Sello making waves in Irish rap scene

Clondalkin rapper Sello’s varied output includes combining traditional Irish and folk music samples with his propulsive rap music that’s been making waves in the Irish rap scene.

A past pupil of Moyle Park College, Sello recorded the video for his single ‘Dublin’ around Bawnogue last year and gives shout-outs to his hometown throughout the track.

More recently, Sello released ‘Take Me Church’, featuring a sample from Hozier’s hit song of the same name, where he implores “oh pray for me” while rapping about struggle and questioning the loyalty of those around him.

The rapper’s latest single, ‘Process’, details Sello’s aim to make it in the rap scene and “trust the process”, which in the single’s music video is interspersed with footage from Bawnogue and London.

Sello told The Echo about his early days of rapping in the school yard in Moyle Park College, the artists he looked up to as a nascent rapper, and the positive message behind ‘Process’.

You used to rap in the school yard when you were in secondary school, but was there a particular point when you realised you had a talent for rap and wanted to pursue it?

I knew that I had the ability to rap when I was in secondary school, but as soon as I recorded my KMT freestyle and listened over it, I knew that this was my chance to really showcase my talent to the world.

My passion for music has grown massively ever since.

What artists did you look up to when you were growing up, and how do you feel about influencing young people in Clondalkin who are seeing someone from their area making impactful drill music?

The artists I looked up to were Stormzy and Jay Z. I feel like I have encouraged a lot of artists, not only in the area, but in Ireland, to stay true to themselves while they are making music and take pride in where they’re from.

The video for your song ‘Dublin’ was filmed around Bawnogue and features shout-outs to various Clondalkin locations. What did it mean to you to release a song so heavily influenced by your hometown?

It allowed viewers to understand where my journey as an artist really began.

We just wanted to capture what life was like growing up in Clondalkin, and what people growing up in Clondalkin see or experience, and the pride we take in our area.

You rap both in English and Irish, why did you decide to incorporate both languages into your music?

Because I want to show my audience that being Irish is the new wave, that we should be proud of our language and who we are.

You said in a previous interview that your aim is to be “unapologetically Irish”, why do you feel it’s important to express your nationality through your music?

I’m trying to teach my audience that tradition is important, and being able to translate that through music.

Your latest single ‘Process’ details the struggles you’ve faced and your determination to make it in the rap scene.  How do you feel about the feedback you’ve received about it?

The feedback for ‘Process’ was good. I was happy with what I heard and how my audience related to a lot of the lines in the track, because it’s a real dream chaser’s track.

Anyone eager to accomplish any goal in their life will relate to that and find similarities in my story from that track.

‘Process’ is out now on all streaming platforms. For more information follow Sello on Instagram HERE.