We chat to London based recording artist and Offspring Community member @skyy_i aka Shaun Clarke.

How long have you been into sneakers and how did you get into them?

From a young pup, primary school times. Don’t really know how I got into them, was like a natural transition… growing up in the 90s, being a big fan of hip hop culture, a massive Michael Jordan fan and watching my peers get fly all kind of played a roll. My big brother used to work at Champion sport in Debenhams and had assortment of Nike creps, I always use to see them knocking around the yard.

Do you have an early sneaker memory?

Yeh I remember when the Movie Space Jam came out, like I said a was big MJ fan, and when I saw him in the black and white Jordan 9s, then realised I could actually get a pair! My mum never heard the end of it. I did manage to get them in the end, not straight away, but Mumsie came through with them for a birthday surprise. That was the first shoe I proper loved off. Besides those I really wanted the ‘Air Max 95’ neon yellow, like badly. I cried real tears for those lol… never got them though, well not until I became older.

Do you have a sneaker regrets? What is your sneaker grail?

No regrets, it all builds character innit? Over the time you get to know your own style, what fits better with you and what’s more comfortable etc. I deffo had some wardrobe malfunctions but it’s all part of the process… if u didn’t wear at least one pair of shoes you hated growing up, you haven’t lived life lol! Gives you that hunger.

My sneaker grail – gotta few but I’ll keep it to more current affairs. I’d say the solar black ‘Nike Yeezy 2’. I camped out at Nike town for 2 days waiting for those on release day. I got the platinum pair but missed out on the black… pain, good times though. Really want a pair of those MCA Nike AF1s by Virgil (RIP) as well.

What sneakers are in your rotation currently?

Supreme Air Force 1 (White n Black). Air Max 95 (Neon Yellow). Air Jordan 1 (Black Toe). Travis Jordan 1 Low. Clarks Wallabees. Off White Vapormax.

Aside from sneakers what else are you into?

The main thing is I write and make music, which has been a passion of mine from when I was young also. I love clothing, fashion, and getting fly, so please believe you’re going to see me put out some kind of brand, or two. Ownership, getting creative and having fun whilst making money is the objective.

We had you in the studio recording a track, how was that experience?

Yeah that was a dope experience, haven’t recorded much in places that big, you could fit a whole choir in the vocal booth! The Puma Suede studios is definitely official. So, you guys asked me to make a sneaker track for part of the creative comp with Puma, I wrote 2 lol – ‘New Shoe Smell’ and ‘In my Box’ – both out now on all digital platforms (shameless plug). The feedback was amazing.

What’s been your biggest challenge musically?

Facilities and access. Also building a solid team, like everyone on the same page at the same time isn’t always that easy… which can result in a string of problems, delays and hold ups. It can become a bit disheartening for the artist.

What have you learned about the music industry?

That it’s exactly that, a whole industry and business. Which usually doesn’t have the artists best interests at heart either. Making the music is the baby step, it’s the other hurdles you got to fly over I find more challenging.

Anything on the horizon we can look forward to?

Yezzzzir. I have a video dropping next month for one of the tracks I recorded with you guys ‘In my Box’. Don’t want to give too much away but the visuals are crazy. But look out for my project top of the year entitled ‘Portraits of My Poor Traits' – a hip hop/trap/soulful mashup. It’s going to be a trip. And you know I got some clothing coming…

Which album or artist got you into music and why?

Way too many names and albums to mention tbh. But I’ll speak on a pivotal moment as a writer. When I heard Roots Manuva’s first album ‘Brand New Second hand’… it was a proper game changer. First time I heard a UK rapper with a British accent sound as dope as the American stuff coming out. The production was next level, all the vocab we use, the areas we’re in and out of and the day to day life in London was all kind of embedded into the album. Classic bit of work. But that was a real eye opener for me in terms of how I’d make music in the future.

If you could work with one artist or producer dead or alive, who would it be?

These questions ain’t fair lol… too many I’m gonna throw a couple names out – for production it’d be J DILLA, Kanye, Pharell and Dre. And then for artist B.o.B, Kendrick, Kanye, Nipsey… to name a few.

What does community mean to you?

Community is all about the coming together of people – from all different walks of life but with common goals aspirations. It takes a village to raise a child they say…

Check out more from Shaun on Instagram @skyy_i and Soundcloud.