Saxophonist Venna on the Pioneering Music of J Dilla

This article is taken from the Spring/Summer 2023 issue of AnOther Magazine:

“I first encountered J Dilla when I was 16 or 17, in college. What struck me was his drums – they’re swung, organic and live-sounding. I wanted to tap into that side of music rather than just use trap-style drums. When you’re first making beats, you’re going with trial and error, so I’d play his beats and try to recreate the drums to understand his thought process. One tune that really changed my perspective was a Slum Village record, Get Dis Money. He didn’t waste any time with that tune – from 0.00 seconds the song just goes crazy. His drums and his sample selections are always pristine, as though each sample was made for the accompanying drums. J Dilla was a pioneer in bringing jazz and hip-hop together. He sampled a lot – I don’t, really. We both have the jazz element and similar mindsets when it comes to the textures, sounds and swing of our drums, but I want vocals, I want horn parts, I want to Quincy Jones the record.”

The late Detroit beat-maker J Dilla was one of hip-hop’s most distinctive and influential talents. Today the UK producer and saxophonist Venna draws inspiration from the humanity that Dilla brought to his machine-made grooves, as well as his fusion of jazz and hip-hop – although he adds a unique south London twist. Just 23, Venna has already taken home a Grammy, for his work with Burna Boy, and has collaborated with luminaries from rap (Knucks), Afrobeats (Wizkid) and jazz (Yussef Dayes), but it’s the atmospheric, saxophone-streaked soundscapes of his solo work, like that on his debut EP, Venology, that have made him such an unmistakable talent.

Make-up: Grace Sinnott at Future Rep using skincare by ELEMIS. Photographic assistant: Guanhao Wang. Special thanks to Tea Room Studio

This story features in the Spring/Summer 2023 issue of AnOther Magazine, which is on sale now. Order here.