19 Jan Renaissance Man: An interview with Homecut frontman Testament

"I’m very much embedded in Hip Hop... everything I do has got that Hip Hop undercurrent to it. If I’m doing a Jazz tune it still has a Hip Hop aftertaste," says Andy Brooks aka Testament, Homecut’s infectiously charismatic frontman. Despite it being a windy day on London’s Southbank, Testament is enthused as he talks to SoulCulture's Tola Ositelu about his musical heroes, using rappers as points of reference where others would use more pedestrian examples.  But to limit Homecut’s sound to just Hip Hop doesn’t take into account the group’s varied style and myriad musical inspirations.  Testament cites an impressive array of artists as influences from Hip Hop staples Nas, J Dilla, Madlib and Mos Def to Jazz and soul legends Bob James, Grosvenor Washington Jnr, Gil Scott Heron, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Erykah Badu and more obscure acts such as Moondog. He’s partial to a bit of Bossa Nova too. With such a dazzling list of musical icons, Homecut must be a collective of some very informed individuals...