Rapper Parv pays tribute to his Leigh Park roots on debut album

HE’S overcome a troubled childhood and its impact on his mental health, and had a spell of living on the streets, but rapper Parv has turned his life around, and now he chronicles his journey on his debut album, Leigh Park.
Parv on the cover of his debut album, Leigh Park, released on December 4, 2020. Behind him is Brent House, the supported housing scheme he lived in for a period.Parv on the cover of his debut album, Leigh Park, released on December 4, 2020. Behind him is Brent House, the supported housing scheme he lived in for a period.
Parv on the cover of his debut album, Leigh Park, released on December 4, 2020. Behind him is Brent House, the supported housing scheme he lived in for a period.

The 30-year-old, real name Martin Parvin, has previously gained attention with his singles Squinny and Bullet, the latter getting played on an episode of Love Island. But for his debut full-length, he’s dug deep into his own life. And there was never any doubt he would name it after his hometown.

‘Ever since I started making music, I always had this ambition to make an album that was about where I'm from and how I grew up.

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‘If I quit music tomorrow, I'll know I'd made the album I always wanted to make.’

The 14-track release features all-new material which Parv brought together at home during lockdown.

‘I'm quite lucky because from quite a young age, when I was about 14, I've had a little home set up but I also taught myself how to mix and master and things like that. Although I haven't been able to get out and perform, lockdown actually gave me the time to finish it.

‘I think without lockdown, I might not have finished it!’ he laughs. ‘It's one of those things I feel like I've been writing my whole life because of the concept of it.’

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Martin Parvin, from Leigh Park, performs as rapper ParvMartin Parvin, from Leigh Park, performs as rapper Parv
Martin Parvin, from Leigh Park, performs as rapper Parv
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Even the cover tells part of the story. It is of Brent House, the now-closed supported housing in Leigh Park where Parv stayed for a while in his early twenties.

The album features guest vocals from other local artists Big Daddy Rap Beast, Lauren Barker and Ruby Groucutt. There’s also a skit by Urban Vocal Group co-founder Charlie Fletcher who has been a mentor to Parv.

While paying tribute to his ‘talented guests,’ he admits that Charlie’s contribution is his favourite.

‘When I was growing up, I used to get in quite a lot of trouble, and I'd get this weekly phone call from him saying: “What have you done this time, blah, blah, blah?” So I got him to act one out for me, like he was telling me off again.

Parv performing at The Guide Awards, January 28, 2019, at the New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth. Picture: Sarah Standing (280119-789)Parv performing at The Guide Awards, January 28, 2019, at the New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth. Picture: Sarah Standing (280119-789)
Parv performing at The Guide Awards, January 28, 2019, at the New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth. Picture: Sarah Standing (280119-789)
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‘He acted like he was too busy to do it, but I know he loved doing it. He made it sound like a proper phonecall and everything.’

‘Charlie's almost been like a dad to me since I was about 18. He's always been pushing me to do things.

‘He always tells me I'm one of the most talented people's he's met and he'd get really frustrated with me – especially in my early 20s when I was a bit of a nightmare and I'd get into a lot of trouble.

‘He's helped me out so much over the years, so I had to get him on there.’

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Getting into hip-hop helped the young Parv process things he was going through.

‘When I was younger I didn't know I was rapping – I was just writing poetry, so it was like an outlet, an escape.

‘It was when I got to about 13 and heard people like Eminem and it was: “Oh, I'm rapping!”

‘Even if the song isn't about me, it would have to be about someone, have some concept behind it, rather than me just talking a bunch of nonsense and talking about nothing.’

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While the majority of the tracks are autobiographical, one he’s particularly proud of isn’t: Fit To Work.

‘It's two sides of the story,’ he explains, ‘one person who works a normal job moaning about people on benefits – they're lazy, they get things for free – and then I flipped it on the second verse to be the person on benefits, and actually it's not as easy as you think.

‘I grew up on benefits – my mum was on benefits, so I was never going to do a song cursing people on benefits. I can relate to it, but it's not strictly about me.

‘There's still a stigma attached to benefits, specially for people like my mum – she was a single mum, so she was looked at as being even worse.’

And he’s played the album to his mum.

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‘To sit down with her and to hear these songs about what we went through, it was quite a surreal moment. But she told me she's proud of it and said I'm brave to write about this stuff.’

‘My mum loves my music, but she's always complaining, when she hears me she always says the same thing:” I don't understand why Professor Green and Stormzy are famous and you're not. Get them off the radio and get you on there!”

‘I'm like: “Yeah, but you're a bit biased mum!”’ he laughs.

If and when circumstances allow, Parv is looking to play the new material live.

‘They say there's a vaccine coming – stick me with it! I'm sick of this now, I just want to get out there and perform again.

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‘Fingers crossed we can get out there. If next year is normal I'll be looking to do Victorious and all those sorts of things.’

Leigh Park by Parv is available on all major streaming platforms from December 4.

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