Category Archives: Longevity

One of the biggest TikTok and Instagram trends of the past few months, slugging has become the new in skin trend. Unlike many other online skincare trends, though, this is one of those rare ones that seems to be a good idea. So good, in fact, that even dermatologists are encouraging it. One such derm is board-certified dermatologist Lindsey Zubritsky, M.D., FAAD who recently made a fantastic TikTok about the dos and donts of slugging.

If you arent a regular scroller on TikTok or Instagram or a beauty buff, you might not have heard of slugging. And if youre wondering where it came from, slugging is a K-Beauty trend that went viral. Essentially, slugging is done by applying an occlusive moisturizer as the final step in your skin routine. Doing this should lock in hydration and prevent transepidermal water loss.

Image by Greta Hoffman

If youre already lost and dont know what an occlusive moisturizer is, dont worry. An occlusive moisturizer is usually reserved for people with extremely dry, irritated skin or those suffering from skin conditions such as eczema. The most common of the occlusive moisturizers is Vaseline (specifically petroleum jelly).

Because slugging prevents most transepidermal water loss, it allows the skin to rebuild its moisture barrier. This ultimately improves the overall condition of the skin once the product has been removed.

However, it does have to be said that despite the fact that Petroleum Jelly is non-comedogenic, it still isnt suitable for all skin types. If you have very oily and acne-prone skin, slugging likely isnt for you

Although many derms are fond of the slugging trend and encourage it, it still isnt a good idea for all skin types. Here are a few other things to avoid when youre slugging

To be clear, this doesnt apply to all active ingredients. For instance, slugging is great for locking in ultra-hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or niacinamide. However, it doesnt work so well with stronger active ingredients like retinoids.

Dean Drobot/Shutterstock

The problem is that occlusive moisturizers trap everything underneath. And because nothing can get through the barrier of the last layer, strong active ingredients become trapped and cause irritation.

Zubritsky notes that slugging and locking in an active like retinol can make it even stronger. However, this doesnt mean that you cant slug if you use a retinoid.

You definitely can, just dont do them both on the same night. Instead, look at a skincare cycle where you slug and use retinoids on alternate days.

We already know that slugging traps everything underneath the final layer inside. And if youre experiencing breakouts, the last thing you want to do is trap the bacteria and oil from the pimples in your skin. If you only experience the occasional breakout, then you shouldnt have an issue slugging as long as you opt for a non-comedogenic which will hydrate without blocking your pores.

Image via Anna Nekrashevich

On the other hand, if youre experiencing regular breakouts, have oily skin, or struggle with acne, then slugging is to be avoided. Derms dont recommend it to anyone with an oily skin type because even if you use a non-comedogenic product, it can still trap dead skin and oil, which allows acne to thrive.

If you struggle with combination skin and have some really dry parts and other sections that are oily, you might be able to slug on just the dry parts of the face. Whatever you do, make sure that you dont slug during a breakout.

Generally, if you have really dry or sensitive skin, you dont have to wash your face twice a day. In fact, washing just once daily is generally good for this skin type, as it allows the skin to hold onto as much moisture as possible. However, if youre going to slug at night, you absolutely have to wash your skin properly in the morning.

Photo by Vitria Santos

Given that occlusive moisturizers can clog pores and essentially seal the skin, its vital that the layer is washed off when you wake up.

Slugging is fantastic for your skin for just a few hours overnight, but you really shouldnt keep any of it on until the next day. This is especially true if you wear makeup. Instead, rinse off all the residue with a gentle cleanser before continuing with your skincare routine as per usual.

