Grove on sexuality, power and community

Grove has been making waves in Bristol and beyond.

The Bristol-based artist celebrates black, queer nightlife through their dance and electronic hits and they’re not afraid of framing their work through a political lens either. They are playing on a stacked line-up at the Bristol24/7 Ashton Court Mansion Takeover on March 10.

Click here for Bristol24/7 Ashton Court Mansion Takeover tickets

2022 sent the singer stratospheric with the release of an extended version of their EP, a slot on the main stage at Love Saves the Day and the chance to perform at Glastonbury, on four stages across four days.

“We just had a really, really great experience. I think the first performance we did, which was at the Lonely Hearts Club was a favourite,” Grove tells Bristol24/7.

“I don’t play in the daytime usually, always nighttime but it was in the beautiful, not quite dusk, but late afternoon sunshine. It was just before the music started on the Friday so loads of people who are new came through. It was just surreal.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CfL7c14s9Sd/?hl=en

Speaking over Zoom from their studio in Bristol, Grove is dedicating some time this year to writing music and producing tracks.

“I’m in studio, producing angry political tracks, producing sexy tracks,” they laugh. “The plan is to release a good amount of new music this year.”

Following the release of their EP Queer + Black in 2021 (and then the extended cut released a year later), the artist has been touring for much of the last few months.

“Over Christmas I went to Australia to see my older two brothers who moved out there which was really nice. Then I was in Switzerland over the weekend, doing a run of three shows, which was really good.”

Swinging between angry political tracks and celebratory sexual tracks, the artist aims to reclaim their power through their music.

“Within certain genres of music, dudes talking about the way in which they experienced sexuality is often very disempowering for the parties involved that they’re talking about,” they explain.

“But I think the way in which I write about my personal sense of sensuality is a celebration. It’s a beautiful form of expression that feminine people don’t hear spoken about as much.”

With themes of sexuality, class politics and race all prevalent in their music, Grove takes inspiration from a range of  other art forms.

“When I sit down to write a tune, it’s after feeling an extreme emotion,” they tell us. “So if I’m reading a book on colonialism or some kind of element of history and I’m like, Oh my gosh, I can’t believe this happened, this is like ridiculous.”

One example of this is in their track Black released on their EP last year which reflects on the Colston statue being pulled down during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.

Whether falling into the sexual and sensual realm or the political realm, Grove aims for a collective experience to be shared with their audience.

“What I speak about when I’m when I’m in front of certain audiences, it’s not particularly raising awareness, because people already know about it. For example, I’ve got a song called Fuck Ur Landlord and a lot of people already know that,” the artist explains.

“The greed of landlords is wild. I think in making music about it is just this sense of like, us not being alone in that experience. There’s an element of like powerlessness about it but if you’re together in a room full of people who are all like, we’re all angry about this as well then there’s a way for that collective energy to be harnessed.”

The singer sees their music as stepping stones, you hear the music, you realise you’re not alone and then you can maybe do something to change it.

After performing their track, Fuck Ur Landlord, Grove then points to housing unions for people to take their power to the next level – “it’s a tangible way to amass some form of collective power.”

Grove’s debut EP was a fusion of dancehall, punk and jungle that is filled with dancefloor hits aimed to get the audience sweaty, loose and feeling a sense of catharsis.

The vocalist, DJ and producer is consistent with their aim of reclaiming space in the dance community for queer and black people.

The opening track of the EP, Sticky, is in memory of their experience at Pxssy Palace, one of London’s most renowned QTIPOC-centred nights.

The EP also saw them collaborate with queer artist Lynks and MC artist Griz-O but is there anyone they’d like to collaborate with in the future?

“Eva Lazarus every single time, I love her so much. She’s absolutely incredible; multifaceted, multi-genre and she’s got a new album out called Brandy Kisses which is just this beautiful soulful hip hop album.”

Are they excited to perform at Ashton Court Mansion in a few weeks time? “I’m really excited for it. I’ve got James on the visuals and I’m excited to see what it’s like.

“Also to be on a lineup alongside Ishmael Ensemble who are absolute heavyweights and Pinch who is a legend, it’s very exciting.”

Tickets for Bristol24/7’s Ashton Court Mansion Takover are on sale now and can be found at hdfst.uk/E85083.

Main photo: Khali Ackford

Read next:

• Bristol24/7 Ashton Court Mansion Takeover
• Bristol24/7 Ashton Court Mansion announce special guest announced
• Review: Ritual Union – ‘A welcome addition to the city, we can only hope it returns again soon’

Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast: