Maverick Sabre says he wants to make 'classic music'

Singer and rapper Maverick Sabre is on a bold quest - to make "classic music" that appeals to ravers as well as fans of guitar bands.

The 19-year-old, who counts Plan B and Professor Green as mates, says he wants his tunes to stand the test of time.

He says: "I don't want to make something that's going to be thrown away at the end of the year. I want my music to have that lasting effect."

His upcoming Lost Words EP - a "filler" before his debut album - is a stylistic statement of intent, the teenager tells Newsbeat.

"It's got the best of both worlds. I've got two live-type songs on there and two more clubby, electronic dubstep-based songs."

"It's to show people I can do both.

"I can come and do support for a big live band and also go into a club and do a rave."

'Irish hip hop'

Sabre's mission makes sense when he describes his upbringing in Wexford in south-east Ireland.

"My dad taught me guitar when I was about eight or nine," he says.

He soon wrote his first song.

"I think it was something about Sarah Michelle Gellar, having a crush on her or something," he admits.

"I started writing music from the get go. When I was 14 or 15 I got into the Irish hip hop scene as an MC."

The Streets frontman Mike Skinner has been a big influence, and Sabre admits wanting to emulate the "simplicity" of his songwriting style.

"I think at the moment there's a broken bridge, if that makes sense, between music and young people.

"There's a strong need for artists to be talking about something that people can connect with," he says.

'Inspiration'

Sabre has already featured on Professor Green's single Jungle, which charted last month, and he has a few other respected admirers.

Plan B, who he described as "an inspiration" is one of them.

He gave the Irish rapper a support slot on his UK tour in 2010 after meeting him backstage at a gig.

"When I needed a place to stay he gave me a place to sleep for a while," he says.

"He's a good lad, his mind's always ticking - music, scripts.

"He's good to have around when you're feeling like being a bit lazy. It's an inspiration.

With his debut album in the works and gig plus festival appearances lined up, Sabre's aim is simple - to work hard and get his tunes heard.

"Young people are looking at musicians now on this big high platform but they're not actually talking about anything that the young people are talking about.

"I wanna make that bridge, if that makes sense, build it back up so we can meet half way," he says.

The Lost Words EP is out on 7 March 2011.