Main Photo Credit by Icons8 Team on Unsplash

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/common-slugging-mistakes-top-derm-wants-you-to-avoid

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a36744352/slugging-skincare/

@dermguru

#slugging dos and donts - what mistakes have you made? #derm #dermtok #skintok #vaseline #aquaphor @drjennyliu

? Dougie x Breakfast x Chosen - Kuya Magik ?

https://freeagentskincare.com/blogs/news/whats-the-difference-between-a-humectant-emollient-and-occlusive-and-which-do-i-need

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Here's What You're Doing Wrong When 'Slugging' - Longevity LIVE - Longevity LIVE

image:The ARDD Meeting 2022 will be hosted on August 29 - September 2, 2022 view more

Credit: Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Limited

Wednesday, April 20, 2022 -- Jennifer Garrison, Ph.D., will present the latest research on the topic Reframing Health and Aging through the Lens of Reproductive Longevity at the worlds largest annual Aging Research and Drug Discovery conference (9th ARDD). Dr. Jennifer Garrison is Co-Founder and Director of the Global Consortium for Female Reproductive Longevity & Equality (GCRLE) and an Assistant Professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging.

Dr. Garrison holds appointments in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California (USC). She is a passionate advocate for womens health and is pioneering a new movement to advance science focused on female reproductive aging. Her lab studies the role of inter-tissue communication in systemic aging, and how changes in the complex interactions between the ovary and brain during middle-age lead to the onset of reproductive decline in females.

She has played an active role in the aging field, as a member of the Board of Directors for the American Aging Association (AGE), a reviewer for the American Federation of Aging Research (AFAR), and as Associate Director of the Buck-USC Biology of Aging PhD program. Dr. Garrison was named an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Neuroscience Research Fellow and an Allen Institute for Brain Science Next Generation Leader and is the recipient of a Glenn Medical Foundation Award for Research in Biological Mechanisms of Aging, and a Junior Faculty Award from the American Federation of Aging Research.

The conference proceedings of the ARDD are commonly published in peer-reviewed journals with the talks openly available at http://www.agingpharma.org. Please review the conference proceedings for 2019, 2020 and 2021https://www.aging-us.com/article/203859/text .

Aging is emerging as a druggable condition with multiple pharmaceuticals able to alter the pace of aging in model organisms. The ARDD brings together all levels of the field to discuss the most pressing obstacles in our attempt to find efficacious interventions and molecules to target aging. The 2022 conference is the best yet with top level speakers from around the globe. Im extremely excited to be able to meet them in person at the University of Copenhagen in late summer. said Morten Scheibye-Knudsen, MD, Ph.D., University of Copenhagen.

Aging research is growing faster than ever on both academia and industry fronts. The ARDD meeting unites experts from different fields and backgrounds, sharing with us their latest groundbreaking research and developments. Our last ARDD meeting took place both offline and online, and it was a great success. I am particularly excited that being a part of the ARDD2022 meeting will provide an amazing opportunity for young scientists presenting their own work as well as meeting the experts in the field. said Daniela Bakula, Ph.D., University of Copenhagen.

Many credible biopharmaceutical companies are now prioritized aging research for early-stage discovery or therapeutic pipeline development. It is only logical to prioritize therapeutic targets that are important in both aging and age-associated diseases. The patient benefits either way. The best place to learn about these targets is ARDD, which we organize for nine years in a row. This conference is now the largest in the field and is not to be missed, said Alex Zhavoronkov, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine and Deep Longevity.

Building on the success of the ARDD conferences, the organizers developed the Longevity Medicine course series with some of the courses offered free of charge at Longevity.Degree covered in the recent Lanced Healthy Longevity paper titled Longevity medicine: upskilling the physicians of tomorrow.

About Aging Research for Drug Discovery Conference

At ARDD, leaders in the aging, longevity, and drug discovery field will describe the latest progress in the molecular, cellular and organismal basis of aging and the search for interventions. Furthermore, the meeting will include opinion leaders in AI to discuss the latest advances of this technology in the biopharmaceutical sector and how this can be applied to interventions. Notably, this year we are expanding with a workshop specifically for physicians where the leading-edge knowledge of clinical interventions for healthy longevity will be described. ARRD intends to bridge clinical, academic and commercial research and foster collaborations that will result in practical solutions to one of humanity's most challenging problems: aging. Our quest? To extend the healthy lifespan of everyone on the planet.

