Belfast MC/producer Mael Vogue has released his debut album, Vice City. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
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Vice City is described as "a loosely conceptual work about personal vices seen through the prism of life in Belfast".
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I have released an album called Vice City.
I sometimes struggle to answer questions like this.
I think Point Break (1991) is an excellent film and I could talk about its hidden depths for several hours.
How would you describe your music?
Hiberno hip hop: I make beats from Irish music and say class stuff over them.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Wu-Tang and MF DOOM for the world-building and lore contained in their sampling. Lauren Hill for her soul and her approach to songwriting. Same with BROCKHAMPTON; they'll have proper mean and scary beats that'll then segue into a full blown emotional boy band chorus. They're great.
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I love most Irish music but I was heavily into Horslips as a teenager after my father introduced me to them. A while back it occurred to me their use of traditional melodies to make completely new and original songs was itself a form of sampling, and that brought everything full circle for me. Thin Lizzy too. Finally, Christy Moore because he's a living legend and has always stood up for what's right.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Run DMC.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Pretty sure it was a tape of Gangsta's Paradise!
What's your favourite song right now?
Mothers Against Genocide just released A Mother's Heart, their version of Eleanor McEvoy's A Woman's Heart. It was already one of the best Irish songs ever and the reworking is powerful stuff. Go listen to it and buy it.
Favourite lyric of all time?
That's hard, I'm not good at picking favourites. Too many deep and meaningful ones to choose just one from, so I'll go with some surrealist imagery instead: "You know it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine" - from Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat by Bob Dylan. I've always loved how ridiculous that sounds.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Well, I reckon my favourite song just might be Faithful Departed written by Philip Chevron, but the haunting and bittersweet magic of it might get too much after a while. So, I'll take a leaf from Father Ted Crilly's book and say Theme From Shaft by Isaac Hayes coz it's upbeat and funky. Hayes was an amazing musician, particularly with arrangements, and I'd recommend anyone delve into his back catalogue. Ted knew the score.
Where can people find your music/more information?
I'm on YouTube as @maelvogue and Instagram as @mael_vogue. You'll find me on all the main streaming sites too, just search for Mael Vogue. I also have a website.
Alan Corr
