M.A. // FRONTING YOUR CITY: RESIDENT FM

COULD YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO MARSHALL ARTIST?

Hi, my name’s RESIDENT. I’m a UK garage MC from South West London. I’m into football, fashion, pints and raving, but most importantly I’m into having a laugh with my mates. I recently dropped a new song with my mate C100 which is a remix of my song “Simple Common Sense”, which seems to be doing well at the moment. You can listen to it live at Gemfest 26. I’m also signed to Pull Up Records / Pampa Artist, so shout out to the boys there for helping and supporting me through my music career.

I’m a lifelong AFC Wimbledon fan and as soon as I could walk my dad took me to my first game at Kingsmeadow, and ever since then it’s been Womble till I die.

This year I’m hoping to go full time in music. However, to keep the bills paid I currently work at Heathrow as a baggage handler. It can be hard work at times, but the lads make it easier.

WHERE DOES THE NAME RESIDENT FM ORIGINATE FROM?

The name Resident originates from when I was 16. Me and my friends bought a dodgy FM transmitter from eBay and started doing pirate radio sets from my mum’s garage in the garden. We used the frequency 107.5 and played UKG, house, jungle and basically anything we wanted. It was my mates Jake and Abe on the decks and me on the mic. We thought the whole of London was listening, but I’m pretty sure the furthest you could hear it was the corner shop and back. But it didn’t matter to us. We decided to name the station RESIDENT FM. I’m not sure where the name originally came from, but when I started making music I decided to keep it just to pay homage to where it all started for me. I also thought the name sounded pretty good for the style of music I was making.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND TO ANYONE WHO HASN’T CHECKED YOU OUT BEFORE? AND WHAT SONG WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO THEM FOR A FIRST LISTEN?

My music, to anyone who hasn’t listened to it before, sounds like getting ready for a night out. You’ve just had a fresh haircut, you’re wearing the new clobber you picked up, your acca has come in and you’ve just had a splash of your favourite aftershave ready for the night ahead. For people who haven’t checked my music out, a song I’d recommend they listen to would be “We’re Out”. It’s not my most popular song, however if you want a real feel for what my music is like I’d say go and listen to that. It’s also my personal favourite.

WHAT WERE THE MUSICAL INFLUENCES THAT SHAPED YOU GROWING UP?

Growing up there was always music being played in my house, whether it was 80s classics while my mum was doing the hoovering, house and rave music in the car while my dad was taking me to football training, Britpop and indie at the end of house parties in high school, or finding old SBTV F64s for the first time. I feel like growing up in that environment musically influenced me and shaped me into what I am today. To go into more specific artists that have influenced me I’d say The Streets, Skepta, The Stone Roses, MJ Cole, Wookie, The Manor, The Prodigy, Oasis and The Jam, along with many others. They’re just the ones that come to mind off the top of my head.

HOW IMPORTANT IS PLACE, WHERE YOU’RE FROM AND IN THE IDENTITY OF THE MUSIC YOU MAKE?

I think the idea of place and identity in music is everything. It’s about expressing yourself for who you truly are, what you stand for and where you come from, and allowing others to relate to or appreciate it. Music that’s authentic will always stand the test of time because people can relate to it, whether that’s a place, an accent, a style of music or a feeling at the time. Being true to yourself will always take you the furthest. That’s why in my music I try to be as authentic as possible and not try to be anything I’m not. If I was to make a song about fast cars, loads of money and getting loads of girls, firstly I don’t think it would sound convincing and secondly it wouldn’t be the truth. My mates have seen me on a night out and I’m hardly Casanova. That’s why I’d rather make songs about the place I grew up, experiences I’ve had and topics I can actually speak on. That’s how I approach making music. I like to think: who does this represent, what place does it represent, and is this authentic to me? If it ticks all those boxes then I know I’m heading in the right direction.

IS LONDON STILL THE BEST CITY FOR UNDERGROUND MUSIC?

Yes, London is the best and will always be the best for underground music because the variety of genres is unmatched. If you want to go to a house, garage or jungle rave there are events every weekend. If you want to see new artists there are events for that, and if you want to go to an indie show you can. It feels like London has always been a place for new sounds and artists to thrive. That’s not discrediting other cities in the UK as they have a lot to offer as well, it’s just my personal opinion. I owe quite a lot to the underground scene as well, as I started going to squat raves when I was 16, which really solidified my love for underground music and everything related to it. The only bad thing I have to say about the London underground music scene is the amount of venues closing down at the moment. Around 20% of clubs, bars and venues have closed, and the price of going out keeps rising. If we’re not careful we could lose it, so I fully support movements that are helping the underground scene live on.

DESCRIBE YOUR MUSICAL JOURNEY SO FAR?