About Scheibye-Knudsen Lab

In the Scheibye-Knudsen lab we use in silico, in vitro and in vivo models to understand the cellular and organismal consequences of DNA damage with the aim of developing interventions. We have discovered that DNA damage leads to changes in certain metabolites and that replenishment of these molecules may alter the rate of aging in model organisms. These findings suggest that normal aging and age-associated diseases may be malleable to similar interventions. The hope is to develop interventions that will allow everyone to live healthier, happier and more productive lives.

About Deep Longevity

Deep Longevity has been acquired by Edurance RP (SEHK:0575.HK), a publicly-traded company. Deep Longevity is developing explainable artificial intelligence systems to track the rate of aging at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, system, physiological, and psychological levels. It is also developing systems for the emerging field of longevity medicine enabling physicians to make better decisions on the interventions that may slow down, or reverse the aging processes. Deep Longevity developed Longevity as a Service (LaaS) solution to integrate multiple deep biomarkers of aging dubbed "deep aging clocks" to provide a universal multifactorial measure of human biological age. Originally incubated by Insilico Medicine, Deep Longevity started its independent journey in 2020 after securing a round of funding from the most credible venture capitalists specializing in biotechnology, longevity, and artificial intelligence. ETP Ventures, Human Longevity and Performance Impact Venture Fund, BOLD Capital Partners, Longevity Vision Fund, LongeVC, co-founder of Oculus, Michael Antonov, and other expert AI and biotechnology investors supported the company. Deep Longevity established a research partnership with one of the most prominent longevity organizations, Human Longevity, Inc. to provide a range of aging clocks to the network of advanced physicians and researchers. https://longevity.ai/

About Endurance RP (SEHK:0575.HK)

Endurance RP is a diversified investment group based in Hong Kong currently holding various corporate and strategic investments focusing on the healthcare, wellness and life sciences sectors. The Group has a strong track record of investments and has returned approximately US$298 million to shareholders in the 21 years of financial reporting since its initial public offering. https://www.endurancerp.com/

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Jennifer Garrison to present at the 9th Aging Research & Drug Discovery Meeting 2022 - EurekAlert

Professor Rawi Abdelal, who teaches international political economy and globalisation at Harvard Business School, and is the Director of Harvards Centre for Russian and Eurasian Studies, has said that the Russia-Ukraine war has reached a point of stalemate, where neither party can win nor lose. He also predicted that the longer the stalemate is stretched, the more the escalation is likely from the Russian side.

In an interview withIndia TodayNews Director Rahul Kanwal, Professor Abdelal said that one of the reasons why the Russia-Ukraine war has stretched for long is that President Vladimir Putin did not receive a sufficiently well-developed sense of the ability of the Ukrainian military and the civilians to resist a militarily superior Russian army.

He added, The West also over-estimated the ability of the Russian military. The Ukrainian resistance has been ferocious and heroic. The West has supported Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukraine in a variety of ways. Ukraine has been armed enough to achieve a kind of stalemate, but not enough to win the war. However, the Russian military will not leave Ukraine till a political and strategic objective is reached. So, we are at a difficult position in the war. Neither can win nor can they lose.

Prof Abdelal elaborated that neither Russia nor Ukraine nor the West for that matter, have been able to come out with an exit route.

Since the two parties are so far apart in the peace negotiations, we can well imagine one of the two things to happen either the stalemate will persist in all of its horrors, or the Russian military will escalate in ways that will go far beyond the horrors that we have already seen, he explained.

The expert also said that Russia has hypersonic missiles which evade missile defence systems, and thermobaric weapons called vacuum bombs. The country has used one of each of the weapons but has stayed away from an escalation to widespread use.

My concern is that the longer the stalemate lasts, there is more likely to be an escalation on the Russian side using weapons they have not yet used, he warned.

