Who is it? #3 - Smokey Barz [aka SBTV]

JP: Who is Smokey Barz?

SB: I am SB aka Spiel Berg. I used to be called Smokey Barz but I don't even call myself that too much these days. I’m an 18 year old cameraman who films videos on the UK music scene, and I have a channel on YouTube with nearly 3 million total video hits, over 150,000 profile views and 2,000 plus subscribers. My videos are viewed in over 15 countries including United States, Canada, Serbia, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Morocco, Japan, Austria and more. Basically SB.TV features the hottest talent around (singers, actors, actresses, comedians, DJs etc) whether it may be well known artists or talented up and comers. From freestyles, music videos, documentaries, rave footage and short films, to interviews in all genres.

JP: When did you realise you wanted to be behind the camera?

SB: I used to always make dumb videos back in the day and put them out on YouTube and they used to clock up bare views. So I did it on a regular basis until one day I went Birmingham on a college trip to Cadburys Factory and I was with two of my mates who were MCs and I filmed them rapping and it got good feedback. From then on it just grew and grew and grew - and I thought I could make this a regular thing of uploading videos to YouTube.

JP: You started off making music with your crew Nu Born, when did you make the transition from MC to lens specialist?

SB: I made the transition when I was 16 /17. It wasn't that I couldn't be bothered to rap anymore, it was more that I was more talented at making videos than I was at rapping. I'm even taking Media at college at the moment so it makes more sense to be on the video vibe more than the music. I remember I had a choice in college whether I wanted to take music or media and that's when I proper made my decision that I wanted to become a cameraman.

JP: You specialise in filming underground talent within the UK, mainly the Grime scene. Why is that? Why not pop / R&B acts?

SB: It made sense for me to film grime, because at the time I had a lot of links in the scene from when I was an MC. I'm mainly working in the grime scene but I'm trying to broaden out to other audiences by getting artists from different genres, comedians, actors etc. I should be working with Princess Nyah (who sang the Frontline tune) soon, which is funky house, and I should be working with other singers too - any people out there who's got talent just give me a holla and I'm sure we can sort something out.

JP: Ok, let’s talk Tim & Barry, friends or competition?

SB: Friends, totally. I have love for Tim & Bal because they show me love, I show them love. They've been doing this thing from day one - and I respect them. That's why when they phoned me up and wanted me to get involved in a video project I was more than happy to contribute. They're safe geezers. I'm working with them at the moment on www.dontwatchthat.tv - I'm not going to lie but my side of the channel is kind of slacking at the moment due to college work being intense and stuff. Once I get back on this video vibe there will be one new video from me every week. You heard it here first!

JP: You film for Kiss Fm's Logan Sama show, how did that come about?

SB: Erm, there was a post up on the RWD forum and people were like "how can Logan’s show get better?" etc and someone must have said "ahh he should do videos like what Tim Westwood does" and loads of people kept recommending me. So I said to Logan yeah let me come down and film your show and we'll see how it goes. It went well, plus we have a project coming very soon, I can't even say that much right now but it should be big. We keepin' it grimy...

JP: You've built up quite a big fan base on the net - do you feel that the forums, Twitter and Facebook have been helped a lot in that?

SB: YES! A big fat yes. It helps so much cos’ it's just another way to promote I suppose, like when I have new videos I always post it on my Twitter which is linked up with my Facebook so it goes straight onto my status. I’ve got like over 3,000 people on my Facebook so it gives me another way of promoting my videos on the net and Twitter just helps ALOT with networking - like I've sorted out bare stuff via Twitter.

JP: You've worked with a lot of big people in the scene, who've been the best acts to work with?

SB: The best acts I've worked with would possibly be Fem Fel because he helps me out a lot, I call him my uncle Fem (laughs) he gives me directions and keeps me focused on my videos and stuff. My other favourites would be Skepta, Giggs, Black The Ripper, Krept & Konan, P Money, Griminal... there's just too many to name.



JP: Being young and filming some of the people you used to listen to growing up, do you get a little star struck sometimes?

SB: Yeah man I did when I first started out and I was filming legends like D Double E, Kano and Dizzee Rascal for Logan Sama TV. I was a big fan of their music. But now if I film them I still think they're big and that but I'm not star struck anymore (laughs).

JP: The future for Smokey Barz, or shall I say SB.TV

SB: I'm hopefully just gonna blow up the video scene. I'm also adding a new style to SB.TV - there is now going to be photography and more, just something different init. I want to big up Fem Fel who's my mentor/manager, Grime Daily, Mo (who's doing a lot right now, from making Lethal B's 'POW' to being signed to Flynn productions), Jak FRSH (he's just a safe guy and messing up the scene too), Rsky (he's doing a lot, given me loads of tips too), Stitch, Frownz, Dice, Media Massacre, Hij, Creative Nerds, Skepta, Logan, Chantelle Fiddy (who is my aunty always looking out for me), Rachel my sis, Tim & Barry, Luke GK, Julie and Matthew Faragraphy (who's the new addition to SB.TV), my CO-D Rawa and last but not least, JP from the early ChockABlock days. Just stay locked into SB.TV people!

SB.TV's Official website - www.sbtv.co.uk

SB.TV Official YouTube - www.youtube.com/smokeybarz

SB's Twitter - www.twitter.com/its_sb

Logan Sama TV - www.logansamatv.co.uk

Contact - sbtv@gmx.com