South Londoner rapper, Che Lingo has made his mark in the music industry by pushing limits and constantly seeking new ground to achieve his artistic visions. His approach and dedication to the craft has drawn the eyes – or should we say, ears – of the likes of Idris Elba and even anime giants, Toho Animation and MAPPA Studios! We had the pleasure of talking to Che about his creative influences, how he came to write music for hit anime series, ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ and his Japan bucket-list.
Hi Che, thanks for joining us today! First off, please tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Cheyney Ranger a.k.a. Che Lingo. I’m a music artist, creative director and writer from South London.
What are your biggest influences and how have they led you through your artistic journey?
My biggest influences are probably the things I’ve experienced in my life: my friends, relationships, family, hobbies etc. I'm always looking for ways to recreate and re-design my narrative to encourage new paths in my creativity. Whether it be in music, or otherwise. Navigating this way has led me to work with the likes of Roger Taylor (Queen), Idris Elba, Samm Henshaw (who features in my last album) and more.
How did you become a Japan fan and what about it continues to appeal to you?
I became a fan of Japan through watching anime. I learned as I got older than it wasn’t a true representation of the culture but that only intrigued me more; from the language to food, mannerisms and conversation style to traditional practice and history as well as technology and modern fashion, I found myself more and more intrigued by the story of Japan and what I might learn and experience - not to mention who I might meet!
As a black 3rd-generation, English-born Jamaican; going to Japan wasn’t a common goal for people in my community growing up. But a big part of what drives me as a person is to do things and go to places I feel strongly about or that have stimulated me in positive ways, and from that, then tell the story (usually with music as the engine) to hopefully inspire those who weren’t brave enough or able to do the same.
Your lyrics and voice are featured in the official soundtrack for the hit anime series, 'Jujutsu Kaisen' - how did that come about?
I was working with a Songwriter/Composer on my debut album (The Worst Generation) in 2020 and he had met Youki Yamamoto who was composing the music for Final Fantasy at the time. Youki heard my music and told Toho Animations and MAPPA Studios that he’d like to invite me to write some songs for 'Jujutsu Kaisen' (which he was asked to compose the music soundtrack for) as he felt I was the perfect fit.
We spent some time in the studio and I wrote and recorded 'Blood, Grey Eyes and Be Prepared' which were later used in some of the most exciting and memorable moments in the anime series. These included Megumi’s first fight with Todo, Mechamaru's fight with Panda, the “next episode teaser” music for the end of each official episode and the music for the final scene of the entire series as well as others. It was a fun process and a lovely result.
Do you have an anime series you’d recommend to someone who’s looking to get into it but doesn’t know where to start?
Everyone is different and I’ve watched a lot of anime over the years, so I would start by asking what movies, books and live action genres they are into. Then, once I get an idea of their tastes I would recommend anime that fit that preference to make sure they start with what feels most engaging to them. For example, if you watch or read Dark/Psychological/Thrillers, then 'Death Note', 'Tomodachi Game', 'Psycho Pass' or even 'Jujutsu Kaisen' are likely to be what you’d enjoy in anime.
What are some of the places that you’d most like to visit or things you’d like to experience in Japan?
Fashion houses, (modern and traditional), lakes, mountains, technology centres, authentic ramen bars and bath houses, galleries and local gathering spots for cultural experiences. I’d also like to visit and share food with people at Studio Ghibli, Nintendo HQ, MAPPA studios and Wit Studios. Respectfully, I would love to visit a katana shop or blacksmith forge and see how swords and weapons are made as well. I’d love to see a music concert in Japan too.
Where can people see you perform and what’s next for you?
I’m working on my second studio album and will be playing festivals and live shows next year across Europe. You can follow me through my Instagram and Twitter or join my discord for updates.
Thank you for talking with us!
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