St. Maurice Neptune Linguine Doesn't Know Why His Name Is So Long.

St. Maurice Neptune Linguine, shortened on platforms officially, but you’re a nigga of many names. First order of business, I have to ask you why you’d feel inclined to claim these titles, and where is your name from?

Well, well, well heheh…. There was a point in my teenage years where I really liked having nicknames, so I just started giving myself them. At 14, Maurice was a name I was really feeling at the time, so I searched it and stumbled upon this historical figure named ‘Saint Maurice’, who was a Black saint. I loved the imagery cause he was black and he was wearing ancient gold pieces. So I just took that, and the ‘Neptune linguine’ part came from me just being really Random. A lot of the names I come up with really just come from being random, and if I like how it looks on text, that just adds to it.

What are some things under your radar at the moment?

AWGE DVD, revolutionary suicide by Huey P. Newton, experimental black music. I really fuck with how artists I like Document themselves. As a watcher, I feel like I’ve been let in on their process of making music, collaborating, freestyling, and just doing a bunch of cool stuff. it was always a source of inspiration for me. same with interviews. [AWGE DVD].

This is a book I saw my friend posting from time to time, and every time I saw an excerpt, I always thought to start reading it. and then I did. I'm almost halfway through at this point. I’m so fascinated with Huey’s political journey and his story as a founding member of the black panther party. a friend of mine said, “To prepare for the future, you must Learn your history,” and I think it's important for me as a black person living in a Western country to Learn about the importance of organizing and radicalism. RIP Huey, RIP Yams.

Is it any different from what young Maurice was into?

Somewhat, but not really, I always loved hip hop culture as a kid, DJing, African music, all that stuff.

Coming up, how did your background affect your creative decisions when it came to making music?

I was born and raised in Belgium, lived there 'til we moved to England when I was 15. The Belgian music scene had zero influence on my sound. I don’t know why, but I just never kept up with the music that comes from that country. I was raised by my Nigerian mother, who had 2000s afrobeats, Congolese music, and Ivorian music playing all the time. I loved afrobeats as a kid, but I resonated with Coupé Décalé just a bit more. When I was 10, I started listening to golden era rap, all the old head shit, and I immersed myself into it. which is what led me to find out about Grandmaster Flash and the art of turntablism. this is when I started using a DJing app to put sample loops together to make my beats. some of these I still kinda fuck with, like damn I was always good (lol). When I was 12, tho, I stopped listening to African music, cause I subconsciously started thinking it was just not Cool. I hate that I was thinking this, but I guess I just had a habit of minimizing stuff that was too African and not western enough. this is stupid, clearly, but yeah, at 15 I finally started listening to it again and started plotting on how I would merge the 2 sides of music I love, Coupé Décalé and rap. but when I discovered rap, I also gained a love for multiple types of music, and it opened my mind to lots of different sounds, cause rap music is so diverse. I guess that’s what led me back to African music. Living in the UK influenced my music a bit, too. UK genres always had those different rhythmic pockets. coventry, stand up!

Two projects you dropped on us in 2023. Only to return merely two years later with an EP. Was there any fatigue?

I was forcing myself to make a full-length project for 2 years. Many songs were made, but I felt like I had a lot of growing to do as an artist. some songs I just Thought were corny, so I left them off the project. Eventually, I just got tired of keeping these good songs in the vault, cause I knew they were hits, but no one was hearing them. So I came to the realisation that my First vocal project doesn’t need to be a full-length project (*lmao). I can start small and grow gradually.

What made u turn this Recent EP from “til infinity: the glorified demo tape into “well wouldn’t u like to know.” What in your vision for this project changed?

Deep cut question lmao. The reason I initially called this project the glorified demo tape is because I feel like anything I put out as my First collection of songs, where I'm rapping and singing, it’ll be the first example of my music. If this was 1995, I'd be shopping this project around as my demo tape. But eventually I chose to reduce the project by a few songs cause I wanted the most interesting ones to be released. These 6 songs showcase my full range up to this point. I really just threw these songs out there eventually because I didn’t want shit to pass me by. On one of my currently unreleased songs, I even say, “can’t let my dreams come true by waiting”, but I was still making excuses at that time. The time I finally dropped the EP was basically the mark of me letting go of that mindset of holding onto shit or not doing shit for no reason. I still do it sometimes, but I'm more aware for sure. There wasn’t a lot of thought put into shit like the name or the cover lol, cause I just wanted to let my kids have their first day of school. Blegh.

Your approach to C.D. is very innovative, challenging the idea of what’s allowed. I mean, you've infused rap and alternative melodic tunes into it, but even in the beats alone, I believe you could jumpstart a Renaissance era in the genre.

But you’re like my introduction to Coupé-Décalé, so I'm not sure if I'm just talking out of my ass here, but.

Thank you, thank you. Yeah, I take this genre (c.d.) very seriously. it’s been there my whole life. I don’t want it to be trivialised like other great genres. I might Deviate (wink wink) from what some people might’ve heard from me just to Protect it.

You're labeled as worldwide, spiritual, or devotional on DSPs. Incredibly fitting.

Yeah, I did that lol. cause Fuck genre labels. My music is not one specific thing; I’d be lying to you if I said it was. I want people to walk into their listening experience with open minds.

YELLOW IS SOME OF THE CRAZIEST SHIT I HAVE EVER HEARD, HOW? WHAT GOES ON IN YOUR MIND?!

A house party.

I was 16-17. And even though I'm not much of a party guy, I wanted to make a song that fits that vibe. And I was writing about my little fake situation-ships I had in the past. So cringe looking back, but the song is a hit, so it is what it is. And obviously, the production is that cool African sound I'm somewhat known for. It was me trying to be Tyler, the Creator, and Fally Ipupa at the same time.