The professor further explained that President Putin cannot declare defeat in this war. Putin has gambled his historical legacy with this war which means there is no backing out. There will be no end to this war till the Russian president feels like he can narrate some sort of achievement both militarily and politically, he added.

Putin is more isolated now from getting good and honest feedback from his advisers than in other moments in the past. The idea that Putin woke up one day very grumpy or having lost his mind to invade Ukraine is a deep misreading of the historical material, political and social forces that led us to this war. The Russian Federation shares the worldview that this is some sort of a defensive operation pushing back against the West and NATO, said Prof Abdelal in the interview.

The Harvard professor also spoke about nuclear weapons and the possibility of their use during the war. He said that there are two ways to think about the possibility of nuclear weapons:

Tactical strike, which could be just a nuclear weapon, not a big one on the territory of Ukraine. The broader question about nuclear war as we once feared it is not about Russia versus Ukraine, but Russia versus the West and for that logic, we must think what are the ways Russia and NATO could come to direct conflict leading to a nuclear exchange between the great powers as opposed to a single tactical nuclear strike in Ukraine.

When asked if a nuclear tactical strike on a Ukrainian military asset is being considered, he said, Absolutely. We could be witnessing in some ways the end of the nuclear non-proliferation regime, he said, adding that many global leaders would be thinking now that the only way for a nation to be safe from either an invasion or indeed an attack with a tactical nuclear strike is nuclear weapons of ones own.

Also read:Is Putin planning to start nuclear war against Ukraine? Harvard Prof Rawi Abdelal opines

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Harvard Prof Rawi Abdelal on the longevity of Russia-Ukraine war, nuclear threat - Business Today

The Queen became the oldest British sovereign ever in December 2007 after surpassing the record set by Queen Victoria, who lived to the age of 81. Now as the Queen marked her 96th birthday on April 21, she is merely years away from celebrating her centenary.Express.co.uktakes a look at the Queen's impressive diet, exercise regimen and sleep routine that may have contributed to her long life.

The Queen is thought to swear by a cup of Earl Grey every morning, but she foregoes the usual milk and sugar.

For breakfast, it's anything from cereal, toast, yoghurt and marmalade, but the Queen is also thought to be a fan of kippers.

The Queen's love of fish means her diet is likely packed with essential Omega-3, as she is also thought to favour fish dishes for dinner too.

READ MORE:Queen's driver forced to slam on brakes in terrifying near miss

While eating alone, the Queen is thought to avoid starchy food like pasta and potatoes, opting instead for protein like meat or fish with vegetables.

But when she wants to indulge, former royal chef Darren McGrady has previously revealed that the Queen loves chocolate biscuit cake and ginger cake.

The Queen is also known to take an afternoon tea every day, complete with the traditional finger sandwiches and scones.

And when the monarch wants to unwind in the evening, her favourite tipple is thought to be a gin and a Dubonnet, which happens to hold a royal warrant from the Queen.

Many credit avoiding full-time retirement as the reason behind their vigour in older age, and at nearly 96, the Queen can certainly appear to be an example of this.

On her 21st birthday, then-Princess Elizabeth pledged that her entire life, "whether it be long or short", would be devoted to royal service, and the Queen is still adhering to her promise.

On the eve of her accession anniversary earlier this year, the Queen said "it gives me pleasure to renew to you the pledge I gave in 1947 that my life will always be devoted to your service."

Although the Queen has scaled back her public appearances in recent months, she continues with her royal duties as the nation's sovereign, attending to paperwork and ensuring proper governance.

Despite experiencing mobility problems presently, the Queen still receives visitors at her Windsor Castle base and via virtual means on a regular basis.

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Queen's sleep, diet and exercise regime help keep her young at heart as she turns 96 - Express

Do you know that our ancestors had such a deep observation and understanding of plant and tree life that they even knew how to re-join the amputated branch of a tree with plaster? Yes, you heard it right! The knowledge they compiledabout plant life and its longevity is in the form of a treatise known as Vrikshayurveda which was written way back in 1000A.D. by Surpal. Some scholars suggest that this compilation of Vrikshayurveda dates back to 2ndCentury B.C.

