An Exclusive Interview with Professor Elemental

.

CN - Ha!
Tell the readers a little bit about yourself.

.
PE - I'm the world's best, and only, Steam powered Hip Hop emcee, providing great rap music to nerds, weirdos, steam-punks and optimists, for ten glorious years. I also enjoy bee keeping, erotic dance and reading aloud. Occasionally all at the same time.

.

CN - 10 glorious years, indeed!
What made you decide to start writing lyrics and music?

.
PE - I needed a way to get the voices out of my head and into someone else's and, since my various experiments using surgery had failed, this seemed like the simplest way.

.

CN - Seems as good an idea as any!
...But!... it doesn't just stop there, eh?
You're the star of a comic book, you've written books and even games! Tell us how that came about, and who is involved...

.

PE - I have found that by saying an enthusiastic YES to everything that comes your way creatively, you can find yourself working on the most amazing projects. That does mean that you occasionally find yourself with 500 unsold bottles of Professor Elemental branded Hot sauce*, but also means that you can team up with like minded folks on everything from comic books drawn by your heroes to voicing Disney cartoons.It's an approach that I hihgly recommend, making art is more fun with friends.

(* PE - Actually true, the stench when I finally took them to the local dump was phenomenal)

.
CN - Wow - I'd never known about the Hot Sauce. Next time, let us know. I'm partial to the odd tub of hot sauce, myself!
....With your music..You've played in LOADS of great places. Any you'd care to shout out as particularly awesome, or ones that will forever stand out in your memory?

.

PE - Gosh. Glastonbury festival has been joyful, I played inside a mountain in Sweden once, I failed terribly to impress an audience of pop fans in Cambodia, there was a wild west town in Arizona which provided a lovely back drop and I have even played in Kings Lynn this year. Really, as a rapper, once you have played in King Lynn, it's hard to know what's left to conquer.

CN - Splendid place, for sure. I hear it's lovely this time of year!
How do you find time to write new material, in amongst all the gigs you do? ... your schedule is pretty full!!

.
PE - Well, much as I imagined that being a rapper was all diamond studded uzis and platinum mansions, to be honest, it's predominantly an administrative job. I go into a secret office most days and write there as often as I can. Whenever I am writing, I always get up at 5am and get the songs done before the rest of the world starts interfering. I can only write nonsense with a clear head.

.

CN - That sounds like thirsty work...
.

.

PE - Oh. Yes. The tea, of course!!
I teamed up with a lovely company called Mad Hatter tea for our lovely Professor Elemental tea bags. I've also been working with a tea company called Tea Spectral for a range of speciality blends.
(wistfully)...So much tea, so little time.

.

CN - Those frequent your website, will be aware of your "Do Something Awesome" page, where you support two rather splendid charities.

Why are they close to your heart, and what can we do to get involved and help?

.

PE - Ah yes, the wonderful Dog A.I.D. are the only charity who train people's pets into qualified assistance dogs. They are a small charity and, as such, do incredible things with whatever donations they get. The help that they gave one of my best friends was astounding, I love them to bits. You can find out more or donate here

.
CN - Fantastic work from them. Great to hear!
I noticed on YouTube, there are one or two videos of you frequenting the stage with Mr B, The Gentleman Rhymer. Now... surely you're both friends or is there more than meets the eye?!

.
PE - Oh yes, we are great pals now. The beef we had a few years back has long since been cooked and eaten with chips and ketchup. I am totally ready for some fresh beef to be honest, my problem is that all the musicians I know are either really nice, really talented...or both.
I guess I'll have to keep taking shots at the Tories instead.

.

CN - Now... there is a topic I can get behind. Sufficiently supplied with tea, I could take pot shots at that bunch all day!
ha!

Top 3 past artists... Top 3 current artists...

.
PE - Hmmm, thats an interesting one. If we're going for influences, rather than straight up favourites, although there is a huge crossover, let's say:

Past Artists: Vivian Stanshell, C L Smooth, Kermit

Current Artists: Dr Syntax, Dizraeli, Jon Clark

.
CN - An outstanding, albeit unexpected selection!
As those that have read my previous interviews will know...I do like to throw a few curve-balls in... ...so...slight change of pace, question-wise...

Name 3 things you never leave home without, for a gig... (Wallet, keys, instruments dont count!)

.

PE - Comics, writing paper, pen.

....Also....
....more comics.

.

CN - I'm sensing a theme here. Would we be correct in assuming you like......comics? ha!
....So..as i'm sure many young and aspiring musicians will be reading this...Whats the top piece of advice you could give to young musicians that are inspired by yourself?

CN - Great advice. (and so true!)
...So..what was the top piece of advice YOU were given by a mentor...

.
PE - You are never too experienced, too good or too big to have a bad gig and in fact, it's the bad gigs that teach you the most.

.
CN - Another, classic and timeless piece of advice.
...Before we say adieu...Any parting comments?
.