My music journey so far has been slow and steady. I started pirate radio when I was 17 and that’s where I learnt how to MC. Around the same time I learnt how to produce and DJ as well. Since then I’ve just been consistently making and releasing music, playing shows, festivals and raves, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the future has to offer.

YOUR PLAYING A STACKED GEMFEST THIS YEAR, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE LIVE SHOW?

You can expect a lot from me and C100 at this year’s GEMFEST. We’re back playing for our second year in a row. If you were there last year you know how mental it got, and this year we’re looking to outdo last year’s performance. We’ve got a new track together called “Simple Common Sense x C100” and it’s doing very well on SoundCloud, so I’m looking forward to performing it there. The rest I’ve got to keep a secret so you’ll have to wait until GEMFEST to find out.

WHAT’S YOUR MOUNT RUSHMORE OF ARTISTS / ALBUMS?

My Mount Rushmore of albums would be Blacklisted by Skepta, A Grand Don’t Come for Free by The Streets, Untrue by Burial and the classic Definitely Maybe by Oasis. There are so many I could name but some honourable mentions would be The Fat of the Land by The Prodigy, Play by Moby and Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not by Arctic Monkeys.

WHAT ARE YOUR EARLIEST MEMORIES OF BEING AWARE OF CLOTHES OR STYLE?

For as long as I can remember I’ve always been into clothes, style and what I’m wearing, even from a young age. I’ve always gravitated towards the casual style as it’s really what I grew up around. Fred Perry, Stone Island, Burberry, Lyle & Scott and Schott are brands I’ve always loved, along with the style that comes with them. Even when I was younger I loved the versatility of that look — it’s smart, stylish and feels like heritage. My earliest memory of really wanting a piece of clothing was when I was about 15 and couldn’t afford Stone Island. I used to get plain jumpers from Primark, buy the badges online with the buttons and get my mum to sew them on for me because I was so desperate to own one. As soon as I got my first paycheck from the retail job I was working, I spent it all on a red Stone Island jumper and it was worth every penny.

But growing up football boots were what I was really mad for. Whenever I got a new pair I would wear them to bed and swear they made me run faster and hit the ball harder. When the Nike sock boots first came out it blew my mind. I’d begged all year for a pair but they were too expensive, so you should have seen my face when I got a pair for Christmas. I reckon I went five days without taking them off — if I could have showered in them I would have.

GROWING UP, WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU DRESSED — MUSIC, FOOTBALL CULTURE, PEOPLE AROUND YOU?

Growing up I loved watching music videos and if I saw outfits I liked I’d try to copy them or find out what they were wearing. Even just going down the pub, if I see something someone’s wearing and I like it, I’ll go up and ask where they got it from. There are a few people who influenced the way I dressed growing up. People like Skepta and Paul Weller definitely influenced me, especially with the casual style. Really though, British culture as a whole is what influences me the most — our heritage brands and our style. I’ve always found it a bit strange when people try to dress like Americans when we’ve got some of the best style right on our doorstep.

WAS STYLE ALWAYS A FORM OF SELF-EXPRESSION FOR YOU, OR DID IT DEVELOP ALONGSIDE YOUR MUSIC?

Style for me has always been a way of expressing myself. I like when my clothes have a bit of character to them or a story. Certain jackets remind me of certain times in my life, whether good or bad. I don’t mind a few rips or signs of wear — I think it shows character and personality. I wouldn’t say it developed alongside my music. I’ve always been willing to try new clothes, new styles and express myself through what I wear.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE NOW? AND ARE THERE ANY NON-NEGOTIABLES WHEN IT COMES TO HOW YOU DRESS?

My personal style is a mix of the past and present. I love older styles from the 90s and 2000s, but I also think mixing them with newer styles works really well. I like to combine both eras so it’s a healthy mix of the two. It’s not like I’m dressing like your dad, but on the other hand I’m not dressed like a TikToker either. My non-negotiable is wearing basketball jerseys or American football jerseys without knowing the team or the sport. For me that’s a bit of a no-go. I’ve seen people wearing an LA Lakers hat with a Chicago Bulls jersey. That’s like wearing a Spurs hat with a Man United shirt — it just doesn’t look right.

WHAT FIRST DREW YOU TO MARSHALL ARTIST AS A BRAND?

Marshall Artist drew me in as a brand because I think it’s the epitome of British style. The affordability and quality are unmatched. What initially drew me to them was the Sicuro hooded overshirt — I saw it on Instagram and thought it was a bit of me. Ever since then I’ve loved the clothes they’ve been releasing. I think Marshall Artist is right up there with the top brands around them.

