Nix Northwest, the London-based producer, multi-instrumentalist, and rapper, has just released his latest single, Ready or Not. Known for his jazz-infused hip-hop, Nix Northwest expands his musical repertoire with this track, diving into the sounds of UK Garage to create what is already being hailed as a quintessential London summer anthem. Featuring collaborations with grime and hip-hop legends Hilts and Jianbo, Ready or Not marks an exciting new chapter in his career.
Following the critical acclaim of his debut album, The Disappearance of Xin, Nix Northwest continues to innovate and surprise. In this interview, he discusses his creative journey with Ready or Not, his dynamic collaboration process, and what lies ahead for his evolving sound in the ever-vibrant London music scene.
Your new single Ready or Not marks a shift towards UK Garage while still incorporating your signature jazz-laden hip-hop sound. What inspired you to explore this genre, and how did you approach blending it with your existing style?
I’m into all types of music and garage has always held a place in my heart! Like most of my taste, I get it from my mum who would often be playing early 00’s garage at the gym or in the house when I was growing up. I wrote some of my first-ever bars to a garage beat, so I feel like it’s come around full circle. I didn’t really deep the situation; I just thought, “I’ll write over it if I’m feeling it!” There’s something very liberating about writing to a dancier beat like this.
Collaborating with Grime and hip hop legends Hilts & Jianbo on Ready or Not adds a unique dimension to the track. How did these collaborations come about, and what was the creative process like working with them?
I’ve known Hilts for about 7 years or so, and we’ve collaborated in the past. I met Jianbo through him a few years ago and have been friends ever since. This song isn’t actually the first time we’ve all collaborated on a track—I did a writing/studio retreat last summer which I brought them to, and we got some good stuff out of that as well. It felt right to bring them onto this tune because it made it feel a little bit less like I’m doing something drastically different with my style—I kinda wanted to test the waters with it first. Definitely need to big up Maya Diaz aka Outrageous Claims who produced this one as well—he’s a king!
Ready or Not has been described as a true London summer banger. What elements of the track do you think capture the essence of London in the summer, and how important is the city to your music?
I think the nice mixture of playfulness and grit gives this song its character. I think those two words can also sum up London summer, whether it be the outdoor day parties or carnival and stuff like that. My environment, in general, is super important to what I create, and I think growing up in London certainly had a profound influence on not just my musical but all cultural tastes!
Your debut album, The Disappearance of Xin, received widespread critical acclaim. How has the success of that project influenced your approach to creating new music, including Ready or Not?
I think after making that album, I just realized that I wanted to try doing things a bit differently and switch up the process. I got in such a deep hole about the concept and everything on it; I wanted to make some songs that were just purely fun. It took a second to get used to, but I’m really enjoying that feeling of not deeping the process that much, to be honest, and just having fun with it—trying to be a bit less calculated and a bit more intuitive with things.
As a London producer, multi-instrumentalist, and rapper, you’ve built a reputation for your jazz-influenced hip-hop. How do you see your music evolving in the future, and are there other genres you’re interested in exploring?
I can’t tell you exactly where the sound is going to develop. I’m enjoying the less smooth and harder drums these days, so you’ll be hearing some more of that until I get bored again and decide to do something different, haha. Definitely going to keep working on some dancier ones like this though, for sure! I think the one thing I will say is that I feel more confident taking musical risks now, and I like dropping stuff that people aren’t going to be expecting.
The London music scene is incredibly diverse and vibrant. How has the city influenced your sound, and what do you think sets your music apart in such a competitive environment?
It’s impossible to quantify just because there’s so much music and culture here. Homegrown genres like jungle, garage, and grime have definitely had their influence on me, and I feel it’s only now I’m really showing those influences. In the past, I think if I was to argue what sets my music apart, it is maybe the attention to detail in the production, especially on Xin’s Disappearance. I can get quite obsessive over little things and try to build a whole universe around the listening experience as opposed to just a song. But I think just leaning into what makes you you is the best way to stand out!
“Ready or Not” is set to release on August 29th. What do you hope listeners will take away from this track, and how does it fit into the larger narrative of your music career?
To be honest, all I want is for people to skank out hard to this tune. There’s no doubt it’s definitely a party tune, and I can’t wait to hear it on a club sound system in a room full of people. Career-wise, I do see it as a bit of a milestone or some kind of marker for the new era of my music—not just because it’s a different sound but the confidence it’s given me to try other things and not give in to the fear that I just need to stick to what I know.
Your ability to blend multiple instruments and genres into a cohesive sound is a hallmark of your work. Can you share more about your creative process and how you bring different musical elements together in your tracks?
Sometimes I will just wake up and have a fully formed idea with a drum pattern, melody, maybe some lyrics. Those moments are a godsend because all I need to do is just mechanically get that idea from my head and onto my computer! Other times I hear something which then inspires me, and then other times I just throw paint at the wall, so to speak. The beauty of the process for me is all of the happy accidents and unintentional beauty which can be brought about from experimentation.
Looking ahead, what are your goals for the next phase of your career? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you’re particularly excited about?
I have an EP coming out which is also a collaboration project between me and a good friend of mine called Xadi. We have slightly different sounds, and I think coming together has created something really interesting sonically—I am very excited about that! Future goals are that I just want to keep creating and putting music out there, meeting new people, and collaborating more. One thing that this song and the project with Xadi has taught me is that making music with the right people is a lot more fun than making it alone.
