t really a choice, it was an outlet for my mind and emotions that was more productive than destructive.
Shack: Been doing it since diamond socks. I was fortunate enough to grow up around a proper music studio environment so it was a massive influence for me. It comes very naturally and most of my family are musical too so it’s always been on the cards.
Are you a signed?
Ivory: We’re independent and we make and produce all our content ourselves.
Shack: Best way to be I find. Means your in control of your own product and hows its put out. You can always outsource particular aspects of it where needed. Just means no one can pull the plug or interfere when its not needed.
Your set to release ‘Moschino Shirt’, tell us more about it.
What was the writing process like?
Ivory: Writing it came very naturally because we literally just described ourselves and what we do. Then we laid the vocals at the studio in Brixton when the bassline hook was ready.
Shack: I find the best ones are always easy. Ives already had the concept, so hearing it through the big boy speakers made it that much more easy. No hard sale there, thats a banger!
What is the message you want listeners to take from the single?
Ivory: The message is loud and clear, just turn the track up and do what comes naturally.
Shack: I wanted feds to know that they can’t eff with me as my mums a Rasta and they clearly hadn’t been made aware. Tbf they don’t do it that much anymore. Maybe just twice this year, record numbers!
Describe the single track in two words.
Ivory: Authentic, vibes
Shack: Banger, party.
Will we see an EP or Album this year? if so what can we expect?
Ivory: It won’t be released this year but we’ve got more than an album in material.
Shack: It called Freebass. There’s no dates tbh but we’ll release it around the singles we have scheduled. There will be some interesting variations in there. There’s definitely nothing out like it currently.
Do you have any shows or a tour in planning?
Ivory: We’re working on the live show at the moment with our DJ Jammy D
Shack: I’m looking at something kinda big for around March. We’ll keep you posted on it though.
What else can we expect from you this year?
Ivory: We’re going to be dropping the video for Moschino Shirt and getting ready for a big 2019
Shack: We’ll be popping up all about the place, so just look out for the takeover.
Do you have any collaborations coming up with any up coming artists?
Ivory: We’ve got some remixes of Moschino Shirt being finished by Garage and Bass music don DJ Deekline
Shack: I’ve got a couple verses that I’m laying down on some other artists music. Mainly musicians that I already have relationships with.
Would you be up for collaborations if other musicians wanted one with you? and who would they have to contact?
Shack: I’m open to it but it’s gotta be dope. It becomes laborious when it’s not. Unless it comes naturally then it don’t make sense, I’m the same if I wanted one too.
Do you play any instruments?
Shack: I play with them Keys 🙂 I’ve tried to learn guitar several times over the years. I ain’t cracked it yet.
Who are your influences?
Ivory: Colonel Kurtz from Apocalypse Now and Norman wisdom. Shack: Jay-Z, Idris Elba & Lucky Luciano
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
Ivory: I live my life and let the highs and lows and madness happen. I’ve always enjoyed beats on their own so my mind and words can find their own rhythm.
Shack: I’m often inspired by the music, however once I have the concept the rest is straight forward. It comes from life.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Ivory: By then I’d like to have become the first music artist to play a live show on the face of the Sun.
Shack: Entrepreneur of the year.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Ivory: I design jewellery in Hatton Garden. I’m also a football aficionado so when i’m not playing it i’m usually talking about it.
Shack: I run a few businesses, they keep me super busy. I’ve been quite fortunate to go on some great courses too, so I’m either earning or learning. May it stay this way forever.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more into the music scene?
Ivory: There’s too many songs that i love to name just one and I love them for what they are rather than leading me to anything.
Shack: Great question, almost impossible to answer. Errrm, yeah impossible to answer. I couldn’t pin it down to one song. I’d probably say there are particular artist more so than songs.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Ivory: Never feed a Mogwai after midnight.
Shack: What you have, you’ve attracted to you by the person you are. To have more you need to become more.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
Ivory: There aren’t any rules to being an artist. If it feels right then it is right and success in life can be measured by how you feel.
Shack: I agree with Ives, plus the industry is full of shit so you need to decide whether this is really want you want to do. If it is, then you gotta be prepared to give it everything and expect nothing in return. Work on your craft as if your existence depended on it. That outcome alone will be fulfilling enough, in time the rest of world will catch up.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Ivory: Hitler has only got one ball. Apparently the other is in the Albert Hall. Shack: Fortune
favours the bold
Where in your hometown is a must go to visit?
Ivory: The Albert Hall
Shack: Anywhere the serves a mean salt & pepper prawns.
Your coming off tour;
1/ Where do you go first?
Ivory: To get an Old Fashioned cocktail Shack: Home
2/ Who do you see first?
Ivory: A man about a dog
Shack: No one, catch up on business.
3/What do you eat first?
Ivory: I’m a foodie so I eat out a lot and you have to when you’re on the road too, so I’d go home and make a cajun spiced fried prawn sandwich.
Shack: Pop out for a good Italian or Sushi
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Ivory:
1. Jack Daniels or a good rum.
2. Stage time
3. Someone to tie my shoelaces
4. I have a special whistle that only Shack can hear. He has a unique genetic advantage that means that
he can hear frequencies that most humans can’t, so if I need him at the gig venue i can blow that
and he can hear it anywhere in the World.
5. A change of clothes because gigs are all action.
Shack:
1. Set list
2. My phone
3. Beverage
4. Bangers
5. Flannel, man gets hot
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
