S-X

When Wolverhampton, UK-born Sam Gumbley (aka S-X) produced the instrumental “Woo Riddim” aged just 15, he could not have envisaged the track would turn into an infamous grime anthem. A rare illustration of a DIY beat maker navigating his way to the top of the industry, S-X quickly became an in-demand producer for major rap, grime and trap artists including Skepta, KSI, Chance the Rapper, Childish Gambino and Lil Wayne. He even opened for Lily Allen on her 2018 No Shame tour.

Increasingly writing more than just beats, Gumbley's peers encouraged him to fully realize his songwriting and vocal potential. In 2020, a bidding war resulted in a record deal with Universal, but the 29-year-old quickly became disenchanted at being just another cog in the industry wheel. Now signed to BMG, the producer turned singer/songwriter's debut alt-pop album Things Change leaves little doubt regarding S-X's potential for mainstream success.

“It was mostly lack of confidence, but also because I was producing, so I thought, why would I want to put my voice on a beat?”

You studied music production at the City of Wolverhampton College. Was that instrumental to you getting noticed?

I don't really know, to be honest with you, there was no plan or thought process. When I left high school my life was in confusion. I always knew I wanted to make music, but being from Wolverhampton where nobody is famous for anything like that, what do you do? I got really lucky