“The reason I wanted to get involved was because it’s what I love doing, really. Discovering and sharing music – new or old, as long as it’s good music”.
Huw Stephens is on buoyant form. Fielding questions in the Social, the Welsh broadcaster is all electric enthusiasm at the prospect of being plunged into a vat of new music. Once again teaming up with Topman CTRL, Stephens is set to helm another season of uncovering new talent.
A long-standing project – a Channel 4 series ran just last year – Topman CTRL unites Huw Stephens with a number of guest controllers. Shifting the focus onto unknown talent, the first controllers are none other than outsider house crew The 2 Bears. “I think their album is the best album I’ve heard this year. It’s such a good album” the presenter continues. “They’re great controllers I think because sometimes you just hear an artist and you know that they’ve got such a great record collection. They’ve got a tea towel which has all their different influences on it: the Wu Tang Clan, Todd Terry, Toddla T, Beach Boys. Just a crazy mix of hip hop, techno, folk. I was like: that’s the best tea towel ever! I never thought I’d see those artists’ names next to one another. But when you hear the record it kind of makes sense because you can hear it all come together in their sound.”
Almost entirely open ended, Topman CTRL is literally at the mercy of whoever is in charge that week. Extending beyond normal broadcasting, the website will have a continually updated feed pushing fans towards downloads, mixes, interviews and more. The lack of limitations, Huw Stephens argues, is a neat parallel to the state of British music right now. “Ask anyone on the street about British music and who they dig and you’ll get a different answer each time. I guess that’s what makes it exciting, really” he says.
Indie may have died down, he muses, but this has merely created space for other forms to flourish. “People might think of indie music but they don’t look at rock music. Guitar rock bands are doing better than ever, the actual rock bands are doing better than they’ve done before. It’s only indie bands who haven’t done anything of note in the past couple of years” he explains. “There’s a lot of good stuff out there but there’s not this scene which you had a few years ago. So it has died down but it comes in waves, when guitar bands have been away UK hip hop, Grime, R&B has broken through beyond anyone’s wildest dreams – which is the best news ever.”
Breaking down barriers, the internet is a key tool for Topman CTRL. By allowing fans to get involved, the tastemakers are throwing down the gauntlet to the public. “The users from the Top Man site can take part, they can share music with us as well” the broadcaster explains. “It’s not going to be everything because it’s not going to be a pinboard for people to stick anything on there. There’s got to be some quality control! There has to be, in everything. It’s a massive part of it, really. We want to share something with them, and hopefully they’ll share something with us in return.”
Despite helping to open up the avenues of success, the internet has not broken London’s grip on the music industry. A keen advocate of music in the regions – Huw Stephens hosts Cardiff’s annual SWN event – the broadcaster is desperate for Topman CTRL to get out around the country. “That’s what CTRL will be great for, just getting out there and finding out what’s good in different parts of the country. Leeds has its own little micro-climate, Glasgow has its scene.. Manchester, Liverpool. We want to go these places and find out what’s going on” he says. “London is totally different than the rest of the UK and for Europe, for that matter. It’s a great city and a lot of great music comes from here. That’s why there is that London pull.”
As for who Huw Stephens is tipping, the list is about as broad as can be. “I can’t wait for that Alabama Shakes album, the Gang Colours album is beautiful. New producers like Ifan Daffyd, who I think is wicked. I want to hear more from The Cast Of Cheers. I really like TOY as well” he says, almost stumbling over himself. You suspect, though, that the list could have went on.. and on.. and on..
Topman CTRL is hosting a night of live music on March 8th, featuring this months Guest Controller The 2 Bears, Clock Opera & Citizens! plus many more surprises on the night. Here at Clash we’ve teamed up with Topman CTRL resident controller Huw Stephens to give you the chance to join in the party with 2 places on his guest list.
To enter our competition click HERE.