I have written for the New York-based papermag.com on a freelance basis.

Discussing Virality And Reality With Internet-Bred Producer Kaytranada

Ever since he uploaded that quick-to-go-viral remix of Janet Jackson's "If" three years ago, Haitian-born Canadian artist Kaytranada, aka Louis Kevin Celestin, has been known for beats that have a knack for circulating the net. However, come this Friday, his first physical release is set to drop in the form of his long-awaited debut album, 99.9%.

With 99.9%, the self-made internet phenomenon takes us on a journey through genre via his chameleonic, on-point production, featuring contributions from a selection of esteemed rappers, instrumentalists and vocalists like River Tiber. Going far beyond reworking golden oldies, it's quite the debut, with fifteen tracks of original material fusing a range of sounds and styles–from disco, R&B and jazz to soul, hip-hop and EDM. We caught up with Kaytranada to talk about his phone call from Madonna, being a "background dude" and why his happiness always comes first.

This is an extract from an interview that was published on papermag.com on 04 May 2016.

Meet London's Pink-Haired, Hyper Pop Rapper Princess GIRLI

Self-confessed "samurai princess" and dyed-in-the-wool anti-Brexiter, 18-year-old GIRLI doesn't shy away from talking about politics and current affairs. As proven by songs like "Girls Get Angry Too," she's all about putting her two cents into a topical debate. Usually dressed in a full pink Adidas tracksuit and sporting long bubblegum pink locks, GIRLI gives you the full spectrum of life in Britain (or more accurately, London); her lyrics referencing everything from fried chicken to TV's most-hated, while simultaneously making observations about being a young woman. In the aftermath of the recent EU referendum, a time where some have lost considerable faith in the British public, it's refreshing to speak to a switched-on 18 year old who's determined for the West to "get its shit together". Here we talk throwing tampons in people's faces, what Americans envy, and more.

This is an extract from an interview that was published on papermag.com on 14 July 2016.