Pigeon Spins Featuring an Interview with Sicko

Sicko - Dark Rap, Vol. 1

Set to release on 31st Jan 2026, "Dark Rap, Vol. 1" by Sicko is a groundbreaking album that defies traditional rap norms. With a recording process that took place in the birthplace of dark rap, The Mire, this project embodies unapologetic darkness and depth. Sicko's music stands out for its sheer audacity and unapologetic nature, offering listeners a taste of music that is as disturbing as it is compelling. This album is a testament to Sicko's artistry and his commitment to creating a unique and immersive musical experience.

Interview with Sicko

(º)> Dark Rap, Vol. 1 is set for release on January 31st, 2026. How are you feeling as that date gets closer?

Excited, this has been a long time coming!

(º)> The album can be described as defying traditional rap norms. What rules or expectations were you most interested in breaking with this project?

This, along with the rest of my work, isn’t a deliberate attempt to break norms, or to piss in the face of expectations: I just happen to both quite naturally. And it’s kind of easy, too, when you’re not a boring cunt

(º)> You recorded the album in The Mire, which you describe as the birthplace of dark rap. What does that place represent to you creatively?

It represents a lot, and I’m not sure if it’s something I could constrain. It’s a place where souls go to be lost, and spirits go to die. Those that leave, remain tainted, and few are those who can move away and not yearn to return to its cold and silent bosom. The mists whisper, the marshes speak, and the bogs conspire. Beware, the silent swamps of the Mire

(º)> There’s an unapologetic darkness running through the entire record. Why was it important for you not to soften or dilute that tone?

Because then it wouldn’t be real

(º)> Your music can be described as disturbing yet compelling. How do you personally define the line between discomfort and honesty?

There is no line. That is why most are afraid of truth

(º)> You say you draw inspiration solely from your own experiences and thoughts. How challenging is it to be that exposed in your writing?

It’s not. I would find it more challenging to be anything else

(º)> The album reflects what you call some of the darkest corners of society. Are you documenting what you see around you, or what you feel internally?

A bit both. Both occasionally being spiced up with a little of the theatrical

(º)> Horror and explicit imagery play a big role in your sound. What do those elements allow you to express that traditional rap language doesn’t?

The horrific and the explicit allow me to express the horrific and the explicit

(º)> Was there a particular moment or idea that sparked the creation of Dark Rap, Vol. 1 as a full project rather than standalone tracks?

All of the stuff I write has a darkness to it. The idea for this came about when I started noticing I could sub catagorise tracks based on their theme

(º)> The title suggests this is the first chapter. Did you always envision this as a series?

Yes

(º)> How did recording in isolation affect your mindset while making the album?

Less noise means clearer thought. Less presence means less influence

(º)> Your sound feels very raw and unfiltered. Do you edit yourself at all, or is capturing the first instinct important to you?

Almost everything will be recorded, listened back to for a period of time, and then rerecorded where necessary. Some tracks, however, have to be kept with the first take, as a one take

(º)> Dark Rap, Vol .1 isn’t designed for easy listening. What kind of reaction do you hope listeners have when they first hear this album?

Any reaction. Any reaction is a good reaction

(º)> Do you see your music as confrontational, cathartic, or something else entirely?

I see it as what's missing. If I happen to have any emotional motivation for writing a track, then yeah sure, it does have its catharsis

(º)> There’s a strong sense of atmosphere across the record. How important was world-building to this project?

Very

(º)> As a solo artist, how do you stay confident in such a niche and extreme creative direction?

Because I’m just doing this for myself. Like I said earlier, it’s what's missing. When you eliminate the need to please, the need to be seen, the need to be accepted and the need to fit in to feel whatever it is you think you need to feel, you set yourself free

(º)> Have you ever felt pressure to make your music more accessible, and if so, how do you resist that?

No, fuck that. If I did that, then I’d sound like everybody else

(º)> What does authenticity mean to you in a genre that often values image as much as substance?

Authenticity means to be of undisputed origin, and not a copy of anything else. In that context, it means not trying to fit that kind image with that kind of substance. Seriously, who the fuck wants to be like everyone else?

(º)> When people say your music is unsettling, do you see that as a compliment?

Yeah sure, I guess so

(º)> After listeners spend time with Dark Rap, Vol. 1, what do you hope lingers with them the longest?

My name

(º)> Finally, once this album is out in the world, where do you want to take the sound and the story of Sicko next?

I’ve got a lot of stuff on the way. The sound and the story will always remain the same, but no part of the story will be told twice. The good thing about doing what nobody else is doing is that the only person I risk sounding like is me. Hold onto your seats bitches, Vol.1 is just one of the first steps

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out  Sicko on the Pigeon Spins Playlist