What’s Idris Elba up to in 2018?
You’ve just re-launched your new music label – 7Wallace Music – what plans do you have in store for them this year? Idris Elba: 7Wallace has been about for a few years, and we’ve put out a few releases on it – especially in the house bracket recently. This announcement was more to let people […]
You’ve just re-launched your new music label – 7Wallace Music – what plans do you have in store for them this year?
Idris Elba: 7Wallace has been about for a few years, and we’ve put out a few releases on it – especially in the house bracket recently. This announcement was more to let people know that we’re a hub of where my music lives.
I’ve produced two albums associated with film that I’ve worked on. One was for ‘Luther’ – Murdah Loves John – and another for ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ and essentially I’m going to take that unique strand to future albums. It’s also a hub for my DJ work. There’s no formula over to who or what I sign to the label, it’s all just gonna be good music.
Did you have a musical family growing up?
Elba: My dad was a real big music collector and record head and my uncle was a DJ. My cousin was a DJ on pirate radio… it’s something I’ve been doing as long as I’ve been an actor. I knew I wanted to be an actor at 14, and I was DJing at 13.
And you now have your own residency in Ibiza this summer. How’s that going?
Elba: It’s been a real interesting one so far. Residencies are new to me in the long term like that, but I’m fascinated in doing it; learning about the island and the people that come to hear me spin is great. I’m having a great time man. I DJ a lot at the moment, and it’s a privilege to be able to do that. I’m hearing a lot of great new music and to be able to spin it is a proper privilege.
How are you finding juggling that with everything else you’ve got going on?
Elba: Do you know what man, I could complain about it but i’m really living the dream. Ultimately, it is hard work, and you’ve got to be disciplined ‘cos on a Monday you’ve got to get up, and go back to the UK and start the working week again.
Onto your new film, ‘Yardie’: Did you want to shoot it somewhere that you knew growing up?
Elba: Yeah definitely – I wanted to see the area I grew up in on film. The great bit about that area is that it’s all still quite untouched. They still look exactly how they did in the 70’s and 80’s, so it suited the feel of the film perfectly.
It’s your directorial debut. Was getting behind the camera as opposed to being in front of it something you always wanted to do?
Elba: Yeah, I think it’s the pinnacle for any actor. I definitely wanted to be in the big chair growing up, and be a part of the whole process of making the film. As an actor, you come in and you play a tiny part – an important part – but I wanted to be a co-author as a director and be properly immersed in it.
What are your thoughts of the World Cup and the England team?
Elba: Man the memes were so great! That one of the Ape from Planet of the Apes whispering “it’s coming home” got me (laughs). But listen man, I’m really proud of the England boys on multiple levels. Seeing the nation come together and watch it was amazing. Those moments will be remembered forever.
What else do you have in store this year? Surely you can’t fit anything else in…
Elba: I’m shooting a TV show which is a comedy, called “Turn Up Charlie” which is about a DJ that’s trying to get his career back together. I like doing a bit of comedy – I haven’t done it before in a big way so looking forward to putting that out! Keep ‘em peeled for that one.
Courtesy: ComplexUK.com