We caught up with DJ and Radio presenter Charlie Sloth at Birmingham’s MADE Festival this weekend to talk music, influences and guilty pleasures…

Who’s your biggest musical influence?

My biggest musical influence has got to be Biggie Smalls

When was the precise moment you realised you could make a career in music?

When I was about 13 I did a bit of radio and everyone was like “Yo, Sloth you are so sick” and I was like yeah, you know what, I’m going to make a career out of this and make it happen.

Who was your first ever live performance?

My first ever gig was Eminem. It was mad.

What’s been your biggest career highlight so far?

My biggest career highlight has got to be getting the Saturday night live rap show on Radio 1. It was the Radio show I listened to growing up as a kid. Westwood was like God when I was growing up, so to replace him on the Saturday night rap show, that was like the biggest moment for me.

If you could collaborate with one other artist, past or present, who would it be?

Hands down Biggie Smalls.

The most memorable venue you’ve ever played?

Oooh. Wow I mean like, last year alone we did like 211 live shows and that’s just last year. For me personally, it would have to be Coco in Camden town because I was born and raised in Camden, when I grew up that was Camden palace and I used to go raving there as a kid. So to play there as a DJ and shut it down… That was a real moment for me.

What are you listening to on repeat at the moment?

There are a lot of fire tracks about at the moment but one record in particular, it has to be Moneybagg Yo with Yesterday.

What’s your guilty pleasure track?

You know what? It’s not even a guilty pleasure. It’s a record I listen to at least once a week in my life, John Lennon with Working Class Hero.

So where are you after MADE festival? Where can we see you next?

We are heading around the country, every day, for the next seven days. We finish next Saturday in Cream Ibiza.

How do you spend your down time? What are you doing when you’re not listening to, playing or creating music?

Mate, all I do is work! I got to do 6 Radio shows a week you know I’ve got a record label, a management company, I’ve got so many different brands that I own… all I do is work.

Favourite film or TV series?

Favourite film of all time has got to be Casino, absolute classic. Favourite TV series has got to be Breaking Bad.

Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to make a career in music?

My advice would be to be yourself, don’t give up and don’t take no as an answer.

Photo: BoohooMAN