Don’t be surprised to learn that George Michael and Madness played a role in kicking off Sway’s career in grime. A club kid from the UK, Sway built a well-respected mixtape empire within the Empire before releasing his humbly entitled debut album This Is My Demo, picking up countless awards along the way. According to him, his success comes from an extensive knowledge of self, and more importantly, from ignoring all musical boundaries. In this talk at the 2005 Red Bull Music Academy in Seattle, Sway discusses his love of mixtapes, his record label and the importance of musical independence.