She's the self proclaimed white midget with a barely there 5'-1" frame. An MC, a lyricist, a producer, the alternative microphone vandal with lyrics that hit like left and right hooks, subject matter dashing between flirtations with McDonalds, smoking hash and swigging Pernod. With a moniker that reflects her love of cheap cigarettes and pikey jewellery, Lady Sovereign is a random, cheeky, outspoken teen that no one in their right mind would want living next door.
Hailing from the Chalkhill Estate in Wembley, this 19 year old girl is already bouting with the best of them. Despite the fact her first single on Island Records hasn't even hit shelves, Sovereign has already supported Basement Jaxx on their Grolsch Summer Sets (including the massive Somerset House gig), Obie Trice, Dizzee Rascal, D12 and The Streets on UK tour dates. It's no surprise then that alongside a growing fanbase the world over, amongst those voicing approval are Mike Skinner, Ms Dynamite, Steve Lamacq and Zane Lowe. Not content with strictly musical expeditions, earlier this year Sov was also on the winning team at the Radio 1 Celebrity Soccer Six and player of the tournament. When not dirtying her kicks, she could be found on the road promoting a message of inter-racial tolerance and party vibes at a number of festivals and events such as UMF, the Lord Mayors Urban Show and Euro Social Forum.
Forthcoming UK gigs include the TDK Festival, Eden Project Sessions, the Hyde Park Wireless Festival alongside Basement Jaxx and headlining Camden's Club Koko. Overseas she's already lined up for dates in Belgium, France, Russia, Sweden and America. Following her starring role on the critically acclaimed Run The Road compilation, the Sovereign buzz in the USA has been growing considerably. Her two July shows at the Knitting Factory in New York and Sonotheque in Chicago are already sold out, and there are major US press features running in current issues of the New Yorker, Bust, Vapours, Accelator and even Playboy! A US tour is set for Autumn as is her first stateside release. It's undoubtedly her fresh and undeniably energetic stage show, now aided and abetted with a full live band that's putting her at the top of promoters wish lists.
Her genre defying appeal is easily understood. Bang some pots and pans together and Sovereign will ride it. A product of 90's youth culture, her music sees the current sound of inner city estates blending with an experimental melting pot of influence. From grime, garage and jungle to ragga, hip hop, R&B, hardcore, ska and punk, she's embracing the lot. Amongst her eclectic collection you may even find Tracy Chapman, Charles and Eddy or Ace of Base. Other current favorites include Missy Elliott, Gwen Stefani, Outkast, and Bloc Party - anyone who's braving it and doing their own thing.
Sovereign has graced the pages of magazine and newspapers including NME, Time Out, Elle Girl, I-D, Touch, The Telegraph, The New Yorker, Spin and The Guardian. Further underlying her status, her website www.ladysovereign.com has gained a massive following since it's 2004 launch and around 200 new members are registering every day.
Yet the support hasn't always been there. Inspired by Ms Dynamite, dedicated Mac FM listener, Lady Sovereign, then 14, decided to put pen to paper. When she started trying to get herself heard on internet sites the chorus of disapproval was more than evident. Her first feature in a 2002 edition of Touch magazine met with a degree of resistance but Sovereign used this battle field as a training ground and is now confident that she can send home challengers and weak opponents in a lyrical body bag (hunt down the much hyped Jentina diss track "Sad Arse Strippa" if you're a non-believer).
Alongside her DJ, Frampster (who she met on the So Solid forums), they formed the HLD (Heavy Like Dat) Family. While the crew was only short lived, it allowed her to put in the much needed practice hours on pirate radio and in bedroom sessions at her humble council dwelling. Having left school early and with no qualifications, selling doughnuts and telesales didn't work out and her attempt at shifting windows was a disaster. After three weeks and not one sale a career in dossing and filling up her note books with sharp 16's seemed the only option until her dad suggested acting. A point in the right direction from welfare officers saw Sovereign packed off to drama class where she won the lead part in an educational film and a chance to record for the soundtrack. Through a friend of a friend, the demo landed in producer Medasyn's lap and things haven't been the same since.
By the summer of 2003 her first collaboration, "The Battle" produced by Medasyn featuring Sovereign, Shystie, Frost P and Zus Rock was signed to the Casual Records imprint. Her first solo outing, "Little Bit of Shhh!" came out in June 2004 on white label, followed by another Casual Records release "Ch Ching", a reworking of Sunship's garage classic "Cheque One Two". Both tracks, despite their limited vinyl releases, received widespread support from the underground to the suburbs and beyond, "Ch Ching" getting played on every Radio 1 specialist show and "Little Bit of Shhh!" going on to be playlisted at 1Xtra in addition to being one of the most requested videos on Channel U in 2004. A cameo performance on The Streets "Fit But You Know It" remix (679 Recordings) alongside Donae'o, Kano and Tinchy Stryder also followed in a similar suit. More recently Sovereign released her final track on Casual Records, the Menta produced club smash "Random", the remix of which featured a special 16 bars from the then-incarcerated MC Riko. Following that, via her website she gave away 200 signed copies of the sought-after four track "Bitchin EP" as a thank you to supporters and fans.
Aside from her hectic touring schedule, Sovereign has just done a remix swap with The Ordinary Boys and is putting the finishing touches to her debut album due for released this month [October 2005]. Apart from her self-produced material, producers on the buttons include Basement Jaxx who've taken time out from promoting their #1 album to do three tracks with Sovereign, Jacknife Lee (U2, Snow Patrol), Target & Danny Weed (Roll Deep), Menta (Daniel Bedingfield, Ms Dynamite) Wonder (Dizzee Rascal) and her main production partner Medasyn, are all on studio duty. Sovereigns latest outing, "9 to 5" was released on August 1st.
Regardless of gender or generation, you can be assured that Sovereign's making the kind of noise that will see her reign supreme.
Fall Tour in Support of "Vertically Challenged"
Lady Sovereign will be coming out to huge anticipation on November 15th with the EP "Vertically Challenged" on Chocolate Industries. The EP will consist of 8 tracks plus a 30 minute DVD. The EP will include the singles "Random" and an exclusive remix by Ad Rock of the Beastie Boys. Her debut full length will drop in Spring. EP promos will be sent out the week of September 6th from Biz 3 Publicity.
Also, Lady Sovereign was flown out to New York in mid August by Jay-Z and the Def Jam label for a meeting in their Manhattan offices where they were also joined by Usher, LA Reid and Tearirra Mari. Jay-Z promised to get her into the studio to start cutting additional tracks with some A-List producers as soon as possible. Since returning to London, she has been continuing talks with Def Jam regarding the release of her debut album in the US in the Spring of 2006. She is signed to Universal worldwide.
She will be coming to perform at CMJ on the Webster Hall show with Aesop Rock and Blackalicious on Thursday, September 15th as well as performing at another CMJ week related party with details to come this week. There will be a late major market tour for the fall release at the end of November thru to early December- dates to be announced when confirmed.
Feature Credits
Words by Chantelle Fiddy - courtesy of Biz3 Tour Information - Biz3 Photography - Biz3 Provided
