91热爆

Great Imitation's band members Ryan and James - had differing, but ultimately both self-centred, reasons for not wanting to be in a traditional band.

Ryan also felt that he's like a little more attention on him, and a little more creative licence:

"It frees things up a little bit I think. I can do what I want so it can be all about me on the guitar without having to worry about a vocalist."

Listen: Interview with Great Imitation, plus live song

91热爆 Leicester's Chris Baxter spoke to Great Imitation about life and music. Hear the interview and their live studio performance of track 'Village Fete'...

After hooking up on the internet the guys set about forming their unique sound.
James said, "We didn't necessarily want to appeal to fans of rap music.

"I like to thing about it as just sort of sophisticated pop music really, that happens to have rapping in."

The duo feel that it's a mistake for British rap artists to try and emulate their American counterparts, who often just focus on money and bling.

Hip-Hop: Leicester Style

Instead James say he aims to write lyrics that are completely from their lives in Leicestershire:

"Basically it's about all the various times I've embarrassed myself over the last 27 years collated into 12 songs and spoken about quite fast.

"We want to make songs people can relate to because I think the general public perception of rap music is that it's awful and it's about things that we can't humanly relate to, so we just wanted to normalise it a little bit."

Although this approach is obviously working well from Great Imitation, the personal aspect of their songs can sometimes make them feel a little vunerable:

"Some of it is painfully honest and you sort of stand there in front of a crowd of strangers thinking why am I telling you this, this is the worst thing that ever happened to me!"