On my album I was talking about trying to make something that was, like, sexy and almost
hip hop but for like a catwalk, for like a fashion show.
So I was working with my producer Nana Rogues and he made the tune.
And I just heard the (sings melody) I was like this is the one.
Well the album is called ‘Youth’.
I am constantly referring to songs, people don’t really notice, but throughout the
whole album I’m referring to kind of what I was listening to all throughout my youth.
I heard Zara Larsson’s Lush Life record and I was like, this girl’s swaggy you know
we’re all European I’m from the U.K, she’s from Sweden so I was like, I’m really like
fucking with her vibe.
So she heard the record, and then they put the idea down for a hook and then they sent it
And I know of course it’s got that, "I know what boys like, I know what they want,”
it refers to an even more timeless song and it was perfect for the whole idea of Girls Like.
First and foremost I’m British and I always feel like it’s important to remind people
and to keep like you know British icons or British references in my music.
I feel like that’s what gives it its identity, but there’s actually a funny story to that.
My manager his dad is actually like JK, his name is John.
Obviously we are of African descent as well so he’s like a proud Nigerian dad and he’s
always super curious about how things are going.
If he doesn’t see me on like Genius for like two months or he doesn’t see me on
like MTV or whatever he starts to panic he’s like what’s happening with the career
what's happenin what’s happenin.
So I just thought it would be nice to put a little line which also you know, you could
refer to the author of Harry Potter with, but was a more personal line for you know
someone who is quite very close to me.
I got a couple BRITs and a couple MOBOs.
For anyone who doesn’t know, they are like very prominent awards in the U.K. I remember
there was a time in 2009 that I did a video called ‘Tears’ and I honestly thought
at the time in the U.K that was the best video because I fuckin went in bro like I based
it on Vanilla Sky there was a car crash at the end.
I was like cool if they’re not gonna fuck with the music at least they’re gonna nominate
me for this video because this video is sick!
No nomination for the video.
And then in 2010 so from like being so down to then get nominated for four, and win two,
like that was huge man.
Mandem is like the squad, the gang. Your boys.
Polo is a small car, Volkswagen Polo.
Now to be honest guys sorry Genius man I have to keep it real I didn’t actually have a Polo.
I didn’t.
That hurt.
But I had a Vauxhall Corsa and I was like it’s the same, basically the same kind of
car anyway let’s just put that in there.
There was a commercial a while ago where the girl had the Rolo and she wouldn’t give
it to someone and then it was like, she was basically going out with a guy and they were
really close and she wouldn’t even give him the last Rolo so I just thought it was
a clever way of saying like if I could make her give it away she won’t give it away
to anyone else then I must be the guy.
I make a lot of music with like the EDM guys as well and it’s very much part of like,
european culture.
So that was just a little nod to a song by Moloko called Sing It Back.
I’ve got a Mercedes that’s actually, actually true.
So…
I can stand by that.
Do you remember the phones, Nokia Sirocco, basically you know like uh they were the shiny
ones they had the Gold one, the Black one and the Silver one.
And they kind of slid out.
Super slick super expensive that was like the big boy phone.
If you was gettin it in you would have that phone.
So again it’s just a nostalgic youthful reference.
I wanted to call it ‘Girls Like’ because I’ve worked with a whole bunch of female artists.
Whenever I do we have like a crazy amount of success you know I’ve worked with Kelly Rowland
to Ellie Goulding to Rita Ora.
You know, to Zara Larsson now.
Like I’ve got a new one coming look out for it with Tinashe as well.
I was kind of like, I’m the ladies man you know I’m the kind of go to guy for the girls.