Skepta adding “finishing touches” to his new album Fork and Knife.
The new record will be the musician’s first studio album since he dropped Ignorance Is Bliss in 2019 and he’s already picked 17 tracks revealing the release is full of “celebratory energy” because it was recorded while he was travelling the world and it’s packed with “party music”.
He told Esquire UK: “Seventeen tracks are chosen now. A lot of the stuff on there is music I’ve made travelling the world, booking studios here and there when I can.
“A lot of it has that celebratory energy I get when I’m travelling. Now I’m just adding the finishing touches.”
He went on to reveal he’s adding more to the album because he wants it to have “some depth”. Skepta told the publication: “As well as the celebratory music, I want some conscious stuff on there too. Especially right now …
“I feel like it’s an important time to be saying things and not bringing out an album that’s tone-deaf to the world. So, I’m adding some depth. There’s a lot of party music on there. I’m essentially a festival artist, so I make music for shows and clubs. I’m just making sure I cover all ground and speak for the voiceless.”
He went on to explain the album’s title, adding: “The whole idea behind Fork and Knife is about being a child of immigrants – that simple ambition of wanting to eat well and sit at the table with cutlery. That was the inspiration.”
In the interview, Skepta went on to address his relationship with fame admitting he doesn’t need security guards to protect him and he enjoys being able to go to the supermarket without getting mobbed.
He added: “That’s the punk thing about grime and British music. You can be famous but still go to Tesco. You can be famous but still stand in the queue at Trocadero.
“Or take your kids to see Santa at the grotto and sit on the same train ride as everyone else. No security. Just people next to you.”
The May/June issue of Esquire UK is out on 22 April.