We are familiar with the Indian science of health and longevity, that is, Ayurveda, which focuses on human health in a holistic manner. If Ayurveda is Indias gift of human health to the world, Vrikshayurveda is the gift of plant health to the world by the Indian civilisation. Vrikhsa means trees and Ayurveda means the science of longevity. So, Vrikshayurveda means the science of longevity and the health of plants. It is the ancient Indian science of plant life. The knowledge ofVrikshayurvedahas its roots in the Vedas, especiallyRigvedaandAtharvaveda.

If we see the population of the world, we can categorise them into two categories, viz, vegetarians, that is, those people who primarily eat plant-based diets and non-vegetarians who eat creatures who in turn eat plants. So, in both cases, the health of human beings is exclusively dependent on the health of plant life! This fact and law of nature were well recognised by the ancient Indian observers which were further given shape by Surpal.

Vrikshayurveda is a systematic compilation that starts with the glorification and veneration of trees and tree planting. It is the most comprehensive and detailed treatise on plant life which various topics related to the science of plant life such as procuring, preserving, and treating seeds before planting; preparing pits for planting saplings; selection of soil; method of watering; nourishments and fertilizers; plant diseases and plant protection from internal and external diseases; layout of a garden; agricultural and horticultural wonders; groundwater resources; and so on.

Vrikshayurveda enunciates the Indian ethos on plants and trees, environment and ecology. As per Vrikshayurveda, trees are our ancestors and are existing here on this Earth much before human beings. Our very existence depends upon them. Trees are equated with Gods. Planting and nourishing a tree is a sacred duty of every human being and is one of the ways to attain Punya-Karma (virtues). Planting trees is not only a religious and social-duty but a way to pay back ones debt to Mother Earth and attain Moksha. According to Vrikshayurveda, one who plants trees enjoys prosperity and happiness in this and in many lives to come. Such are the virtues of planting trees that the whole family of the person who plants trees enjoys bliss and richness in this world and in the after-world.

Also Read:Step Up Your Productivity By Turning Your Office Into a Green Office With These 10 Habits

It is mentioned that one who plants a fruit tree, his Pitra (ancestors) remain contended till the tree bears fruit. In one verse, trees are hailed even more virtuous than ten sons! Plants are considered an integral part of even our household. It is mentioned that one who plants and worships Tulsi in his house, he and his family will attain Vaikunta (permanent- salvation) not only in this world but in the after-world. Planting trees is hailed better than even constructing buildings.

It gives a detailed description as to when to plant the tree, how to plant the tree, where to plant the tree, which trees are to be planted when and where, how to take care of the saplings, how and when to water them; and interestingly how to heal or cure them in case they fall ill!

Like the modern scientific and botanical division of plants, Vrikshayurveda divides plants into four types namely Vanaspati (those that bear fruits without flowers), Druma (those that bear fruits with flowers), Lata (creepers), and Gulma (Bushes). They grow from seed, stalk, or bulb. It is surprising that the treatises knew much about the soil and its treatment which even puzzles modern botanists. Soil is equated with a mother who is ready to give birth to a baby in the form of a plant. So, the better the soil, the better the plant. Soil has been divided on the basis of its fertility depending on its colour. Arid, marshy, land with poisonous elements, ant-hills, holes, land with stones and gravel, the land having no accessibility to water is unfit for growing trees. Even land with accessibility to water is good for growing all kinds of trees.

The original flora of India is fast decreasing since we are having fewer seeds of native Indian trees. For this, Vrikshayurveda suggests how to treat seeds before they are sprinkled. Tree uprooting and re-rooting are one of the challenges of modern sustainable development where more areas are being diverted for industrial purposes. Surprisingly Vrikshayurveda suggests the techniques as to how and when to transplant the trees without causing any damage. Like human beings, plants which are hailed as souls, have three types of diseases, viz, Vata, Kapha and Pitta. A complete cause and treatment of the diseases have been given in detail. One of the problems of modern agriculture and forestry is damage caused by insects, worms and frost. It gives a comprehensive and detailed way to save our plantation from these problems. The most interesting part of the Vrikshayurveda is that it also suggests methods and techniques to join the broken parts of a tree which may be caused by fire, storm, wind and so on.

