Charles Hazell (born 15 October 1988),"Charles Hazell – Facebook". Retrieved 6 August 2015 better known by the stage name Sketchman, is a British recording artist, songwriter, record producer and musician, originating from Sutton, London.
His first works of notability were 2 mix-tapes entitled The Workz of Art: Vol 1 & 2, released in 2007"Workz of Art Volume 1: The Poisoned Palette – MusicBrainz". Retrieved 6 August 2015 and 2008,"Workz of Art Volume 2: The Bigger Picture – MusicBrainz". Retrieved 6 August 2015 as physical CDs, in independent record shops.
A second phase of notable works were released during 2009–2012, in the form of digital downloads. These were entitled The Final Draft,"The Final Draft – MusicBrainz". Retrieved 6 August 2015 The Art of War,"The Art of War – MusicBrainz". Retrieved 6 August 2015 Nuclear Fallout,"Nuclear Fallout – MusicBrainz". Retrieved 6 August 2015 and Breakdown"Breakdown – MusicBrainz". Retrieved 6 August 2015 respectively. During this time, Sketchman set up his own record label called Uncle Albert Records,"Uncle Albert Records – MusicBrainz". Retrieved 6 August 2015 to distribute across all online music stores.
Sketchman released a single in April 2013, entitled Rain,"Rain – MusicBrainz". Retrieved 6 August 2015 as another digital download.
After a year-long hiatus during 2014, Sketchman returned in Summer 2015, announcing the release of a new single Paramount on 28 August,"Official Sketchman Music Website". Retrieved 6 August 2015 from a new forthcoming album Nothing Is Enough. He then followed this up with the second single The Light on 1 July 2016.
Throughout his time in music, Sketchman has maintained a public profile, with support from nationwide radio stations,"BBC Official Website – Sketchman". Retrieved 7 August 2015 regional television"Sketchman – Youtube London Live TV". Retrieved 1 September 2015" and mainstream press,"The Guardian – Acoustic grime artist Charles Hazell Sketchman aims to go from Carshalton to stardom". Retrieved 7 June 2015 together with appearances on community radio and features from leading internet blogs."Sketchman comes with some intelligent grime". Retrieved 7 August 2015
Music career
2007–2008: The Workz of Art Vol. 1 and 2
In 2007, Sketchman recorded the first volume of The Workz of Art, a 20-track mix-tape called The Poisoned Palette, using largely his own instrumentals. Copies of the CD were distributed to independent record shops such as Uptown Records (Soho), Mixing Records (formerly Big Apple Records, Croydon), and Banquet Records (Kingston)."Poisoned Palette at Banquet Records". Retrieved 6 August 2015 Many tracks received nationwide airplay on the Kiss FM Dangerous Minds show, and a track entitled Get You Down (produced by Swindle) was selected for Ras Kwame's show on BBC Radio 1Xtra, for the 100% Homegrown Cuts feature."BBC Radio 1Xtra – Ras Kwame Homegrown Cuts playlist 02/12/07 (see 'Montage 1')". Retrieved 6 August 2015 The song was praised for its positive message.
In 2008, Sketchman released the second volume in the series, another 20-track mix-tape called The Bigger Picture. The CD was again distributed to independent record shops,"The Bigger Picture at Banquet Records". Retrieved 6 August 2015 and received further support from Dangerous Minds on Kiss FM."Charles Hazell – Facebook". Screen Capture Retrieved 7 August 2015 During this year, Sketchman also hosted Mixing Radio on Friday evenings, at Mixing Records (Croydon), alongside leading dubstep artists such as Shivers, Lost and Kromestar.