HOW DOES THE BRAND ALIGN WITH WHO YOU ARE — MUSICALLY, CULTURALLY, AND PERSONALLY?

I think the brand aligns with me because it feels like it’s made for the working man — someone who does a week’s graft, loves a pint on a Friday, goes to the football and still wants to look smart doing it. Musically as well, their Spring/Summer 26 collection pays homage to the late 80s and 90s rave scene up north, which is something I take a lot of inspiration from with my music. It was a golden era of dance music and culture. Personally I think you can’t fault the brand. The clothes are top quality, they look smart and it feels like you’re part of something exciting.

WHAT DO YOU THINK MARSHALL ARTIST REPRESENTS WITHIN BRITISH CULTURE?

I think Marshall Artist represents the evolution of terrace culture in Britain. It takes great elements from the past and makes them modern and refined. It blends heritage with subculture in a way that feels nostalgic but also new at the same time. It’s stylish clothing that doesn’t need to shout — it just is, which in many ways is exactly like British culture.

WHY WIMBLEDON AFC? WAS SUPPORTING THIS CLUB SOMETHING YOU GREW UP WITH, OR SOMETHING YOU CHOSE YOURSELF?

Wimbledon has always been the team my whole family supports, so it definitely wasn’t a choice — it’s in the blood. As soon as I could walk my dad took me to my first game. Initially I didn’t really care about the football when I was a kid, I just went for the chips and Haydon the Womble. But as I got older I started actually watching the football and enjoying it, and by the age of 12 I was hooked. So it definitely wasn’t a choice.

WHAT’S YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF WIMBLEDON AFC / FIRST GAME?

I wouldn’t be able to remember my very first game, but the first game I remember actually watching and paying attention to was AFC Wimbledon vs Carshalton Athletic. At the time I lived in Carshalton so the game was literally on my doorstep. I remember after that game I actually started enjoying watching the football and understanding it, and joining in with the chants. My dad used to say to me I couldn’t swear at home, but at the football it was alright — so you can imagine 12-year-old me was F-ing and blinding as much as I could. As soon as the Champagne Chant started I was all game.

FROM THE CRAZY GANG TO MEAN MACHINE, WHO WERE YOUR WIMBLEDON HEROES?

My first Wimbledon hero when I was younger was Jack Midson. He was our striker in League Two at the time and I remember we were having an awful season and were one place above the drop. We were playing Fleetwood at home and if we lost we would’ve been relegated. We got a penalty in the last minute and he scored it to keep us up, so back then he was my man. I used to go to Wimbledon a lot more when we played at Kingsmeadow so most of my heroes are from that era. Adebayo Akinfenwa was a big one. I was at the game against Liverpool behind the goal in the Chemflow End when he scored. Even though we lost 2–1, that goal was the equaliser so at the time the place was rocking. We got knocked out by a Steven Gerrard free kick, which to be fair isn’t a bad way to go out seeing him do that in the flesh.

Lyle Taylor was also a big hero for me when he played for us. He really solidified that status when we played MK at home for the first ever time. I was at that game and it was the most intense game of football I’ve ever been to. Every tackle, pass, shot and throw-in was being cheered or booed. There were police escorts and everything. We went 1–0 up but everyone knows that scoreline isn’t guaranteed. When Taylor picked the ball up from the left, ran through and scored, the place went mental. I’ve never seen limbs like it, so in my books he became a Wimbledon hero after that.

BEING A FAN-OWNED CLUB AND HAVING A STRONG COMMUNITY BEHIND IT, DOES SUPPORTING THE CLUB FIT INTO YOUR IDENTITY TODAY? DOES IT INFLUENCE YOUR MUSIC AT ALL?

Yeah definitely. Being a fan-owned club fits into my identity today. I always think the community and the people around you make you the person you become. I’ve got a couple of best mates and a girlfriend who are very supportive, and when you’ve got a good community around you they keep you grounded and tell you the truth no matter what. I think that’s a key part of success. Supporting a club like AFC Wimbledon gives you that as well, because there’s a real community feel around the club and you stick with them through thick and thin.

WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST AFC WIMBLEDON MEMORY?

My greatest AFC Wimbledon memory would be the play-off final to get into League One against Plymouth. It was me, my dad and my grandad who went down to Wembley for the day, and it was special because it was three generations of Wimbledon supporters together. We ended up winning the game, but there was just something about watching a moment like that with your family that is unforgettable.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT WHERE YOUR CLUB IS RIGHT NOW?

I think the club is in a good position now. It seems like we’re settling into League One after dropping a few seasons ago and getting our heels into the league. But to be honest with you, as long as we’re above MK I’m more than happy.

ONE WORD: WHAT DOES AFC WIMBLEDON MEAN TO YOU?

Resilience.