Rapper and artist Rejjie Snow hails from Dublin, Ireland. With his low, composed voice and mellow sound at the core, he has forged a distinct style that incorporates musical elements of jazz, soul, and beyond. Since releasing his 2018 album Dear Annie, he has earned acclaim for music that explores personal emotions and his inner life. But his expression extends beyond music: he also sees fashion and visual imagery as essential to shaping his creative identity.

His stage this time is CIRCUS ODAIBA, a festival presented by CIRCUS TOKYO, the Shibuya-based venue that has championed UK bass music and underground culture. With roots in Dublin and a practice shaped by places and cultures around the world, how does Rejjie Snow take in the encounters and experiences Tokyo has to offer? The city’s atmosphere, chance connections with people, and discoveries through food: his words reveal the everyday sensibilities behind his music-making, as well as the importance he places on connecting with others.

In this interview, we explore the beginnings of his musical journey, the music that has influenced his work, his relationship with fashion, the perspectives he has gained while moving between cities, and what lies ahead creatively—all through 10 questions. Ahead of his CIRCUS ODAIBA performance, we spoke with Rejjie Snow, who has spent years honing his own style, about what he is feeling now, where he is headed, and the values and next moves that underpin his expression.

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“I think we are all like souls living on this floating planet, trying to understand what it all means.”

Hypebeast: To start, tell us about when you began making music. How did growing up in Dublin shape the music you make today?

Rejjie Snow: I think I started writing music when I was nine or 10. I recorded my first song with a USB mic meant for PlayStation games and Audacity. I rapped over the instrumental for “Dead Presidents.” Those experiences made me fall in love with making sound and expressing myself.

Your music draws not only on hip-hop, but also on a range of influences including jazz, R&B, and soul. Which artists and works are shaping the music you make today?

I try to take in as many musical influences as possible. One album that makes me want to create something that carries a similar feeling someday is Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall. At the same time, I value the slightly dusty texture of something like Madvillainy. I want to express the feelings I take from different kinds of music in my own way.

Your acclaimed album Dear Annie explored deeply personal themes of love, loneliness, and selfhood. What does expressing yourself through music mean to you?

I feel that expressing myself—being vulnerable and laying bare what is inside me—helps me connect with people. I think we are all like souls living on this floating planet, trying to understand what it all means. Art is one of the last sacred things left in the world today. That may be why expression feels like a kind of calling for so many artists.

Beyond music, you also seem deeply invested in visual expression, from film to fashion. What is the relationship between music and visuals for you?

Everything is intertwined and connected as one whole. Sometimes a visual comes to me before I write a song, and sometimes it happens the other way around. Even before I ever thought about making music, I was expressing myself through clothes. For me, music and visuals are inseparable.

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You have lived in a range of places, including Dublin, London, and the United States. How has each city influenced you differently?

Every city has different cultural communities and elements to absorb. I try to take in as much as I can and fold it into my own journey through life. Tokyo is a really interesting place. I try to feel the city’s energy as much as I can without disturbing it or imposing myself too much. I think there is real value in what can come from people arriving from elsewhere, meeting in places like this, and exchanging ideas. The language barrier can sometimes make it difficult to connect deeply, but that is when energy plays an important role. The last time I came to Japan, I ate at a restaurant that was a little quiet. I still remember the care and attention an older owner showed while preparing the food. We exchanged photos. It was a simple moment, but it was a really powerful interaction for me.

In recent years, the boundaries within hip-hop have become increasingly blurred. How do you see the current hip-hop scene?

To be honest, I do not actively keep up with new music online as much as I used to. As I have gotten older, I think I have withdrawn more into solitude and toward a place of peace. Still, when something comes up on my screen, I do come across interesting expression. It is not that I am stuck in the music of around 2006 to 2016, but I have a special attachment to that era. I just hope hip-hop retains the purity it originally had. When it is properly understood, hip-hop is a truly beautiful genre of music.

Your songs are marked by laid-back rap and mellow sounds. When you create, are you conscious of what makes something distinctly Rejjie Snow?

Of course. I see myself as the protagonist of my own universe, and character and showmanship are always among the most important things to me. My life outside music is calm and simple. That is why, when I step into that world, I try to express myself as a character just as I am, without forcing anything.

As you prepare to perform in Japan, is there anything in Japanese music or culture that particularly interests you?

First, I want to give a lot of respect to my friend Bim. He is an amazing artist and an incredible person. I am also very interested in cooking and anything related to food. I want to learn and make new discoveries through food. The next time I visit Japan, I would also like to visit tea fields.

At this point in your long career, what are you looking for in music, and what would you like to challenge yourself to do next?

I feel it is incredible that I am still doing this and am able to be here while remaining somewhat myself. Honestly, I am a little surprised [laughs]. Right now, I am preparing for my next chapter and new music. I am really looking forward to it for a lot of reasons. I hope it takes me to new places and brings new challenges.

Finally, what would you like Japanese listeners who will be seeing you live for the first time at CIRCUS TOKYO to pay attention to?

For me, it is all about intimate moments that everyone shares. So I just want people to have fun with me. I will show up as myself and take the stage with love. I would be happy if I can connect with everyone during those 60 minutes.

Rejjie Snow
Born in 1993, Rejjie Snow is a rapper and artist from Dublin, Ireland. Interested in music and visual expression from an early age, he released his EP Rejovich in 2013. He subsequently drew attention for a distinctive sound infused with jazz, soul, and funk, as well as work that moves between music videos and fashion. He released his debut album Dear Annie in 2018, followed by Baw Baw Black Sheep in 2021 and PEACE 2 DA WORLD in 2024. Drawing on a sensibility developed across cities including Dublin, London, and Los Angeles, he continues to expand his creative world across the boundaries of music and art.

CIRCUS ODAIBA
Date: Wednesday, September 23
Hours: 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Venue: Odaiba Aomi District, Lot P
Address: 1-1-16 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Ticket Price: Phase 3 (¥9,500)
Tickets: eplus

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