Apple Music has launched the second season of its popular Origin Stories audio series.
Presented by Apple Music 1 hosts Dotty, Rebecca Judd and Matt Wilkinson, the series takes UK artists back to their hometowns to explore how their upbringing, local culture, and personal experiences shaped the music they make today.
Each episode follows an artist on a personal tour, revisiting important places, meeting people who influenced them, and uncovering untold stories from their early lives.
The new run opens with Manchester rapper Aitch, who is joined by Rebecca Judd for an in-depth journey around his home city.
Their trip begins at Wellington Mill – the studio where a teenage Aitch first started recording music. He’s joined by his long-time friend and producer WhyJay, and together they reflect on the path from local freestyles to national fame, with hits like Straight Rhymez and Taste.
Aitch offers a candid account of those early days, admitting that his breakout track wasn’t intended to be a career-defining moment.
“I literally made Straight Rhymez because I thought, ‘I just need a video on my YouTube channel’,” he recalls. “Three days later, it was on 400,000 views. My phone went mad – I was sat there watching it and asked the mandem, ‘Have I just blew up?’”
The episode also delves into his partnership with WhyJay, which began when Aitch thought he was “just a studio engineer” before discovering he made beats.
“We’ve not left each other’s side since,” Aitch says. WhyJay adds: “He hates recording with anyone that isn’t me. He’s my favourite person to record as well, so it actually works out.”
Aitch speaks openly about his upbringing in Manchester, describing the city’s vibe as “special” and “more laid back” than other places.
He remembers both the good times and the challenges, including a period when his dad was unable to work and his mum had to sell the washing machine. “It’s not about what car I’ve got my mum now – it’s more like, you’ll never have to sell your washing machine again,” he explains.
Reflecting on the first pay cheque of £30,000 he received from making music after having nothing in his account, he recalls: “I remember thinking, ‘I don’t even have to do anything again in my life. I’ve got £30k. What you talking about?’”
There are lighter memories too, like his first date at Nando’s: “She ordered hot spice. Back then I couldn’t do spice, but I didn’t want to look like a muppet, so I ordered hot as well. I was bright red and sweating, thinking, ‘Oh, she hates me.’”
The conversation highlights how much of Aitch’s music and attitude is rooted in the streets and community of Manchester. He talks about riding pedal bikes “in any corner of Manchester possible” and says he can’t remember the exact moment he first wrote a bar, but rap became an inseparable part of his life.
This new season of Origin Stories promises more in-depth, location-rich conversations with UK artists, offering fans a unique chance to hear how their favourite acts were shaped by their surroundings and the people around them. For Aitch, the return home is a reminder of where it all began and how quickly life can change from a YouTube upload to a platinum-selling career.
Origin Stories with Aitch is available from today, 15 August on Apple Music and Apple Podcasts, with further episodes to follow.
