S14 E10: Neeraj Kane

I remember starting an Arts Lab a few years ago – just before Covid started actually - with a group of people here in London, based roughly around the counter-culture arts labs of the 1960’s – Jim Haynes was the main guy behind that movement. The idea was to bring together people who wanted to challenge the corporitisation of the arts, draw, socialise, talk about culture, put on cultural events or fuck around.

I wanted to be a part of it but I didn’t know why. I mean had terrible insecurities about my ability to draw, sketch or paint…even as a classically trained cellist I had terrible imposter syndrome about being a musician. Probably explains why I petulantly packed it in…

At the first Arts Lab meeting, It was Youth from Killing Joke who said something that has always stuck with me and that was “the first thing you need to do is call yourself an artist, forget everything else”. I struggled with this – particularly with the whole identity of who I was. I certainly didn’t feel like a creative. Even now doing my own graphic design, I feel like a bit of a fake – especially when I compare myself to others - but I am getting better.

Of course, Youth was right. Allowing yourself that self-affirmation is really the start of your self-belief journey.

Neeraj Kane is so synonymous with, and important to, the hardcore scene and I was excited to find out if he has faced these issues and how he has navigated them through his life.

His musical footprint can’t be overstated. Every band he’s been in - like The Hope Conspiracy, The Suicide File, Hesitation Wounds, Godcollider - has produced music that is so incredibly potent and addictive in its structure and melody and the absolute precision of its attack. 

https://www.iwannajumplikedeedee.com


I Wanna Jump Like Dee Dee is the music podcast that does music interviews differently.

Giles Sibbald talks to musicians, DJ’s and producers about how they use an experimental mindset in every part of their lives.

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