On Thursday last week, Suit Yourself Magazine was lucky enough to go and witness the opening night of Plan B’s UK tour in support of new album, The Defamation Of Strickland Banks. After the show we met up with Cassell, long time collaborator, producer and drummer with Plan B’s Ben Drew as well as other artists including The Streets.

Suit Yourself: This tour is Plan B’s biggest UK headlining tour to date, can you tell us what people can expect?
Cassell The Beatmaker: Yes it is the whole tour is sold out. You can expect to hear most of the new album with a special surprise towards the end of the show. Fans will have to come to the show to experience it.


SY: You’ve toured plenty of times now with different projects. Does this tour feel different or do all tours now seem to blend in to the same kind of vibe?
CTB: All of the tours I’ve been involved in have always had there own special experience, mainly because of the different characters that are around you. On this tour, most of the crew are the same as when I toured for 6 years with the European superstar, Keziah Jones. Being the MD of the band, I also brought in most of the musicians. The keyboard player, Chris Brown and I also play in Mike Skinner’s band, The Streets and the bass player, Jodi, is from Jay Sean’s band so being on the road with these guys is like touring with your extended family. This tour also feels different because I was the first musician to join Ben’s band (Plan B) and I have seen it evolve from drums and guitar to a full band. I have had the pleasure of being part of writing the music so the whole project feel’s very personal.

SY: You’re both a musician and a keen producer but do you prefer to be out on the road or working in the studio?
CTB: I like both as it’s a nice change and it stop’s me from getting bored of doing the same thing. I like to mix it up with studio, live work and music workshops.

SY: So Plan B has had a fairly drastic shift in style recently which hasn’t exactly enthralled all of the old fan base. Has the shift in style been a conscious decision or do you think or has the music always been moving in this direction?
CTB: Plan B is a guy with many talents. He writes film, music and acts. He was singing songs and rapping when I first met him, so to me it doesn’t feel like he’s made a drastic change. Both of his albums have been concept albums, so I wouldn’t expect them to be in the same style. The Defamation Of Strickland Banks is about a soul singer who gets convicted of a crime he never did, so it would be weird if he never sang. As for the fans, he has expanded his fan base with this new album and the real old fans should know that he takes a similar approach to writing his albums as he does films; there is always room for changes in styles of music. Anyway, he still raps quite a bit on this new album.

SY: You’ve collaborated with a few people including Plan B and The Streets, is there anyone out there you’d still really like to work with?
CTB: I wanna work with anybody that has a good vibe and writes good music. There is a lot of new talent coming up, holla at me! Ha!

SY: Any dream collaborations?
CTB: One of my dreams was to work with Michael Jackson, my childhood idle, but I always want to either play drums or produce for Chaka Khan.

SY: The UK music industry is in really good shape at the moment. Is there anyone up and coming you think we should be looking out for?
CTB: Yeah, look out for Akala. A lot of people know his sister, Lady Dynamite. Akala has been girding hard for while but his new album, Double Think, is special. I just remixed his new single, XXL, and will be touring with him on festivals and his own UK tour. Check him out.

SY: So the summer’s coming and that means festival season is here. Plan B has already been announced for Rockness in Scotland. You playing any other festivals?
CTB: We are performing at Glastonbury, Wireless, V Festival, One Big Weekend, Llanelli, Wakestock, Big Chill. There are more dates coming.

SY: And what has been your favourite festival to play in the past?
CTB: I’ve enjoyed most of the festivals I’ve done. Wireless, V Festival and the festival in Mauritius stood out for me last year.

SY: Bristol was recently voted the UK’s most musical city; do you know much about the scene in Bristol?
CTB: All I can say is that I have performed on numerous occasions with different artists in Bristol and the reception has always been mega. People really have a wide knowledge of music there and know how to party hard.

SY: So what’s next for Cassell? Where do you see yourself going?
CTB: Well, at the moment I’m working hard with Plan B and Akala. The Streets should be back on the cards after he releases the new album, Computers And Blues. Besides that, we will just have to see what the music business brings to the table next.

www.thebeatmakers.com

Adam Hooper
Photo by Laura Palmer