1. SbtrktSbtrkt
My first job was working for River Island. Forgive my language, but I absolutely fucking hated it. I remember so viscerally hating that place with a passion. It was the first River Island shop in Stratford, and they just opened it up. It was a very grave insight into capitalism and how bad it is and how certain workers are seen.
When I felt like I was being completely disrespected and people were throwing jeans at me, or shouting at me for not taking back a refund, I would listen to this album on the way out of work. I lived in Walthamstow, but the closest train station I could get to was Woodford. I remember one of the songs, ‘Pharaohs’ would come on in River Island as well, and I’d be so elated. It’d be like this three minutes of happiness because I’d be like, that’s sick, this is my tune… and then it would go back to being shit.
Once I left work, I would listen to the full album. I’d feel really happy and it would take me back into this really nice happy place of like, this is only temporary. I’m really young. I will eventually go into music. The rest is history.
