Rudimental’s Amir: ‘We’re ready to break America with our UK sound’

The UK band have just scored their first platinum record in the US
Cracking the US: Rudimental are making waves oversees
Dave Benett
Jennifer Ruby26 September 2017
The Weekender

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Rudimental’s Amir Amor thinks that international audiences will “get” their music despite its heavy UK influences as they gear up to crack the US.

The chart-topping British four-piece have just signed a global publishing deal with Kobalt after their new song Sun Comes Up went platinum across the pond.

“It’s mad because we come from the UK and grew up with UK culture, we started on pirate radio and DJing, so you’d think that us going abroad would be a difficult thing for people to wrap their heads around,” he told the Standard.

Amor, 31, puts their international success down to the global rise of the UK music scene as well as their soul-inspired sound.

UK star: Amir Amor wants to deliver a positive messgae
Dave Benett

“Music in the UK is really starting to become a lot more important in the last few years. America usually dominates but it’s becoming a lot less dominant now. UK music is coming through, which is nice,” he said.

“Our music is also heavily influenced by soul, which is something that touches you and that translates anywhere, wherever we are.”

The drum and bass band recently performed alongside James Arthur on Jimmy Fallon’s chat show in the US and are “starting to make moves” in the country.

“We had our first platinum hit record out there so we’re starting to makes moves,” he said. “It’s not just America, it’s Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa. We’re going to Tanzania in a couple of weeks to do a music project there.”

Despite their global success, Rudimental still found time to perform in Hackney as part of Amnesty’s Give a Home series on Wednesday night.

Amor said that he is always keen to use his voice and platform to raise awareness of refugees as he was once one himself.

“I’m an immigrant myself. I went through a period of not having a home and not being able to go to school, not having a fixed address and all those things,” he said.

“So this comes from my connection with that, I feel directly connected with that kind of thing and I like to spark other peoples interest in that subject.”

The musician urged other people in the music industry to use their voices to make a difference in the world.

“There are so many negative voices out there right now, even in music, the music that we hear, the message of what’s being said just makes me feel a bit sad about the world,” he said.

“There’s a lot of self-appeasing going on. So it’s vital for anyone who has any kind of influence over people to try and do something positive or at least not add to the negativity.

“We try and do that with our music; we try and do that with our videos and even with our live show. It’s very open. It’s super important.”

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