In an era where we quantify everything according to views and likes, that the video of Rudimental performing at Hackney Weekend Festival in 2012 was watched significantly more than those of headliners Jay Z and Rihanna speaks to how successful they’ve been from the very start.
As Britain's biggest pop-dance band, Rudimental – AKA Amir Amor, Piers Aggett, Kesi Dryden and Leon "DJ Locksmith" Rolle - have churned out a steady stream of thunderous hits over the years, gaining something of a reputation for star-making thanks to an impressive nose for on-the-up talent. They’ve collaborated with everyone from Ella Eyre and Anne-Marie to Tom Walker and Mr Eazi (not to mention Ed Sheeran), with their most recent track, “These Days” featuring Jess Glynne, Macklemore and Dan Caplen, which is up for two Brits this year, on 500 million Spotify plays and counting.
In honour of the band’s latest and third album, Toast To Our Differences, which drops today, 25 January, we caught up with the quartet to find out all about their firsts. Here, Rudimental talk falling in love, salary splurging, tears, teenage errors, Eric Cantona and parties at 10 Downing Street.
The first time you all met...
Leon Rolle: "At primary school and then later Amir when Rudimental started."
Kesi Dryden: "Leon met Piers at primary school. I met Leon at a BBQ when I was a kid. And we all met Amir in 2011 when he worked on ‘Feel The Love’ with us."
**Amir Amor: **"When the boys came to my studio, Major Toms, back in 2011. At first I was behind the scenes producing and writing with the boys, but the chemistry was great and we wanted to create a live show, so a few months later I joined the group officially."
The first time you realised you were actually any good...
LR: "At the Radio 1 show on our home turf in Hackney. We played in front of 8,000 people. This was our second live show, a day after our first-ever live show, which was at the Isle Of Wight Festival. We had 15 people on stage in a small tent and played to a couple hundred people. It was messy but epic."
KD: "We did a show in Cannes and Eric Cantona was sitting five metres away from my keyboard… It was when I realised Eric Cantona was enjoying the show."
Piers Aggett: "When Home went to No1."
AA: "We need affirmation from others on a regular basis. I used to wish it wasn’t that way, but I’ve realised that’s just human nature. Honestly, It's still a roller coaster, but the highs and dips are much, much more controlled. I understand my powers much better now."
The first time you got silly drunk...
LR: "At Time & Envy in Romford, which no longer exists. We ended up picking a fight with the bouncer. Good night, that."
KD: "On a college ski trip with Piers."
PA: "My 16th birthday. I woke up in a bush!"
AA: "Too young! I grew up in a place called Somers Town in Camden. Traversing a few fences into a park with plenty of cheap cider was a regular pastime."
The first time you fell properly in love...
LR: "In college; we're still together now. I regret college at times."
KD: "When I got high and had an In-N-Out Burger in LA. I tried it again sober and it wasn’t quite the same."
PA: "At The Warehouse Project in Manchester."
AA: "Whilst on tour. I never thought it would happen to me like that – an amazing intense whirlwind. But the fire didn’t last long."
The first record you ever bought...
LR: "The Fugees' The Score on tape... You guys can remember a cassette tape, right?"
KD: "The Fugees' The Score."
PA: "The Fugees' The Score, on tape for my Sony Walkman."
AA: "The Fugees' The Score. Somehow I managed to persuade my mum to get it for my birthday. If she only knew the content and lyrics she would have kicked off."
Your first teenage pin-up was...
KD: "Mariah Carey."
PA: "Baby Spice."
AA: "I had a massive crush on Mariah Carey when I was a kid. I thought she was my ideal future wife."
The first time you made money out of being a musician...
LR: "Selling dub plates (personalised tracks with a DJ name on it) of one of our underground tracks."
KD: "Our first Rudimental release was a house vinyl, which sold OK in Italy. When I say OK, I mean, like, 50 copies maybe."
PA: "Ten years ago when we released our vinyl and sold them to the record shops. The vinyl days were the best days."
AA: "At about 15 when I was in school. I made a little garage tune and sold it for lunch change; it didn’t take me long to get started. I got right into making pocket money from recording local rappers."
The first time you blew your paycheque frivolously...
LR: "I bought a car."
KD: "When I had no friends after a DJ set in Croatia and paid for ten strangers to come jet skiing with me."
PA: "When album two came out. We were broke throughout the whole of album one."
AA: "I can’t say I’ve blown my paycheques frivolously like that, but I have spent a lot on drinks. I got given a £700 bottle of wine once and I spilled most of it."
The first time a politician made you mad...
LR: "Tony Blair for going to war in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, he did do some good by increasing the minimum wage, cutting crime rates and lowering unemployment."
KD: "Margaret Thatcher. Say no more."
PA: "When Tony Blair lied to us about weapons of mass destruction and invaded Iraq."
AA: "I never let politics make me mad enough to cloud my vision, but from even before I was in my teens I was pissed off at certain politicians. I was hyper-aware and connected to the bigger picture, even as a child."
The first, worst haircut you had was...
LR: "When my mum thought she was a barber..."
KD: "When my barber went back to Jamaica for three months and I had to find a new one. Scary times."
PA: "I didn't get haircuts until album two. Not sure why."
AA: "I’ve had many terrible haircuts. I had a pencil-thin beard and a fringe at one point in school."
The first song that made you cry...
LR: "Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On'."
KD: "Labrinth's 'Jealous'."
PA: "Donny Hathaway's 'I Love You More Than You'll Never Know'."
AA: "The first album that made me cry was Marvin Gaye's What’s Going On. The first song was probably 'One Sweet Day' by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men. I definitely kept that to myself too."
The first time you threw punch and meant it...
LR: "Three weeks ago."
KD: "I don’t think I’ve ever thrown a punch and not meant it."
PA: "When someone tried to rob me in Hackney. They didn't try to rob me ever again."
AA: "During the school days I got into a lot of fights – not sure if anyone actually means it, though."
The first time you got given a rider, what was on it...
KD: "Fruit and pita bread with hummus. Didn’t ask for either."
PA: "Beer, vodka and socks."
AA: "First rider was hummus, pitta, crisps and beer. Last rider was humus, pitta, crisps, beer… and underpants."
The first time you were given any really excellent advice...
LR: "Stay stubborn to your beliefs until proven otherwise."
KD: "When someone actually explained the benefits of being on time and not late."
PA: "When I watched Forrest Gump. 'Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.'"
AA: "I’m still learning this one but it’s to 'sleep on it'. I don’t sleep a lot, rarely more than six hours, but only recently I’ve realised it's power. You do a lot of thinking when you’re sleeping."
The first thing you’d do if you woke up a different sex...
LR: "Go for a piss."
KD: "Scream."
PA: "Call Kesi."
AA: "If I woke up female I’d probably come to a lot of realisations about what it is to be a man."
The first thing you'd ask Kanye...
LR: "Why?"
KD: "Take me to your studio."
PA: "Is everything OK?"
AA: "I don’t have anything to ask Kanye."
The first thing you'd do if you became prime minister...
LR: "House party at 10 Downing Street. Footwear: strictly trainers."
PA: "Invest money into youth."
AA: "I’d sack myself because I’m definitely not right for that job."
Follow us on Vero to find out what Rudimental have been watching, listening to and reading and to see unseen quotes from this interview. Join GQ on Vero now for exclusive music content and commentary, all the latest music lifestyle news and insider access into the GQ world, from behind-the-scenes insight to recommendations from our Editors and high-profile talent.
Now read:
