Joining the eclectic lineup of athletes, artists, creators and conductors that typified the ‘Unity’ angle of our latest print publication, SoccerBible Volumes, British rapper ZieZie was a seamless addition. His passion for football – and particularly Arsenal – along with his easy style and lyrical abilities made him a perfect spokesman for the topic at hand.
Football has always had this innate power to bring people together. It’s this sense of unity that was part of the focus of the inaugural edition of SoccerBible Volumes – our new special edition print publication – while it was also at the heart of our recent collaboration with Farah Menswear. Crossing the borders of both projects was ZieZie, who modelled the ‘Unity Clothing Collection’ for its launch shoot before taking the time to speak with us for the new magazine – something of an understatement given that it comes in at over 300 pages in length – giving his views on the unifying power of both music and football, as well as expressing his all-out excitement for the upcoming Euros.
How are you feeling now there’s a little light at the end of the tunnel, we can get out and see people again and get away…?
I feel like the dynamic is weird in that we’re all still adjusting. I’d say that I’m not taking anything for granted any more. You appreciate having control again. It’s a great feeling that everything is opening up again and there’s a good feeling with the sun out and summer here.
You’re dropping fresh music again too – it’s got to feel so good after what’s been a mad year…
It’s so refreshing. I’ve been stacking up so many songs and haven’t been able to release them. I wanted to make sure everything gets released at a good time, when I can do something with it. Now that things are opening up, it feels like a good time to bring new music out too.
Linking up with different artists in the process. Let’s talk about the importance of unity for you – what does that word mean to you?
With me, since I first started making music, it’s always been so important to keep it real. The main people that I’m trying to build some form of friendship with is my fans because they are the most important people at the end of the day. They’re the people that consume my music. When it comes to my peers and people I work with, that is about keeping things to people I naturally connect with. I’ve been trying to build that connection with my fanbase – it’s them who I want to make music for. Unity with my fans is the most important thing.
When the Euros comes, when the World Cups come, when there’s any major tournament, it’s amazing. We need that party."
On a basic level, think of a time before you released anything to now. How does it feel to have fans?
It’s crazy. I remember the first time that I realised I was getting noticed...I was walking in Croydon with one of my friends into a store to get some clothes and out of nowhere all these kids from school ran up to me and before I knew it there was this whole bunch of people around me. It kind of sunk in then. I remember from that moment, thinking “life might be a little different now”.
It’s refreshing to have that fanbase because they’re honest. Sometimes people you know don’t want to offend you but if your fans don’t like your music, you’ll know about it. It keeps things real and you’ll get a more honest answer. I really appreciate people in general and having their support, and that big friendship group who I can talk to whenever I want is special.
Music can bring people together, so can football. How much do you like what both industries can do for society?
Yeah 100%. A lot of people DM me telling me I’ve inspired them or helped them get through depression by listening to my music. So I now feel like I have an obligation to keep giving my fans my music, which is special. I want to keep giving out that good energy. You never know, someone could be really down and then they hear your music and it brings them back up. I need to make sure I keep being active in that sense.
I’ve seen how football can bring people together since I was young. Me and my dad used to go to this pub all the time, he was a massive Arsenal supporter – he really got me into football. He wanted to have me as his own little football player. The reason I mention the pub is because it was there where I would see the vibe of football. All these people would come together, watch all the games, for this shared love of football. It fascinated me. You’d have die hard fans who would cry when watching the TV. It was there where I saw the influence footballers, just like musicians, have on people.
Whether it’s a football match or a gig, what do you think makes those experiences so unique?
I think that’s the best part of being an entertainer or an athlete. That’s where you do what you love most. You get to see the effect and the outcome from all the efforts you’ve put in. All the writing, the recording, or for footballers, the training and the preparation – that’s where you see it all out there. I feel like it’s the best feeling ever. For me, that’s the only way and the best way to know what kind of emotional reaction a song is getting. I’m not someone who watches views or likes. There could be 50,000 people who have listened to your song but to go to a show and see that room full of people singing it back to you, that’s when you know you’ve done something. That’s why during lockdown, I’ve not known how to process it. The reaction is all digital. Usually when I perform I can get an idea on whether people like what I’m doing or not.
You must be gagging to get back and perform live again then?
I really am. I want to get out there so much.
What about where fashion comes into your life, how much do you like to express yourself through what you wear?
I like to express myself in that way a lot. I’d say my mood is very much reflected by what I’m wearing. I’d say you can see more how I’m feeling from my clothes than you could my body language. I’m not a flashy guy in terms of what I wear. I like to express myself through accessories like my chains. I always like to look good. I’m passionate about what I wear.
The collection we produced with Farah was inspired by Unity and how we in Europe should come together rather than be spread apart – what were your thoughts on it?
I really liked it. I felt comfortable in it. I’d say it was a little bit smasual. A little smart-casual. I liked it a lot. It suited me and I like the idea behind it. It definitely felt like a good mixture and that Unity idea comes across nicely in the collection. I like that it’s different from what people might normally see me in. That’s what I’m about – being open to being different is so important – I like to show people on the outside that it’s not all about the same brands you always see in music. People should be encouraged to wear things they like rather than just because something has a brand name on it. It’s important to have that perspective on things.
You’re a creative person who is involved in all elements of what you’re about. From the music to the videos to the merch – all the visuals. How much would you like to break into other industries and create a collection of your own?
100%. I’ve been thinking about that during lockdown. One thing with me is that I think a lot before I do anything. Writing music is where I like to be a little more off the cuff because I like being spontaneous there but anything else, there’s a lot of planning and thinking that goes into it. When it comes to clothing, I really need to think about it. It’s a competitive space and you see so much out there that I’d want to make sure that if I did anything in that space, it stood out as being different. I’d want to think about it and come up with the perfect idea before I did anything like that but 100% - I’d love to design a collection.
This summer… the Euros, the way they bring people in the UK together – how will you experience them and watch the games?
When the Euros comes, when the World Cups come, when there’s any major tournament, it’s amazing. The whole block I live in will bring out the flags. My whole estate becomes a football club for the day. It’s a nice vibe and energy. There’s usually barbecues everywhere, everyone has come out of their houses and it just bring a good feeling. After lockdown especially, this year is going to be really nice. We need that party.
Pick up a copy of SoccerBible 'Volumes' – Summer ‘21 ‘Utopia’ Edition exclusively at prodirectsoccer.com
