Master Peace doesn’t do gigs by halves. He’ll start a song diving into the crowd, and finish it rapping in your face, inviting you right into his world of high-energy, genre-mixing music. You’ll hear Master Peace’s lyrics over surf-rock rhythms and ’80s punk, delivered with the magnetism of any of the rock legends he cites as his heroes.

He’s quick to tell you that he’s only been making music seriously for a year – before which he was working nine ’til five at a Deichmann shoe store – yet the newcomer’s already gained a fiercely loyal fanbase and circle of like-minded artists including Bakar, who he supported on a recent UK tour.

You quickly get the sense that Master Peace has felt ready to do this for a long time, and while he’s singing and dancing to everything from The 1975 to The Veronicas on set, I can’t imagine him channelling that energy anywhere else. We talked tour life, falling left-of-centre, and why he calls himself the hardest newcomer of 2018…

When did you decide to pursue this as a career?
When I made my first song, and people actually liked it. I’ve deleted it – you’re never going to find it – it was actually dead. But all my mates were like this is hard! I thought they were just doing it to be nice, but then I was like you know what? I’m actually quite good at this. I have ADHD, so it was something to express my energy and put my energy into.

What did you grow up listening to? Has it influenced your sound and who you are?
Yeah. My mum used to play Phil Collins all the time, and all these artists like The Clash and Sex Pistols. I never really listened to rap growing up, but my older brother did rap – big up YS Tekdinner – it was his thing. I kind of learnt from him and merged the rock and the rap together. Growing up I was obsessed with people like Sid Vicious, Kurt Cobain, Kimi Hendrix.

Your sound’s been described as early grime surf rock, indie trap, punk rock rap, and I saw that video of you rapping to A-ha’s “Take On Me”. Is it a blend of everything you like?
Literally. It’s like punk, surf-rock, alternative, left rap. It’s very gassed. It doesn’t really have a name. It’s everything I like – exactly, you hit the nail on the head. I love old school music, ‘80s music, ‘90s music as well. I wanted to add the old ‘80s element and the rock and punk vibe.

So you went on tour with Bakar – how did you guys meet?
Bakar’s family. Long story short, my manager saw his friend Jordan Vickors – and he’s family as well – and they were like yo, you know this artist Master Peace? Jordan Vickors already knew who I am and said “he’s hard”, he should go on tour with BK. I listen to Bakar’s music as well, me and him are on kind of the same vibe.

How was the tour?
We fucked it up every time. I always thank him for doing that for me, because that was the fan base I was trying to go for, and he just made it easier.

How do you want people to feel when they listen to your music?
I do my music for the people who got bullied in school, or wanted to be different but people just didn’t understand it. The people that just want to have fun, kids that want to live their lives and not be judged by people. We’re all on one planet and it’s a love-based thing all the time, there shouldn’t be no hate or discrimination, everyone should just be who they are.

Do you think the UK music scene lacks anything that you want to add to it?
You know what it lacks? People trying to be different. I feel like everytime new music is out it’s the same bullshit. There’s a lot of people that I’m feeling right now – The 1975, Bakar, Law and Order, Billie Eilish. The left people. They just don’t care, they just be them.

Who do you want to collaborate with? Will you make a track with Bakar?
Christina and the Queens! I know how I’d want it to sound. Their new album Chris was my favourite album of the year. Bakar’s been busy, but when it’s time, 100%. We’re just rolling with the wind – but when it does come, it’s going to be heavy.

Do you have a festival that you really want to do?
Glastonbury. It’s looking very likely… Hopefully.

This year been crazy for you. What are the aims for 2019?
Next year my aim is to get a Colours video out. And I really want to expand my sound, to tap into more of the ‘80s stuff. And I’ve got a project coming early next year. When that project comes, you’ll understand why I think I’m the hardest up-and-coming artist.

How would you define being successful?
Patience and persistence will take you through. And belief. There’s no end goal – there’s always more to do. Once you know that there’s no checkpoint, you’ll take over the game. If you think there’s a checkpoint, that’s when you slow down and get complacent. Keep it moving. There’s no days off – I don’t know what the word relax means, I’m on all the time.