Interview: The Scribes

One of the best live hip-hop bands on the UK circuit, The Scribes have been tearing up stages for more than a decade. “We started making music towards the end of secondary school,” says Jonny Steele, who has known fellow MC Shaun ‘Ill Literate’ Amos since they were kids growing up in Bristol. “Shaun moved down to Plymouth for uni and we started hitting up some open-mic cyphers.” Somehow, they’ve kept this long distance relationship going ever since.

“I don’t think we’ve had a band practice in about six years,” says Shaun. “Luckily we’re able to gig so often that we just keep ticking over…”

While Jonny and Shaun do most of the rapping, they wouldn’t be The Scribes without “beatboxer and mascot” Paul Lacey. “Each of us brings something to the table,” says Shaun. “Lacey mostly brings complaints about drinks riders, but he does also pull out the odd vocal scratch.”

A battled-hardened live unit, they play well beyond the confines of the UK rap scene. “We’ve done well because we would play everywhere and anywhere,” adds Jonny, “and word of mouth has been good for us. We’ve gigged in a lot of venues that don’t traditionally host hip-hop, which still holds a surprising amount of stigma.” Shaun adds: “We were the first hip-hop act on Ibiza Global Radio. I think that’s because we’ve developed our own sound and always, hopefully, put on a good show whatever the crowd.”

The trio’s beats and hooks draw on punk, indie and psychedelia as well as funk and electro. As well as an EP and two albums, their side projects are well worth your attention. Some – Jonny’s performances with Contraband Breaks Ensemble, or Shaun’s work with A Band on Hope – exist outside the Scribes universe. Those within it include The Death of Loki, Jonny’s 2013 album with Astro Snare, and Shaun’s 2012 project Ill Literature.

Then there’s Mr Teatime & The End of the World, which arrived earlier this year, claiming to have been sent from a future Earth run by killer robots. “Mr Teatime was all on me,” explains Shaun. “For a long time I’d wanted to do a concept album, but it’s so hard to know where or how to start.” While working on new Scribes material, he came up with some darker sounds and more processed beats that seemed an awkward fit for their live sets. “They all sounded so robotic and at the same time so dusty, that the post-apocalyptic theme just presented itself.” 

Like an H.G. Wells story re-imagined by Kool Keith, Mr Teatime describes its hero’s progress from eating rats in a cellar to leading an army of mutant humans against their android overlords. It was deservedly named ‘Concept Album of the Year’ by UndergroundHH.com.

The momentum shows no sign of slowing. Jonny’s about to unleash his new live band Bison Theory, while 2017 is also set to feature a Scribes mixtape and third full album. Meanwhile, life on the road has paid off in amazing experiences. “We did a beach festival in Italy,” says Shaun, “and while we performed lightning was forking out over the sea, illuminating the crowd. I’ll never forget that.”

Jonny’s highlights have been more about the people: “De La Soul, Souls of Mischief and Jurassic 5: all were encouragingly humble to talk to. They say never meet your heroes, but I’m just glad they got to meet me before I retire.”

The Scribes play The Attic on January 20, and Old Market Assembly on January 27. All their releases are available to stream and buy at scribesmusic.bandcamp.com

Images courtesy of Rachael Amos photography