Our German friends at seen. tipped us off about Toddla T. T’s selected at a bunch of hipster clubs and makes solid, Dancehall-influenced music from unlikely Sheffield, North England.

But then again, foreigners’ obsession with the music goes far and sometimes do it better, if a little differently. His other influences include Zouk, Tropical and 2-step (Google them.)

Listen: HERE

First…Age and real name, please?
23, Tom Bell

(Obvious question) You’re from Sheffield, North of England…Why Dancehall?
Just influenced by surroundings I think, coupla deejays up here always throw Dancehall into their sets (and) it used to right excite me. But I don’t really consider my music straight-up Dancehall, it’s just heavily influenced along with a lot of other things.

Isn’t Dancehall a bit stale at the moment?
I ain’t heard too many hot new riddims to be honest wid ya - some good artists though.

It was Sound Tape Killin’ that caught our attention. How did you come up with that?
Just happened one day, like most of my music it ain’t really planned.

You have an album?
Not yet, soon though.

You work with any up-and-coming artists from over here?
No, everyone I’m working with is in the UK at this point but i would love to collaborate with some people from JA at some point.

You’ve been to Jamaica?
No, but I need too.

Why can’t Jamaica’s Luton Shelton get a run in the Sheffield United starting line-up?
He ain’t ready.

White Rastafarians or soap?
Soap

What do you think of Peter Tatchell?
Who?