Lil Silva

Lil Silva is the stage name of Tyrone Jermaine Carter, an English producer, singer, songwriter and DJ from Bedford, United Kingdom. He works in UK funky and related club-oriented electronic styles, including funky house, instrumental grime and dubstep-influenced pop. He is based in Bedford and starts out as a grime artist before moving towards a more individual production style.

Early work and development

Carter begins making music at a very young age, producing a CD of original material by the age of nine and starting production at around 10 or 11. By 13, he is DJing at Bedford’s all-ages club Cabana and is part of the local grime crew Macabre Unit. He later moves away from grime while developing what becomes known as his “Silva Sound”, shaped in part by the influence of US producers such as Pharrell, Timbaland and J Dilla.

Solo releases

His solo output includes a run of EPs and singles, mainly issued on the Good Years label. Among these is Night Skanker from 2010, which includes the single “Seasons”, followed by The Patience in 2011 and Distance in 2014. These releases show his movement between UK funky, house and other electronic forms. Between 2010 and 2016, he releases five EPs in total.

Production work and collaborations

Alongside his own records, Lil Silva works as a producer for other artists. He serves as principal producer on BANKS’s album Goddess and contributes production to Adele’s 25, including the bonus track “Lay Me Down”. He also collaborates with Sampha, SBTRKT and Damon Albarn’s Africa Express project, and Mark Ronson calls on him for work with Lady Gaga.

OTHERLiiNE and debut album

In 2019, Lil Silva joins with George Fitzgerald to form the house-leaning project OTHERLiiNE, and the pair release an album of the same name in 2020. That period also leads towards his first solo album. His debut album, Yesterday Is Heavy, appears in 2022 and features Sampha, Little Dragon, Ghetts, Serpentwithfeet, BADBADNOTGOOD, Charlotte Day Wilson, Skiifall and Elmiene. The album receives strong reviews from NME, Clash and The Line of Best Fit, and Pitchfork describes it as an extension of the instincts of UK club soul.

Background

Carter is born and raised in Bedford, England, and remains closely associated with the town throughout his career.