MC Bean interview

Now, when I heard that MC Bean was coming to the studios of ‘Bounce’ I have to admit, I was nervous. All the stories I’d read about him being mean and having a huge ego; I really wasn’t looking forward to meeting him. I would just like to tell all you MC Bean fans that he isn’t any of these things; if anything he is a loving, caring and funny young man who is loving his life as a successful solo artist. As soon as he walked in, his charismatic personality hit me immediately and his face lit up the room. I asked him how his flight was and he would not stop talking about how nicely he was treated and how appreciative he is. Here, he answers your questions!


1- Do you have a girlfriend?
Aw, I’d like to say I do but no, I don’t. “Music was my first love, and it will be my last” as John Miles would say. Anyway, I think I’m too young to have a girlfriend and the minute, plus I don’t have time. I’m only nineteen; I’ve still got a life to live before I start thinking about girlfriends and commitments. But this does not mean I’m not willing to have fun [He laughs].

2- Did you write all of the songs on your new album?
No, I didn’t. Out of the 12 songs I wrote seven and then three were written by my good friend Chris Toner, and the other two were written by my little sister. She’s an aspiring song writer so I wanted her to get some experience and see what her songs sound like recorded and they were brilliant; really suited my voice. The song ‘Don’t’ is my personal favourite and that was one that my sister wrote about a past experience of violence within a relationship. It was really deep and meaningful and I really enjoyed recording it.

3- Have you ever been in love?
No, I can’t say I have. I had a childhood love that I still think about sometimes, but it couldn’t have been love or we would still be together! I believe everything happens for a reason.

4- Who are your inspirations?
Definitely my father first of all, he is my hero for many reasons. He went through a lot as a child including abuse and had a dysfunctional family, but he has done so well in life and worked his way up to where he wants to be. I can’t go into detail, but all he ever did was believe in himself and that is a big inspiration to me. In the music world I have to say, Michael Jackson. I think he is a lyrical genius, not to mention his dancing talent! He is unbelievable and his talents are unlimited.

5- What made you first interested in urban music?
My Dad used to listen to a lot of soulful music when I was younger and my Mom was more of a pop music kinda gal, and I think urban fits in the middle of that. Also, I love a song with a good rhythm and that’s was urban is all about.

6- What made you who you are today?
I think that keeping your faith in yourself is a good way to go about things, as in this industry there are a lot of times where you will get your confidence knocked, but if you really love what you do and have the ambition, then you will make it, as long as you try.

7- Why did you want to become a singer?
I listened to a lot of music from a young age, and I was always a quiet child so I think I found singing as my way to express myself. Even when I was in the car and was listening to music I would get so lost in a song and really put my heart and soul into singing it.

8- Have you always wanted to be a singer or did you have other ideas?
When I was a lot younger, maybe 3 or 4, I wanted to be a cadet ‘cos I was totally into Star Wars and wanted to fly to space in a cadet jet. I never even thought of being an astronaut as so many kids used to say they wanted to be that but I always wanted to be different than everybody else. By the time I was around 7 I knew I wanted to be a singer and then when I was 12 I started to get into rapping and MCing.

9- What do you look for in a girl?
Hmm, let me think. [around 10 seconds later] I like somebody with a good sense of humour; I really dislike serious girls who don’t know how to have a good time. I like girls with curvy figures so I have a lot to hold on to. I love it when girls smell really nice, I have preferable smells; like fruity, but fresh smells, mm! I think that’s it really, I’m not really fussy and I can’t really think of anything in particular that I look for, we just need to click.

10- What do you like to do in your spare time?
I’m a big fan of basketball and play for a local team when I have time; I love seeing all my old school friends, and I think it’s great that we still see each other even though we left school three years ago. I love to play piano as well and I haven’t had a chance to yet on this album, but I’m hopeful that I will on my following album.

11- What are your plans for the future?
Oh wow, I can’t even think about the future right now ‘cos I’m so excited and involved in the present. I would like to think my career would carry on as successful as it is now. I know it is very unlikely that people stay in the business for the rest of their life, but I’d like to think that my music will stay fresh and up-to-date with the current styles and that perhaps I will be around for a long time.

12- Would you ever live back in a council estate?
[He laughs] Um, I think it would be difficult as I’d be constantly asked for my autograph and for pictures and the paparazzi would be on my back 24/7, but I still visit my parents and they live in a small town estate.

13- Who was your favourite solo artist when growing up?
Michael Jackson, without a doubt. I always listened to his songs, my favourite being ‘Billy Jean’ and I used to constantly try and dance to ‘Thriller’ but was never any where near as good as the master himself.

14- What inspires you?
My faith in God, because he brought me into this world I want to make him proud and live life to the full and take any opportunity that may come my way.

15- How long has it taken you to get where you are today?
I began to get involved in the music industry when I was about fourteen but I would always get knocked back because I was too young. I started writing my album when I was seventeen, so it has took me two years to get it out in the public.

16- Who would you like to work with in the music industry?
I would like to work with the current most popular urban artists like Chris Brown, Rihanna, Ne-yo, but most of all – the Pussycat Dolls. I don’t care about all the bad publicity they’ve had, I’ve met them and seen them live and know for a fact that they can all sing and dance and are all-round fantastic.

17- What was the worst part about starting off in the music industry?
Definitely the bad exposure; I hated all the rude and hurtful things the papers and magazines used to say about me. I don’t know or understand where they get it from! But after a while, you get used to ignore it and as long as you know it’s not true, and the people you love know it’s not true, then it’s okay.

18- Do you have any weird celebrity crushes?
Yes. [He gets embarrassed] Cher! All of my friends think it’s weird, but it’s so true! There’s just something about her, I think she’s so sexy. I love that gothic element she has about her.

19- What do you do on an average day?
On a normal day I wake up at around 7, get some breakfast, have a shower and get picked up around 8.30am. I then arrive at the studios and record from 10.00am until 12.30pm, have some lunch, and then return to the studios at 2.00pm until 6.00pm. I then go home, go in the shower and go to sleep. If I have any spare time I practice piano or maybe watch some television.

I’d like to thank MC Bean for answering all your personal questions so sincerely, and taking time out of his punishing schedule to come and speak to us here at ‘Bounce’.
Chelsea Halfpenny.