COLORSxSTUDIOS

When and why did you start making music?

I started writing songs when I was 13- or 14-years-old. At that time, it was a way for myself, my mom, brother, and sister to channel our feelings. ‘Chasing Pavements’ made me realize that anyone can write a song. I had all these things to say and just started writing. Shortly after, I won £1,000 at a local singing competition. I used the money to buy a Mac, which I downloaded GarageBand onto to make music.

The drive to make music professionally came in waves. I felt it most strongly when I was 17- or 18-years-old, but, as I got older, I realized that it wasn’t an easy thing to do. I needed to make money, so I started teaching choir.

Tell us more about your time as a teacher.

I studied musical theater at university, but then dropped out and used the money to live in London. All I wanted was to be an artist. I started teaching kids choirs back in 2016, then I taught music in schools. Eventually, I worked in a pupil referral unit. My friend worked at the choir before me. She invited me to join because someone else had dropped out and she knew I needed a job. I’d never thought about working with kids before, but I loved it. I continued singing on the side and doing gigs here and there, including weddings, because music was too big of a passion for me to give it up. I love teaching though. I hope I get to do more soon in a musical way.

You prefer the audience to come up with their own interpretations of your music, rather than to give them definitive meanings, like with your popular single ‘why didn’t you call???’. Have any interpretations surprised you? 

I wrote, ‘why didn’t you call??’ when I was into someone who wasn’t calling me back. I spiraled, and thought about all the worst case scenarios. When the song was released, people came forward with stories relating to the song about people they’d lost. It was so beautiful, but also unexpected. Leaving my music open to interpretation has allowed me to view it with an open mind. As a creative, you can get so in your head about what you’re writing, but people are always going to relate to it in the way that’s most valuable for them.”

Tell us about your songwriting process.

It started in my bedroom. I haven’t quite gotten out of that habit yet! When I was writing my new EP, ‘lost a friend’, I collaborated with other people and found a family in the process. That was a breakthrough moment, and it helped me to open up. Normally, I come up with concepts and lyrics by myself before showing them to the larger group so I don’t feel so insecure. It’s hard to share what I’m working on, especially after lockdown. Making music is such a personal experience. I’m drawing from the depths of my soul to write these songs.

You featured Tiana Major9 on your single ‘homies’. How did this collaboration come about?

I wanted to feature someone from the UK R&B scene on ‘homies’ because I feel like it doesn’t get as much attention as it should. Tiana Major9 is one of my favorite artists. Funnily enough, I joined one of her live streams during lockdown. She talked to people in the audience, and I told her that I loved her song ‘Same Space’. Fast forward a bit, I went to meet her and share ‘homies’ to see if she liked it. Then, she sent me her verse for the track and it was amazing. My family and I sat together in the living room and listened to it six or seven times.

Do you have any dream collaborators? 

I would love to do a song with Jazmine Sullivan, maybe a remix of one of the songs on the EP. I’d also love to work with FINNEAS, Mark Ronson, and SZA, obviously!

Tell us about the song you performed for COLORS. 

‘ego talkin’’ was created during a Zoom session, believe it or not. I think it was one of the first songs we made for the project. I wrote it with Boy Matthews, and it was produced by Deputy, who also produced on Riahanna’s ‘Bitch Better Have My Money’. I went into the session and said: “this track is going to have a little bit of sauce.” There’s a lot of spice and energy in it, a bit like my other track ‘TMF’. I wanted to be able to show that performance wise. It really translates differently live.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 

I was looking at all the looks from the Met Gala and thought it would be fun to attend myself. Career wise, I’d love to go on tour. I hope that I’ll have an album out in five years. I feel like that’s a really good timeline! Honestly, I’ve really just enjoyed putting out this first project, and I hope I can keep putting out music I write. My main wish is to collaborate more and extend my friendships. I want more friends! I lost them all! I lost all of my friends by being an artist!

If you could send one message to your fans right now what would it be?

To my fans: thank you. I didn’t expect my music to resonate with so many people. I genuinely didn’t expect so many people to like me. I’m very thankful. I’ve got a little Instagram group, if anyone wants to join. We’re called the Saints and we just talk about stuff.

To aspiring musicians: whatever is in your soul and spirit will manifest itself. As much as I was happy with my job and teaching, music was something unexpected. I hope that gives some relief to someone who’s really stressing themselves out and trying to reach their goals. Whatever is meant for you will happen and come to life. That’s what I learned, and that’s what I wish someone had told me.