Ross Jack’s Self Medicated, and so is everyone else
|||Helen Herimbi
I WATCH Ross Jack sluggishly meander towards the restaurant from the other side of the road. He seems unfamiliar with the hipsters and ad industry creatives’ paradise where he chose to meet.
But as soon as he sits down, the rapper-producer confesses this was the label rep’s choice and we share a laugh about how uncool (and happy to be so) we are.
Now 29 years old, Ross Jack, whose moniker is his first and second name (his surname is Ranby), has started winding down his wild party days that he revelled in on the Chandeliers EP (2012) and his 2013 debut album, Notes from the Wild.
So he may not know where all the cool kids and influencers hang out nowadays but he’s too busy carving his own, more globally palatable lane. And it shows in his new album, Self Medicated.
With the Japanese writing on his black crewneck jersey jumping out from his chest, he tells me, “I think everyone in life self-medicates and music is a form of medicine, a bit of a drug to me.
“I think this is my best piece of work by a long way. There are moments when it can be frustrating but I’m a bit more composed now because I know I make a sound that’s slightly left-of-field for the ’local is lekker’ market.”
The sound is a departure from Chandeliers – and the Seven45 single which did well for the now-defunct EMI record label – and Notes from the Wild, released through Universal Music, which was incredibly mainstream and was loved by more young people who weren’t necessarily into rap. Songs like Home Safe and TVs in the Swimming Pool became radio anthems.
But this second album is slightly more introspective (on Faded and Feel the Rush), honest about the perks and pet-peeves of his acquired popular lifestyle (on Gold Plated and Burning Man) and sees Ross Jack concentrate more on actually rapping.
“I’m proud of Notes from the Wild,” he says, “and I wouldn’t do it any other way, but at that time I was signed to a deal where the label wanted to dictate to me creatively. (Self Medicated) is truly what I want to do. Home Safe was a big song for me but it’s nowhere near being a favourite of mine.”
“I didn’t grow up on dubstep and don’t particularly listen to it but I threw it into that album because it was a cool switch in paces,” he admits. “It was a learning curve for me because, musically, the album was strong but, stylistically, it put me into a box that wasn’t accurately me. I’m more soul and hip hop.”
The new album features the likes of rapper Hydro and rapper-singer-producer BK. Although Ross Jack has produced hits like HHP’s Mpitse and is part of on-and-off production supergroup, Octave Couplet, which is spearheaded by Don Juan and includes PH and AB Crazy, most of Self Medicated is produced by frequent collaborator, Pete “Boxsta” Martin.
The Oscar-nominated South African producer-songwriter who is now based in the UK has worked with the likes of Danny K and the Sugababes. Ross Jack recorded the new album in London – with Martin – and in Joburg.
He smiles when I ask him what it is about working with Martin that keeps him coming back.
“What I hate about the rap game – which is why I’m cool with not being considered a rapper,” he waves a hand in the air as if that was a side-note and then says, “is that you get all these egos in rap. And that’s a terrible thing to throw in the mix when you’re making music. Pete is one of the best energies I’ve ever come across. I learn from him every time I go out there.”
I ask him if he’s heard rapper, Chad da Don’s song Time to Go where Chad raps: “Guess I’m from an era where we don’t get along with actors that carry nothing heavy on them – a bunch of Ross Jackers”. This is news to Ross Jack but he doesn’t take it to heart as he answers: “It doesn’t bother me who says what. I’m interested in being an artist and creating and, hopefully, it’ll bear fruits of significance”.
He’s well on his way with this new album.
Ross Jack’s Self Medicated is in stores and online.