2009: The Final Draft
In 2009, Sketchman began recording at Danny C's Aim studio in Bermondsey. Widely regarded as a hub for creative networking, here Sketchman was able to write and record music with many notable emcees from the UK grime scene. His own collective of Sutton-native artists, and the resultant project, were dubbed The Final Draft, before the release as a free digital download on Christmas Day."Once Upon A Grime: Sketchman – The Final Draft (Free Download)". Retrieved 7 August 2015
A track called Grime Kid received nationwide radio support from MistaJam on BBC Radio 1Xtra, who invited listeners to share their opinions with him live on air. After much positive feedback, MistaJam and the producers themselves praised the track and Sketchman for his persistence."BBC Radio 1Xtra – MistaJam playlist 13/10/2009". Retrieved 7 August 2015
Sketchman was again selected for Ras Kwame's Homegrown Cuts feature on BBC Radio 1Xtra, with track Sun Goes Down."Sketchmanwot – Youtube 'Radio Rips' Playlist". Retrieved 7 August 2015 DJ Crissy Criss stood in for Ras, and Sketchman's pre-recorded telephone intro was aired over the beginning of the song, allowing him to plug the project."BBC Radio 1Xtra – Crissy Criss playlist 31/01/2010 (see Homegrown Podcast)". Retrieved 7 August 2015" This track was also passed on to Tom Robinson, who played it on his Introducing show on BBC Radio 6.
A track entitled Emergency Room featuring Killa P (Roll Deep) also featured on the project Credit Crunch, and became Sketchman's first song to be distributed in HMV music stores nationwide."Discogs Tracklist – Killa P Credit Crunch Vol.1". Retrieved 7 August 2015"Official HMV Japan Website – Killa P Credit Crunch Vol.1". Retrieved 7 August 2015
Track Gun Fingers featuring P Money received community support from DJ Vectra on Rinse FM, and internet blog GRM Daily."Sketchman Gun Fingers on GRM Daily". Retrieved 7 August 2015 It was selected for a compilation album for UK Runnings called Grimewatch Vol.3,"Uk Runnings Official Website – Grimewatch Vol.3" . Retrieved 7 August 2015 the second song to be distributed in nationwide HMV stores."Discogs Tracklist – Uk Runnings Presents Grimewatch Vol.3". Retrieved 7 August 2015 This would also spawn an interview for Rago Magazine,"Tricksta interview by Christian Nembhard". Retrieved 7 August 2015 and another collaboration with affiliated Wolverhampton rapper Late on the track Mic Controllers. It became the third of Sketchman's recorded works to be distributed nationwide in HMV, as part of the album UK Rapscallion."CD Universe – Late UK Rapscallion". Retrieved 7 August 2015"Discogs Tracklist – Late UK Rapscallion". Retrieved 7 August 2015"Official HMV Japan Website – Late UK Rapscallion". Retrieved 7 August 2015
During this year, Sketchman was also featured as a whole-page spread in leading youth lifestyle magazine RWD,"Uncle Albert Blog – No. 020 Sketchman". Retrieved 7 August 2015 distributed in JD Sports stores nationwide."RWD Distribution". Retrieved 7 August 2015
Other notable collaborations during The Final Draft include Ice featuring Loudmouth, Tomorrow featuring Lee Brasco,"FleeBrasco Internet Blog – Sketchman ft Lee Brasco- tomorrow". Retrieved 7 August 2015 Fruit Machine featuring Purple and Iron Soul, I'm Bad featuring Dogzilla, and Bad Boy featuring Deverlish.
Sketchman was also invited to Rinse FM to host and showcase the project, alongside producer ZDot, on DJ Bigbeatz' show."Rinse FM – Twitter". Retrieved 7 August 2015
2010: The Art of War and Uncle Albert Records
In 2010, Sketchman recorded The Art of War, his first project to be distributed via Ditto Music to all online stores."Amazon – Sketchman The Art of War". Retrieved 7 August 2015 He set up an independent record label called Uncle Albert Records, to coincide with a blog of the same name curated by freelance music writer Tomas Fraser."Uncle Albert Blog". Retrieved 7 August 2015
Sketchman continued to receive support from Rinse FM,"Sketchmanwot – Youtube 'RINSE FM – Sketchman – Chat To me (Produced by Sketchman)' ". as well as other community radio stations such as Flex FM, DeJaVu and Westside Radio."Sketchmanwot – Youtube 'Radio Rips' Playlist". Retrieved 7 August 2015 He was also featured regularly on music blogs, and started to direct and shoot his own internet music videos."100 Percent UK – Sketchman featuring Nee Hi Nice Knowing You". Retrieved 7 August 2015
Extensive collaborative work took place this year, including that with fellow BBC Introducing artist A Me B (Amy Burns), from Wigan. The track Legacy, from project Get Me Out This Box and produced by Sketchman, was played a number of times on BBC Radio Manchester"Sketchmanwot – Youtube 'Radio Rips' Playlist". Retrieved 7 August 2015 to positive response.
