Born in Ottignies, Belgium, Can Guru? – AKA Colin Crichton – grew up submerged in the world of classical music before immersing himself in electro-trip-hop. After moving from Belgium to Manchester, England, he honed his skills and talents amongst the DJ scene while studying Sound Engineering at Salford University. Inspired by indulging in live music ranging from The Chemical Brothers, Aphex Twins and 808 State, his latest endeavour, “Winner Today” oozes in trap flushes and a trip-hop, electro soundscape, dipping into hip-hop and indie fusions. The single is a message of and about never giving up and patching up the bruises of life as he explains: “The song is about the ups and downs of winning one day and maybe losing it all the next, but never to give up on your dreams and ambitions. Always getting back up after you fall over.” PopWrapped caught up with him to find out more about the story behind the track, his musical inspirations and

You were brought up surrounded by classical music, so how exactly did you get into electronic music?

Classical music was my grounding. In my early teens, I was into thrash metal and I guess the natural progression after that for me was found in the energy of electronic music British bands such as The Prodigy and The Chemical Brothers but also with Industrial bands such as Nine Inch Nails and Ministry. I liked the raw energy these bands emanated and I thought that the sounds they used then sounded really original and new. It really got me intrigued and eager to learn how to play and manipulate electronic sounds myself. One thing I really love about electronic music is that one can really transform sound samples and midi sounds on so many levels with endless possibilities. It’s pretty amazing!

Can you describe your sound in five words or less?

Alt-Conscious-Hip-Hop-Electro-Pop.

Who are your biggest musical influences or inspirations?

I’ve got to admit, that’s a tough one to answer with just a few names, but I guess I would say off the top of my head: Damon Albarn, Roger Waters, John Coltrane, David Bowie and Kate Tempest to name but a few…

Your new single “Winner Today” is out now; what’s the inspiration for and behind it?

The song was inspired by a moment of strength and talks about resilience to failure and pain. It is about the ups and downs of winning one day and losing it all the next, but never to give up on your dreams and ambitions. Always getting back up after you fall over. The lyrics to this song came to me after an intensive bike ride in the woodlands in Berlin. I had a fall on a stormy day and grazed my knee, but regardless, I jumped back on my bike and carried on cycling, enduring the gradual pain building-up in my leg. When I got home later that day, I guess the fall triggered a creative impulse for me to write lyrics about resilience and it inspired me to write also about the constant ups and downs we have to deal with as human beings in our personal lives…

What do you hope for or want people to get or take from “Winner Today”?

I hope it will inspire people to follow their dreams and ambitions and help them get over the hurdles they will come across on the way. I also hope it could inspire people to get healthy by doing sports or meditating and help them ride through their toughest moments.

Looking beyond this single, with the vaccination roll-out well underway and the world starting to open up again, are you hoping to do any gigs this year?

Yes, I definitely would like to. I want to first release 2 more singles and a 5 track E.P beforehand.

Give “Winner Today” a listen below and for more information on Can Guru?, give his page a like on Facebook or follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Header photo credit: David Lake.