Life in the fast lane

READY TO RUMBLE: Dane Rumble is enjoying his solo career.

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Dane Rumble might have moved on from hip-hop group the Fast Crew and his moniker Kid Deft, but he's still living life in the fast lane as a solo artist.

Rumble's motto is: ``Music is my passion  style and genre is a minor technicality'' and it is this approach  that has seen him eschew the hip-hop sounds of the Fast Crew and instead fly solo, blending rap flows, rock and pop as evidenced on the super-catchy single Always Be Here, which reached No13 in the RIANZ New Zealand Singles charts.

Recorded at York Street and Beaver Studios last year, it lead to him signing a distribution deal with Warner Music. His latest single, Don't Know What To Do, is his first top-10 single as a solo artist. It is placed at No19 in this week's chart.

``It still hasn't sunk in that I made the top 10,'' Rumble says. ``All I know is I seem to be getting busier and busier as time goes on. My solo record is due for release in March and it's crunch time now. I'm still writing the last few songs, so it's going to be a photo finish, that's for sure.''

A new single, Crawl, will be released early next month.

``I'm filming the video for that this week and it's a lot different to the other two.''

After 10 years in the Fast Crew, Rumble is relishing the freedom that life as a solo artist brings. Rumble says he is inspired by the likes of Rage Against the Machine, Muse, K-os and Led Zeppelin.

``It's intense. I picked up a guitar and I was away. I'm the songwriter, producer, sound engineer. For some stupid reason I wanted to do it myself, but the sheer logistics make it a lot of work for one human being. Still, I'm a determined individual. I have a ton of good songs and this way I have total control. This project sounds exactly like I want it to. It's all I have to offer.''

As a live set-up, his band includes Scott Nicholls on drums, Ben White on guitar, Alistair Wood on keys and brother Josh Rumble on bass.

``Josh had never played bass before the start of this year, he taught himself in three months. After touring with the Fast Crew and all the dramas that went with that, I decided I wanted a good crew to tour with this time around. Ben and Alistair played with the Fast Crew band and Scottie is my business partner in a jewellery company I have. They're my best boys and good to hang with.''

Rumble believes his decision to leave the Fast Crew after 10 years has paid off.

``I left the label, management, crew, everything I spent 10 years building and for some reason it has worked for me. The music I write now reflects who I am. I'm a happy lad.''

Playing at the Bedford in Christchurch tomorrow night, Rumble says he's looking to move things up a notch live.

``We've played a bunch of shows recently and we've found our show mojo. Our last few shows have been cranking.

``There was a bit of a mix up earlier this year and we didn't play a show in Christchurch as advertised, so we're definitely keen to put on a good party.

``We're not going to be in and out like a fart in the wind.''

Dane Rumble at the Bedford, Saturday, with Sun Switch and Flying Solo. Tickets $20 from Cosmic Corner and Real Groovy.

NB: Christchurch group Flying Solo also play a free show at the Dux de Lux tonight, showcasing tunes from their upcoming album Don't Be That Guy.

The Fast Crew

Dane Rumble was the co-founder, writer and co-producer of the Fast Crew.

After forming in 1999, their Gold-selling single I Got reached No3 in the New Zealand singles chart in 2003, and their debut album, Set The Record Straight, peaked at No10 on the album chart and produced another three top-10 singles, It's The Incredible, Suburbia Streets and Set the Record Straight.

The Fast Crew performed with the likes of Busta Rhymes, the Black Eyed Peas, Missy Elliot and Common.

The Fast Crew split in 2008 after the release of Truth Lies and Redtape.

WIN

The Press has two Rumble Prize Packs up for grabs this week. Each week contains the opportunity for you and five friends to win tickets to his show at the Bedford on Saturday night, the chance to meet Dane Rumble backstage, win a copy of his CD and receive a signed photo and poster.

To enter the draw email music@press.co.nz before 2pm Friday 9 October with the words I Wanna Rumble in the subject line. Winners will be notified.

- © Fairfax NZ News