Also Read:40% of Indias Food Ends Up in the Bin. Checking Food Wastage Can Solve Most of Indias Problems

Vrikshayurveda also suggests how to make forests with dense plantations. These days the most prevalent method of plantation is Miyawaki-Forest which is named after its founder, Miyawaki who is a Japanese botanist. You will find many similarities between the ancient Indian technique and Miyawaki methods. Miyawaki suggests planting multiple varieties of trees in close proximity preferably in the same pit and plantation of original native trees. In Indian ancient methods, we have Triveni which is very common in the Indian rural side. It comprises Bargad, Neem and Peepal and is planted in the same pit. On the same line, we also have Hari-shankari means the shadow of Hari (Lord Vishnu) and Shankari (Lord Shiva).

Modern agriculture suffers from many ills like the use of pesticides, overuse of chemicals and excessive use of chemical fertilisers. It has a direct bearing on the health of human beings as well as on the health of the planet. Vrikshayurveda offers a solution to many of these ills as it gives techniques and formulas to get rid of problems related to agriculture and forests. It also suggests ways and means to increase agricultural output and quality of yield. The concept of organic farming also finds its detailed roots in this treatise.

It is a time to resurrect the ancient Indian methods and align them with modern practices so as to effectively execute the concept of permaculture.

Geetanjali Mehra is an interior designer by profession. She has co-authored the book, Gift Lungs to Future Generations. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication.

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Vrikshayurveda The Ancient Indian Science of Plant Life - News18

Todda T is one of UK raps most precious background figures. He is one of the most prolific DJs in the UK, producing, remixing and hosting while seemingly effortlessly juggling the hectic fun carnivals and festivals around the lives of his two young children. Besides parental responsibilities, Todda T has lent his soundscapes to the likes of Roots Manuva, Skepta, Burna Boy, Stormzy and Headie One. His unabashed passion for the arts, combined with a deft attention-to-detail has woven him deeply into the fabric of British rap and pop. His sights are now set the upcoming release of his new collaborative album with Grammy nominated sing-songwriter Uncle Runkus, entitled Out:Side. GRM Daily caught up with the platinum selling, Oscar nominated star producer to discuss all things music and life.

Lets start in Sheffield, tell me about your upbringing?

Sheffields amazing, I think hes got the biggest retainership of university students. So, statistically, people who move there dont seem to leave. And I think the reason that is, is because its like uniquely warm and humble.

It was a great place to grow up really, even though its big in terms of population, and like scale, everyone seems to know each other. So that comes with pluses and negatives, of course, but in terms of trying to get into music, it was quite welcoming, because a lot of the people that I naturally met would give me strength. So quite a long story short, growing up as a young one, I guess I just fell in love with my own taste of music aged eight or nine, which was hip-hop and rap.

My cousin gave me Biggie Smalls Ready to Die on cassette. My next door neighbour lent me a Public Enemy album. And then I discovered pirate radio and the radio unwrapped show. I just felt so in love and comfortable with those sounds. That I just remember being a kid at secondary school, ten or eleven years old, just being uniquely obsessed with listening and being comforted by music.

A bit later, I discovered MTV Raps, which was the only way that I could see rap. Because up until then, Id only heard it. So that was the time when I started to see it. And I saw DJs behind therappers, and I was like, you know what, maybe I could be that. So that was what kind of inspired me to start. And yeah, that that kind of like progressed and started saving for turntables and out buying the odd record. And then when I finally managed to get the two turntables and a mixer, I had a little bit of a record collection. And that was the start of the quote unquote musical journey.

