Interview With Spider-Zed

Photography © Joanna Doukov

Photography © Joanna Doukov

"You get the feeling that people are looking at you

and judging but you'll realize over time

that nobody cares about your shit."

"You get the feeling that people

are looking at you and judging

 but you'll realize over time

that nobody cares about your shit."

Spider-ZED has become a real phenomenon on the Internet and is experiencing an actual ascent with an off-beat, unique and anti-conformist style. In a few words, Spider-ZED is, above all, an artist who's not afraid to shake up the norms of Rap and to be where we wouldn’t expect him. It's time for A Rap & A Cup Of Tea to meet this crazy one!

In 2016, he released a three-track project called Mes Ex before returning with a new EP named Figurine. With a writing that denotes his fellow rappers, Spider-ZED draws attention to himself thanks to his touch of madness. Back in force with his latest tune 'Pour Du Beurre', the rapper preserved his path and his ambitions with all his sincerity. 

What does your nickname represent?

I chose Spider-ZED because I’m a big fan of Spider-man, and the “zed” is because I used to have another name that started with “zed” too. I kept it because I liked it. (Laugh)

Where do you get your inspiration for your music videos? 

I do everything with my favourite photographer Joanna Doukov. We sit down together and wonder what we could do that would be fun and cute simultaneously, and we usually keep the best ideas. 

You dedicated a lot of music to your exes... was it a kind of therapy for you? 

I think breakups are inspiring even though it’s sad at the time. I must admit that sadness is still a great inspiration to me. 

What message would you like to convey to your fans through your music? 

I'd just like to tell them to do what they want as I did with music. And especially to believe in themselves.

How would you describe your music to an English audience that doesn’t know you yet? 

Good question... (Laugh) I think that an essential part of what I do is in the lyrics, so if you don’t really understand what I write, it might lose some of your interest... But on the other hand, I think my music has a pretty catchy side where you just want to sing the choruses. 

What made you write?

I don’t know if it was a need... but it's definitely more than "I’ve always loved Rap". At one point, I thought I should try to make some, and when I was really into it, I started rapping about anything. In the end, I continued in that direction. Before, I started writing about things that were slightly more personal to me. 

Can you tell us more about High Five Crew and how it fits into your life? 

It was with them that I started Rap and took it seriously. I owe them a lot; my first concert with them, our first projects together etc. I made a lot of progress with them, and it was cool! For now, we’re on standby; maybe one day we’ll do a project together again. Only time will tell. 

Now that you’ve decided to continue your solo career, can you tell me what difficulties you faced and the positive things that it has brought you?

The good thing is that you can really do whatever you want. There’s no need to ask your mates because you’re the one who has to decide. If you want to make a song, you get up in the morning, you do it and that’s it. You can do anything you want. But the thing is that it can take longer because you have to do everything on your own. Everything goes faster, obviously, when you're three or four in a band. Belonging to a crew can also be a big help because there will always be "a friend of a friend" who can help you to do this or that; it promotes encounters. But yet I am much more fulfilled being solo. I can do what I want when I want, and I have more freedom.

In your song 'Bien Ou Quoi', we have the impression that you go through all kinds of emotions... You mention this fear of the future that you have...

I’m 23 years old, and I see all my mates doing studies, but not necessarily something they like. They don’t really know where it’s going to take them and the only thing they like to do right now is to get drunk and go clubbing at weekends. (laugh) And for me, it was quite the same; I was studying sound engineering, but it was more a way to get closer to music than a real passion. I dropped out of school over six months before I wrote this song and I wondered if this was the right choice, if I had to go on, and especially where all this would take me.

"I must admit that sadness is a great inspiration to me."

"I must admit that sadness

is a great inspiration to me."

In this song, you said: “22 years old and I'm still embarrassed to be me”...

Actually, I quite like myself. (Laugh) But there's always a time when you wonder what you’re doing on here. You get the feeling that people are looking at you and judging you but over time, you'll realise that nobody cares about your shit. I’m currently working on myself to feel more comfortable with that.

Did music help you in your personal life?

In all honesty, it didn’t necessarily help me. At the same time, being a rapper is not something I claim. I’m not the kind of guy who says: “You know, I’ve got 500,000 views”. And honestly, if you need this to handle chicks, you’re not really interesting. And to tell you the truth, I don’t actually feel famous... I’m not recognised in the streets yet, so I have a pretty normal life. (Laugh) 

Do you think your off-beat style is a strength, or are you afraid of being misunderstood sometimes?

I think it can be a strength because rappers are often pretty serious, and it’s hard to create new things by doing what everyone else is already doing. If I did something else and tried to do conscious Rap, it wouldn't represent how I am. I would be lying to others and especially to myself.

Is there an artist you’d like to do a feature with?

I'd like to do something uncommon with an icon of French music like Carla Bruni or Patrick Bruel. I would find it fun!

You like to present yourself in your music as being “an unemployed person who doesn’t give a fuck about anything”. This is paradoxical because we know that an album requires a lot of work...

I think it’s funnier to say that I don’t do anything, when in fact it’s not true. I work hard, even though I could do more if I wanted to.

In 'Rassure-Moi', you also call yourself a big child...  

I don’t feel ready to take on adult responsibilities. I liked the carelessness we had as children. You weren’t asked too many questions about your future, and you didn’t have much to do. (laugh) You do stupid things when you’re a kid, and everyone thinks it’s normal. 

I felt that you were trying to denounce social norms through your videos on social networks, television, and work...  Am I wrong about that?

I wouldn't pretend to speak out for people. It's more of a reflection. I think that nowadays, we put too much emphasis on what people say about us on social networks. 

Can you tell us about your best career memory so far? 

Two weeks ago, I was at a festival in Brittany and played in front of thousands of people. It was a perfect time! 

Can you tell me more about your future plans?

I'll probably record an EP or an album soon, but for now, I’ll focus on my concert scheduled on December 7 in Paris at the Moulin Rouge. To me, it represents a real culmination of my career.

a.rap.a.cup.of.tea@gmail.com