Mz Bratt Tickets

Mz Bratt - real name Cleopatra Humphrey - is a British electro-grime artist who is making the crossover into the mainstream after spending years building a name and following for herself on the underground music scene.

After appearing on the soundtrack for new slasher movie Demons Never Die and touring with Bruno Mars, TaleTela sat down with the MC to talk about her upcoming album ‘Elements’, the soundtrack to her life and pressures of making the break into the more commercial side of things…

Why did you name your upcoming album ‘Elements?’

I guess my previous mixtape consisted of loads of different genres that I liked and that I was making, and my track ‘Selecta’ is very different to ‘Get Dark’ but they’re all elements of me because I love different types of music and that’s where it kinda came from…

How are you feeling about going into the mainstream after so many years on the underground?

There is a lot of pressure, but for me I always find that when there is pressure and things aren't going as well as I want them to, that’s when I am at my most focused. That’s when I know what I have to work on, and what direction to take things – I suppose that’s when I work my hardest – so for me it’s really exciting rather than scary. I never have any expectations, I just do it because I enjoy it and things go well then that’s a bonus.

Describe the kind of pressures going mainstream brings?

Well there are loads of different pressures, obviously I am signed to Atlantic now and I have to deliver, but the good thing about them is before I signed the deal I was working with them for 6 months to a year before we actually signed so they put a lot of time and effort into me, helping me find my direction and find myself. I do have a say in what kind of music that I can put out. I find you have to compromise but it’s not really compromise, it’s more like coming out of your comfort zone. Has long has you can bring elements of yourself it’s not really compromising. So yeah, it’s just a journey, the pressure is a journey.

You’ve been grinding for quite some time…

Yes (laughs)

Seriously!

(Laughs) long time…

Were you always patient on the road it took to get here?

I guess when I was younger I was slightly more impatient, I was like ‘Why isn’t this happening now!’ It took me a long time to realise that everything comes in time. Sometimes I get people coming up to me and saying ‘You’ve been around for ages and you still haven’t blown – what’s the point?’ I been around for a while been only on the underground scene – I never made any attempts to go over to the commercial side, so that wider audience don’t even know that I exist. Whereas Cher Lloyd is more over ground and not really underground. I just see it as I was building my foundations, I was getting to know myself musically…this started off as a hobby and now it’s a way of life. I feel like everyone has their own journey in life, it’s takes some people longer but I feel the struggles will make the goods a lot sweeter.

What do you think about the upcoming crop of female artists in the UK?

I’m really excited because we are all on our own journeys and we all have different things to offer as well. Also competition is healthy it means that everyone will up their level and stay on top of things rather than just get lazy and fizzle out, which has happened in the past. I’m excited to see how everyone does, and I hope all the female MC’s and singers do well. I think they will because it’s a good time for female artists in general. 

You must have seen a lot of people come and go, what do you think it takes to be on top in the music game?

First off I think it takes thick skin, you need that. I think it takes hard work and an open mind; you might not think doing things another person’s way is right but sometimes it is. I think it helps to not see this as a job, and to try to have more fun with it. I think it helps to remember the whole reason why you started doing music in the first place, because you can gradually start to lose yourself a bit, so I would always to remember yourself.

A lot of the male artists I have interviewed say that they are not competitive and that they focus on their own lane – are you pretty competitive then?

I wouldn’t say I’m competitive but my whole thing is that I might get lazy and think that my output is fine, when it is not. So in that sense it’s healthy, it’s good…I think the guys you talked to are competitive, I think that they’re lying.

So how has working on this album been different from working on the mix tapes?

On the album I am singing a lot more, which is something that I have never done, on any of my mix tapes. The mixtapes are more about showcasing my lyrical ability whereas the album has more messages behind it regarding what I’ve been through with messages that are more personal and inspiring. The album has more depth…so if the mixtapes are 3D the album is 4D.

Talk a little about being a female MC in the game…

Well I am a female in a male-dominated scene, some people have said to me that I have only come as far as I have because of my look. I always like to put my music before my image, I don’t like to show a lot of flesh because I feel it will take the concentration away from what I am actually saying, I want people to hear what I am saying because I have something to say. But I am a female and as I get older I may want to express myself in different ways but I don’t think it will ever be in an un-classy way.

Over the years what’s the best advice you have been given?

Probably from my Dad, who always says to take risks. When you’re out of your comfort zone that’s when you really excel.

Who have been your favourite acts to work with?

I’d say Ed Sheeran we worked together on my mixtape, he is wicked and a lovely guy. Me and Dot Rotten did a track together on my mixtape has well, we had been trying to work together for a long time but when we finally did it and it was fun.

What has been your standout career highlight thus far?

There have been a few, being on a TV show and being mentored by the likes of Jermaine Jackson, Gary Kemp and Alesha Dixon was amazing, I was young at the time but it taught me a lot about being professional and what it takes to get there. I toured around America and Europe doing festivals and stuff and that really helped me with my stage shows and I got thrown in the deep end…I love touring, I got to tour with Bruno Mars, Tinchy Stryder and N-Dubz. I’ve been really blessed but feel like I have got so much more to do in life.

What do you think about being a celebrity?

I am not hungry for fame, I am not hungry for money I am just happy to be in a position where my music can get played and people can hear it. It’s quite worrying to think that if I do get to a stage where things blowup that people will be in my business because I am quite a private person, I think I might find that quite hard.

Tell us some of the ugliest scenes you have seen in this industry?

Ooh, I’ve seen lots! (Laughs) I’ve met a lot of diva-ish artists…

Any names?

(Laughs) no…I’m trying to think of the most horrible person that I have met – but do you know who is really nice? Gary Barlow, he is so lovely. I don’t like those industry parties where everyone is just smiling in each other’s faces and you know they don’t really like each other…but I try to stay out of the politics.

Which artists inspire you?

I’m quite fiery on stage, and I like Beyoncé even though she is a singer – I like to see how she moves on stage and how she breathes. Michael Jackson, I watch him on YouTube a lot. I think Ms. Dynamite is amazing, touring with Bruno Mars was was an eye-opener because he has a live band and that inspired me, I have a drummer that comes to my shows with me…

If your life so far was a movie, what songs would be on the soundtrack?

I would have ‘You Need Me and I Don’t Need You’ by Ed Sheeran in there, I would have Ms. Dynamite ‘It Takes More’, Dappy ‘No Regrets’, Wretch 32 ‘Don’t Go’ and definitely Adele ‘Someone Like You.’