Sketchman also hosted and performed at many live events. Stand-out shows include those of J-Sweet's Stay Clever promotion, alongside DJ Logan Sama, and further afield in the city of Leeds at Oh My Days alongside Flirta D."Oh My Days – Tumblr". Retrieved 7 August 2015"Oh My Days – Skiddle". Retrieved 7 August 2015
2011: Nuclear Fallout
Sketchman spent much of 2011 working closely with dubstep producer Mista Noisy. With 24-hour access to the Noisy Recordings studio, a huge number of tracks were made, enough for the Nuclear Fallout mix-tape,"Motion Promotion". Retrieved 8 August 2014 and what became the main body of Breakdown. Tracks were again given support from underground and community radio stations, including Luton's Jamrock radio,"Sketchmanwot – Youtube 'JAMROCK RADIO – Sketchman and Noisy – Smash (Selecta Fewie Special)' ". Retrieved 8 August 2015 and added to various online compilations and mixes."Grime To Five 'Grime 1: The Compilation – Soundcloud". Retrieved 8 August 2015
A short video blog series was recorded, documenting different aspects of operations behind the scenes. This was added to the Sketchman YouTube channel, and included footage from event bookings, studio sessions and music video shoots."Sketchmanwot – Youtube 'Sketchman And Noisy Video Blog' ". Retrieved 8 August 2015
2012–2013: Breakdown and Rain
In 2012, Sketchman released a large free digital download on Christmas Day, of 40+ songs and radio snippets, entitled Breakdown.
Having taken an interest in live instruments, he started gigging with acoustic guitar in January 2013, and was invited to the BBC Introducing Masterclass in March, to meet notable DJs and artists including Angel, Wretch 32, Charlie Sloth, DJ Target and MistaJam.
In April 2013, Sketchman announced plans to release a single entitled Rain. The track was selected to be part of the Introducing playlist on BBC Radio 1Xtra and received positive feedback and support from many of the station's high-profile DJs, including Nick Bright, Ace, Trevor Nelson, MistaJam"BBC Radio 1Xtra – MistaJam playlist 28/04/2013 (see 'BBC Introducing')". Retrieved 12 August 2015 and Adele Roberts. On the last day of the play listing, Sketchman had a live telephone interview with DJ Target to discuss Breakdown, Rain and new music, during which he mentioned the new project Nothing Is Enough."BBC Radio 1Xtra – DJ Target playlist 01/05/2013". Retrieved 12 August 2015"Circuit Sweet – Sketchman Review". Retrieved 12 August 2015 The Guardian published an article shortly thereafter entitled Acoustic grime artist Charles Hazell Sketchman aims to go from Carshalton to stardom.
Throughout the rest of 2013, Sketchman continued to play sets for some of London's most notable live music promotions. These were filmed and added each month to his YouTube channel."Sketchmanwot – Youtube 'Monthly Update Playlist' ". Retrieved 12 August 2015 The last gig of the year was in New York City, with Hush Tours, where he was invited to freestyle on the tour bus as it moved between boroughs, alongside Rahiem from Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five."Sketchmanwot – Youtube 'December 2013 – New York Special' ". Retrieved 12 August 2015
2014: Hiatus During 2014, although Sketchman did not release any music, he continued to work behind the scenes, writing and recording new album Nothing Is Enough.