I heard you live in London, and I seriously couldnt imagine settling outside of the place I grew up. Howve you enjoyed it?

Compared to Sheffield, its a completely different thing you know. Its just my experience from being outside of coming in, its like, everyone seems to be very much on their grind. Theyre very singular, and like tunnel visioned. Whereas back home, there was a bit more oneness you know. But thats not just London. Thats just society in general a lot of the time, but I just think its emphasised here, because you know, its harder to make money and theres less chance to slack.

Now theres less time to think of anything besides what youve got to do to survive. But I guess Im saying in a way, being in Sheffield was a luxury in the sense that its an easier life, with more time and more space for expression and experimentation; not just in art, but in life.

Its no mystery that youre connected to reggae culture in a very unique way. What are your earliest memories of the genre?

Well, it was blasted over my next door neighbours wall from as young as I can remember, their Jamaican accents, and Jamaican sounds and Jamaican smells. And I remember when we used to kick the football over the wall as a kid, and we used to go and get it from the neighbour, it was an experience within itself. My neighbours were from Jamaica, first generation Wind Rush era. So, the accents were super thick. The music was loud, the charisma was and still is, you know, super colourful and beautiful. Even though there was just a wall between us, it was like a different world.

It was only really when I was like 15/16, and started going out to raves with proper sound systems and rigs and selectors and all that, that it kind of really hit home how strong this music was, and how powerful and brilliant it was and the atmosphere that it created in the party. But sonically, it just sounded better than everything else that night too.

But also as I grew older, and really immersed myself in other genres, I just realised it all came from that place. Like jungle, grime, house, its all born out of sound system culture. Everything that we consume, in my opinion, whether it be something really obvious, like a big jungle record, or a TikTok eight seconds drill record, we trace it far enough back and it goes back to the sound system ethos of reggae, dancehall culture brought to the UK by the West Indies.

Which of your titles do you feel most connected to and why?

I went through my twenties going mental. DJing at every rave, playing at every radio station, producing for any artist and just going mad drinking my way through it. But I had my first child at twenty eightand realised that wasnt sustainable. I figured if I carried on like this, its going to come at a cost;whether that be my physical or mental health or even my children.

So I asked myself: What do I think is beneficial to the infrastructure of my family, and what can I grow old into? I felt like production was the one thing that would really work, I can grow old with it. Also, as you well know as someone as a young man whos really immersed in seeing in the last five years, UK rap is at a new level. When I first started buying records, British rap was kind of a joke.

Tell me about how you & Runkus met?

Well, it was funny, because I was DJing loads and I had just released my first album, I think it was around 2009? At the time, there was this mix show on BBC Radio, the One Will Be Essential mix, and at the time, it was THE mix to do as a DJ. And as Im promoting this album, someone in PR somewhere got me that gig, which was a massive deal to me at the time. So I put in loads and loads of work into this mix. And it went out and got like some bonkers reception.

I think its because at the time, dance, music was a lot more linear. But because of my musical upbringing, it was just a bit of everything. And I think that resonated at the right time. Off the back of that one of the bosses at 1xtra asked me to do a 10 minute demo to see how it works on the radio, then about three weeks later they offer me a show at the BBC. I literally fell off the sofa. Strangely, it was never part of a plan to be on radio, or even like media personality.

Fast forward years and years, and it had begun to feel a bit sparse in terms of Jamaican music on the air. When BBC 1xtra started going to Jamaica, they took me, which was incredible. To be honest, those trips to Jamaica were career highlights for me. Because as a white man from Sheffield, going to a record shop to buy these 45s and being blown away by this music it all felt so far away from where I was at that time in my life. I never thought Id go to the place where it all started. So Im literally in downtown Kingston, with the artists I grew up on, which is incredible, right? Its hard to explain how amazing those experiences were. I went with 1xtra for four years in the past, and did loads of monster freestyle sessions.