At the youth club. this is where I recorded my first real demos in a real studio, from 17. I met a bunch of cool people here, including George (IG: georgethatsit), Credo Kampeta, Kevin Vagabond, Samo Songs, Nyotaa, TOBITHEFREAK, 32burden, and many more. I don't even know how I know this many talented musicians. I’m blessed to be honest. I also love the fact that I can show my music to these people and they fuck with it.

Yeeaah man. I needed to dive deeper. I would’ve been playing it safe if I hadn’t become a vocal artist. Also, I just wanted to do what a lot of my idols like Tyler (probably should censor this one too tbh), K ****, DJ Arafat, and others did, which was not just produce, but also sing, rap, and do a bunch of other stuff.

Throughout the creation process of this release, I tuned into a few of your lives where you were just zoned in in a studio, where were you?

I recall what it was like in the beginning-- all the mixes and videos I used to see storming out of TikTok originally. At first, it was just the beats you made. What compelled you to start putting your own vocals in the music? Was there so much that you couldn’t express instrumentally, or what?

You've done a few shows this year. What is it like to have your art experienced on a more intimate level?

I started performing in like 2024. The first notable one I can remember was the one at the first Show & Tell event that TOBITHEFREAK and George ran. I was maaad nervous. I was looking down the whole time. They still embraced me, tho. I still had to grow into my stage presence. We have come a long way. Over the past year and a half, I’ve improved a lot as a performer. Trial and error, man. I didn’t Bomb that much, but the times I did were enough for me to not want that to happen again.

It’s my brainchild. it’s still in development at the moment, so I won’t speak too much on the vision, but this is a creative company that’s meant for niggas like me. Such a rapper thing of me to do lol, start a label when I'm barely even on yet.

Yeah, forreal, lmao. I write and produce these songs in my solitude, so for me to say some shit I’d say to myself to a WHOLE CROWD OF PEOPLE was intimidating for me at first. The key is to not get too caught up in what they might think of the song. Cause that energy is enough. If it’s infectious enough, you can really win the crowd.

Does that sorta perception scare you? shows are really where u put yourself out there. It’s a different realm compared with just releasing the music

I usually see MILKSHAKE INC. plastered all over your work, but I can't quite grasp what it is to you.

K27inter, How’d the bond between u two start?

That’s my guy. our friendship started from us bonding over our mutual love for Coupé-Décalé., and since we both make that style of music, we always talk about collaborating. I love his recent songs ‘la lachete’ and ‘les melodies du ciel’. I think he’s one of my many talented and creative friends who deserves a spotlight. Salute Le Roi De La Shamakuana. 🫡.

Speaking of collaborators, who is your dream collaborator and why?

Dino Malachie from the Ivory Coast. I love his voice. He’s one of the singers I'm lowkey learning from, cause I also have a deep voice, and I love how he navigates his melodies.

The First song you created that made you want to pursue music?

An old beat I made from when I was 9. I sampled the Straight Outta Compton movie version of Nuthin' But A G Thang by Dr. Dre. It’s hard to say what the first song really was, though. Cause I always knew I was going to pursue music, at least since I was 9 lol.

You have more control than you think you do. use your brain. Always. Community is important. know your history. Politics is everything, power to the people. -Saint Maurice Neptune Linguine

Whats the number 1 thing u keep in mind when creating? What acts as your driving force in ur art

What do you think makes you special in a world full of creatives?

I know what I'm doing. I'm always trying to outdo myself. Also niggas have been calling me weird my whole life, so I'm sure they know.

How do u plan to establish yourself going forward? How do u want your art to be seen? How do u want to present yourself?

Black exaggerated swagger!!!!!!! Alluring African-ism! haha. I want to be known as the guy who has many chambers and none of them can be duplicated. No one can do it like me. I am young, African, British/Belgian, and Proud.

At first, it was being able to be as good as Tyler. but now it’s about being as true to myself as Possible. attending to my inner child. I still like most of the music I used to listen to when I was that age.

St. Maurice Neptune Linguine, Fresh off the release of "Well Wouldn't You Like To Know." A modern spin on your average Coupé Décalé, ridden with rap verses, potent confidence, and a bold sense of self-worth, or at least finding it.

For as noisy and brazen as Saint Maurice presents his music, it is all really well-constructed. The drums serve far beyond their intended purpose; they shift from a supporting role to MAKING the whole song. The lyrics are often louder in message, and not much is said throughout the songs. Maurice is everything a black teenager growing up in the digital age should be, stringing together his roots-- fusing them with every other ounce of anything that has been consumed. Insanely young, drawing on generations before while progressing with modern culture, is something we take for granted. Trends come & go, but the remnants of how they made us feel never leave.

Nigerian, Belgium-Born, England-Based maestro, pivoted off being counted out; he's his only competition —his reminder to stay grounded. The stratosphere beyond the stars is in his grasp. The music is way more impressive than he lets on. Whilst he's still confident in his craft, there's a simplicity to being this good. And now we get to enjoy the fruits of his labor (Coupé Décalé Music).

Being able to go from tracks like "Yellow," which is a clear view into Saint Maurice's Genius, it's like he threw everything he possibly could there, and there's still so much more for him. And I mean, A lot of the music sounds Mario Kart victory lap-esque in nature. Really intriguing how easy it is for him to jump to shit like "Vessel 1." I like to imagine I'm a game developer playtesting my 2-bit mining game, in some eerie cave & and this is the music I have commissioned for it. Or Spooky Elevator music. Astounding, Ear-catching vocal use: for a musician with such a distinct, deep voice to find exactly where they fit in these tracks without hindering their intention is a talent not to be overlooked. I found myself spending more time dancing than editing this piece.

Interview by Jamille B.

Thank you for reading! Check Out Our Previous Interview with Esgo.