Life has its ups and downs.
Emerging London artist SLANG has been through plenty of both – for every triumph, there's something slightly darker in the background.
New single 'Sweet Lies' brings out the darkness, tackling the impact that an abusive relationship can have on a person's mental health.
It's a stark, absorbing narrative, one that utilises the full force of SLANG's musical experience. Coming of age in Southall, Slang initially made grime as part of the Gritty Committee collective before broadening his focus.
Reminiscent of The Streets' urban poetry, Slang's raw approach reaches intense new levels on 'Sweet Lies'. He explains:
"The song is about being in abusive and manipulative relationships. Unluckily I've been in a couple, and they would make me question a lot of things. I would tell myself to man up but when it comes to manipulation and a cocktail of bad mental health, it’s a whole different ball game".
"I would be off to the studio to write and produce with successful artists, and I should’ve been super excited about it. Instead I was standing at Earl’s Court waiting for a train and egging myself on to jump, taking too many drugs and drinking my life away. I didn't know where to turn for help because everyone around us couldn't see what was going on. I was in a bad situation, waking up in weird places and getting into trouble – it was just pure escapism from the situation.”
Damaged but beautiful songwriting, you can tune in below.
