JULY 2012 WHAT’S ON 83

Whatever you think of Simon Cowell, even the biggest haters would have to concede that the opinion-splitting X Factor

music mogul knows a thing or two about what makes a hit artist. So when Cowell’s record label Syco made Labrinth its !rst non-reality television signing, the eyes of the pop world were instantly upon the 23-year-old Hackney native.

“It has de!nitely changed my life,” Labrinth exclaims, a"er we track him down to the mid-tour surrounds of slightly insalubrious English city Stoke-on-Trent. “No exaggeration at all. I’m living my dream.”

Whereas high-waist-banded multi-millionaire Cowell is o"en associated with chart puppets uninvolved in writing their own songs, Labrinth – real name Timothy McKenzie – o#ers a di#erent proposition. Having already produced tracks for aspiring artists during his teens, things shi"ed up a gear with a guest slot on Tinie Tempah’s UK number one single Pass Out – which he also produced and co-wrote – followed by a second link-up with the chart-gobbling rapper on Top Ten hit Frisky. A few months and a clutch of further collaborations later, Syco came calling.

Consequently, Labrinth isn’t too concerned he’ll be mistaken for a $ash-in-the-pan

success à la some of his mentor’s less talented protégés, despite having previously publicly dissed X Factor.

“Did it worry me that people might lump me in with TV talent show artists? Not at all,” he asserts. “I think most people know me for being a producer anyway, which is de!nitely a di#erent lump to the others.

“It’s not that I don’t like X Factor; not at all, I respect it. It’s just not the way I would have started my career. It’s the instant fame aspect. I guess that’s what it is.”

Labrinth cemented his own fame earlier this year with debut album Electronic Earth, following up an impressive run of three consecutive Top Ten solo singles in Britain. %e LP followed suit into the upper reaches of the charts, returning the cameo favour to Tinie Tempah on single Earthquake. His stock has risen su&ciently since that there’s now talk that his next collaborative projects could include Usher, Rihanna and Cheryl Cole.

“[I’ve got] great respect for Tinie Tempah, but ultimately I’m so lucky to have many musical friends in the industry. All of them

are really valuable to me. I dreamt and still dream of working with many people in the industry. %is is why it’s so exciting.”

Back home, it’s a big month for Labrinth’s native London. Having recently played a celebratory event on the route of the Olympic torch, he can’t wait for the Games themselves to get underway.

“I’m hugely excited that the Games are going to take place in Hackney where I grew up. It’s been great to be a part of it. Ultimately I’m a big supporter of the UK, all day, every day.”

Before then, there’s the small matter of his Middle East debut, at Etoiles.

“%e set in Abu Dhabi is going to be a mixture of PA and DJing,” he explains. “I really believe this gig is going to be a great one and I’m really looking forward to coming to the UAE.” A"er that? “It’s simple really: I just want to keep doing what I love.”Jul 13, Etoiles, Emirates Palace, West Corniche, Abu Dhabi, 11.30pm to 4am, Dhs100, free before 1am. Tel: (02) 6908960. labrintho!cial.com

Nightlife

Multi-talented genre-spanning London lad Labrinth has a global tastemaker for a boss and the world at his feet. What’s On grabbed a word with the pop hot property ahead of his first-ever Middle East performance in Abu Dhabi this month…

MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

MAZY DAYS

83 Club lead.indd 83 6/25/12 8:15 PM