INNER CITY DWELLERS (ROCKnROAD)

The Inner City Dwellers have landed… at last. A true breath of fresh air. Something at last… that goes against the grain, that embraces the same qualities and morals that many legendary rock and reggae acts portrayed back in the ‘good old days’. The days when musicians and artists actually ‘said something’ and stood up for their chosen cause.

ICD are Patrick Williams and Kivanc Sezen, a duo, backed with a band and production team involving Patrick’s brother and cousin (Balistiq) and Kivanc himself. 33 year old Patrick, born in Forest Gate to Jamaican parents, has always lived in the East London area. Over the last ten years he’s found fame as ‘MC Rage’ successfully touring the world at the forefront of the drum and bass scene, with the likes of Goldie, Fabio and Grooverider. His early influences where predominantly reggae music, as his uncle was signed to ‘Studio One’ (as Michigan and Smiley) whose classic hits included ‘Nice Up The Dance’ and ‘Suga Daddy’. He studied reggae music, listening to old tapes of Desmond Decker, John Holt and Freddy McGregor before immersing himself early gangster rap, sighting Public Enemy, Rage Against The Machine, The Clash, London Posse and Primal Scream as key influences.

29 year-old Kivanc, born and bread in Hackney to Turkish, Cypriot parents, has known Patrick for years. During his adolescent years “it was metal at first and then bashment that moved me”, before one day flicking through the radio dial and stumbling across pirate station ‘Defection FM’. It was then Kivanc threw himself into the ‘rave scene’. It was through the early rave and jungle years the two actually met, back in 1993.

Over the next ten years, Patrick flew around the world MC’ing for Goldie’s ‘Metalheadz’ crew, while Kivanc was “back in the ends” Kivanc continues, “When Pat would come back from tour I would fill him in on what’s been happening on road”

Kivanc starting messing about with his own clothing line and the two bonded over their love of music and fashion. “I remember Pat coming back from tour and ringing me, saying he wanted to play me this sick new rock track. We linked and he played me some ‘Queens Of The Stone Age’, which was the same track I was rinsing at the time. We just had a connection, we we’re different to a lot of people and things around us. We basically used to think out the box”.

Patrick would return to Jamaica in 2001 with his younger brother, who was making different styles of music at the time. Patrick explained to him the concept of his new vision and told his younger sibling to ‘study up’ on his rock and punk history. He continues, “You see, my brother saw the changes me and my mates went through growing up. We were rude boys, we were jungle kids, we did the house thing; we were dropping straight skinny jeans before everyone else thought it was the shit. It’s the same with music… we always been leftfield of what’s going on”

The Dwellers drawn heavily on the past to promote and provoke the present and future. Taking to them, you can see their genuine concern for the times they are living in and the circumstances that surround them. There’s a frustration with regards to the music they are hearing and to what the media portrays. They represent the inner cities and have a lot to get off their chest. In a time where the perception of estates and inner city neighbourhoods is a negative one, the Dwellers are keen to high-light “there are people out here who have talent, dreams, passions and think with a open mind. They never talk about the positive things happening in the ghetto, they never celebrate anything in the ends.”

Their frustration continues as Kivanc boldly states “All these bands… no ones saying anything anymore! People like Don Letts, The Clash – told it how they saw it. They changed the game, they had a presence.” Patrick steps in, “I mean our grandparents and parents came to this country and were influenced by the 60’s and 70’s, all the riots, and the reggae and rock music at that time made statements. Punk in 2007 is not even a music anymore… it’s a attitude and that’s what’s we’re dealing with.”

These two clearly know their mission, drawing heavily from a deep and vast pool of influences from their day-to-day surroundings – to their parent’s old record collections. Patrick reels off further influences like Shane Medows film ‘This Is England’, Don Letts’s book, old soundclash tapes of David Roddigan, Gavin Watson's 'Skinheads' photography and Dennis Morris’s iconic pictures of the late Bob Marley. He goes on… “In That Era, what they said meant so much more. Apart from Grime, nothing really truly reflects life. I mean I’m feeling Skinnyman, Dead 60s, Black Keys, The Roots but - where’s the fucking British reggae groups? Where are you’re Steal Pulse? You’re Azwad and UB40’s talking about the doll cue? We are bringing that essence back”.

With more energy than a can of Red Bull spiked with two Pro Plus, and talent and vision to match, the Inner City Dwellers want to ‘wake you the fuck up’. Rise and shine folks, its time to listen. They call it ‘Rock and Road’.

MANAGEMENT enquiries pleaseEMAIL: [email protected]:+447515574940TEL:+447956315424 LIVE BOOKINGS enquiries please contact:

Tom Schroeder @ Coda Agency:
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 20 7456 8888
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