And then one year I did decide to roll out the new kids, because one of the things that I really liked going there to do was discover new performers. So one of the times, there were three artists: Royal Blue, Runkus, and Show Crime. As soon as Runkus touched the mic, I was like what the hell is this guy on.

Because to me, it was like he was fully new, Id never really heard anyone flow like that, or juggle or anything, but he was just constantly referencing parts of his culture that were really deep. Just all these like real deep, references that Id not heard in Dancehall in a long time. But he was fully new school, but it all had a great nostalgia about it. Anyway, he shouted me about a year into the pandemic about doing a mixtape together, and I was like 100% bro, youre incredible.

What was the process of creating the album like?

Making the music actually became way more sophisticated. We spent about a year on this project, and we produced it together with some other producers involved in certain places. I tend to work on average nine to five because of my kids. Hes not really getting going till 7pm his time. So I get home and I try and do dinner and all that, sort the kids out and then hed call all excited. So it was kind of like this juxtaposition on my life. So it was a bit challenging in terms of time. We got there in the end. And its been the most its been the most amazing experience, because he is obviously just so incredible. The way he thinks is truly unique. With the messages hes putting out in the music, I honestly just feel so blessed to be a part of it all.

What was the most challenging thing about creating this album?

It was just the time, or not being in the room with him certain times. Like the way I tend to work in my studio is I get people in and they spit, or they play the guitar or whatever. And Ive got it you know, and then we can work electronically after.

But when my kids are kicking off about their dinner not being warm. And the Wi Fi isnt great, Its awkward. You know, that was the challenging bit, but we made it work. And the technology is amazing. And now were going now were into the actual next phase of like trying to put it out and give it strength. Its like the next muscle in terms of trying to do stuff remotely.

What is the key to sticking around for so long?

Great question. People ask me all this all the time. For me, its weird because like I said, at the start of this conversation, just like being bizarrely obsessed with music and sound, from as young as I can remember, it sounds really hippy, and a bit vague, but I couldnt do anything else. So, in a way, its like, no matter how much resistance or bad times there are, I just end up back here because I just need it in my life. So, I think its that drive of really, really caring thats made me stick around. If I didnt have this job, or this hobby that turned into a job, I wouldnt really know where to go in life orId probably be doing something that I didnt really care about. And thats the type of thing you slip in and out of.

Like, Ive made decisions in my career that have 100% been business with a business intention. But Ive never gone Im gonna make loads of hits and make loads of cash Ive just done it loads and things have happened. Thats mental. Right? So I just feel like I Look, even if everything dried up tomorrow in terms of people stopped wanting to work with me, Id still have this same setup doing the same thing as much as I can. So I guess in short, the key is actually caring, you know, you cant just phone it in like other jobs because its music, its real life.

Are there any other genres youre eager to experiment with?

What Im exploring right now is the Latin scene, the South American scene. I went DJing there before the pandemic and did a mini tour in Brazil. And it was mad! Because the music that the local DJs played after me, reminded me of two things: It reminded me of reggae and dancehall. The reggaeton was a no brainer, Ive always thought reggae music and reggaeton were like cousins, stylistically.

But then the baile funk, which is more like their version of grime or drill is programmed very differently, but its got the exact same energy. Its really sparse and hard. And then the MCs, I didnt have a clue what they were talking about, but they sound HARD.

So when I came away from that experience, again, back to the UK, I was like, I would love to try and get involved with that sound at some point when it felt right. Long story short, again, fast forward a few years Ive been working on some productions with some producers and artists over there. And it really isnt that dissimilar to what I do. Its just the artist on top of it is speaking Spanish a lot of the time, so I dont know what theyre on about but the character of them is so brilliant, so I dont really care what theyre on about.

Be sure to keep it locked on GRM Daily for all the latest news and features. If you missed the last edition of The Architects check out our in-depth conversation with DonaeO right here. Let us know on the socials who we should have on our next instalment of the series!

Originally posted here:
Toddla T talks the key to longevity, his forthcoming album 'Out:Side' & more - grmdaily.com