The Big Read

Dizzee Rascal: “This album is making a statement – I’m a fucking serious rapper”

Following chart success and a globe-trotting career, the rapper finds inspiration in his east London locality Bow for album seven

IDLES: “Loads of people don’t fucking like us”

The defiant Bristol punks answer the critics, rail against “class war” and talk up their explosive third album ‘Ultra Mono’

Rico Nasty: “I definitely resonate with being a pop-punk princess”

In a world where rap and punk are best friends, the musical polymath talks about her new sound, female empowerment and her ‘Joan Jett moment’

Declan McKenna: “There is a time for understanding – and that time is now”

Bang a gong! Get it on! How the ’70s glam-rock-loving north London pop star learned to love himself (and made peace with the haters)

Disclosure: “Some people want us to make ‘Latch’ over and over again”

After a decade in the game, the Lawrence brothers open up on weathering the storm, shrugging off detractors and unveiling their clubtastic new album ‘ENERGY’

The Killers: “Music made it possible for me to dream”

The boys are back with a career-high record that encompasses their devout belief in truth, honesty and always embracing emotion

Angel Olsen: “I’m just as lost as everybody else”

The darkly funny musician on her latest release, ‘Whole New Mess’, which peels back the layers of her songwriting process and mysterious persona

Burna Boy: “A revolution is needed. I want to inspire it”

His new album features Chris Martin, and the African Giant has much to say about the UK Afrobeats chart

Dominic Fike: “My music is crazy – it blends, it’s weird and it’s all different types of shit”

The 24-year-old wunderkind on befriending Brockhampton, being banned from the UK and following in the footsteps of an Arctic Monkey

Arlo Parks: “I feel like I’m 10 and 100 at once”

She’s released the year’s most devastating song, but the Londoner insists she’s no old soul and is fumbling through life – just like the rest of us