What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
I don’t know if it was a decision necessarily because I feel like the music bug is something that was always inside me. It became clear to me as a teenager that music was the only thing that I really wanted to do, I began busking outside supermarkets around age 15, and I’ve stuck at it ever since
Name us your 3 favorite albums.
Amy Winehouse – Frank
Sir – Chasing Summer
Nelly Furtado – Loose
What was the first song you heard that steered you into a music path?
Justin Timberlake’s Justified is the first album I remember being obsessed with as a child, Cry me a River was my jam. I wanted to be a pop star from than pretty much
The music industry is the hardest industry in the world to progress in, How do you feel you are doing?
It does feel like the hardest industry to progress in at times, it’s such an emotional rollercoaster and I feel constantly like I’m battling with imposter syndrome. I think the highs definitely out weigh the lows though, and in the past year, in particular, I’ve really progressed by solidifying my own community in the London music scene, with the help of the female led live music events I run called Venus in Flames. We focus on carving out our own space in the London music scene, supporting emerging and independent artists which has in turn helped me progress in the industry in my own way.
Tell us Two truths and a lie about you.
I played football competitively growing up
I can’t wink
I have type 1 diabetes
What’s your thought on Spotify’s monopoly on the music industry?
I use Spotify myself so I’m not mad at it haha – it would be great to see better pay for artists from streaming platforms across the board though
Do you sign up for any conspiracy theories?
Not really haha but I’ve been having lots of weird dreams recently including dreams that cross over with some of my friend’s dreams and sometimes even predict things that end up happening. Does that count as a conspiracy theory?!
Did you buy anything you don’t need during the pandemic?
I have a ridiculous amount of bubble wrap in my room which I bought during the pandemic – I had lots of 2020 art project ideas and this one was gonna be a massive dress made out of bubble wrap lol but needless to say, it never got finished
What was the worst experience on stage?
I’ve never had any really bad experiences thankfully, but I’ve definitely forgotten my lyrics a few times
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about.
I have type 1 diabetes, which is something I was ashamed of and tried to hide for a long time. I’m learning to be more accepting and loving of myself and to be patient with my condition. It’s not easy having an invisible disability, especially in the music industry but now more than ever I’m keen to be open and honest about the struggles of living with type 1 so that I can be a role model to other young people who might worry about succeeding in such a demanding industry whilst juggling the pressures of a chronic illness
What makes you stand out as an artist?
I find it hard to stick to one genre which is a blessing and a curse as often I find it hard to describe my sound, but ultimately I’d say my ability to genre blend makes me stand out
I hear you have new music, what can you tell us about it.
Yes, I’ve just released my second-ever EP, Crocodile, produced by George Hasbury and featuring Ayeisha Raquel and Kieran. ‘Crocodile’ is a four track pop/rnb project narrating the fall out of a relationship and focusing on the fulfillment and empowerment that come with leaving a sour situation
Talk me through the thought process of the new tunes.
The EP as a whole was written during and immediately after the fallout of my last relationship. The first single to be released from the project, Crocodile ft. Kieran is a very personal record to me. The song was written hours after I broke up with my ex, after finding out I had been massively disrespected in the relationship. The next morning my friend Kieran and I decided to make a break up song with a slightly unconventional twist – with Kieran narrating the character of another guy who believes he could “treat you better” after hearing about the failed relationship. The other songs then naturally fitted around this, showing the rise and fall of what ended up being a toxic situation
What was the recording process like?
The recording process was smooth sailing really, working with George is very natural and easy. We had the project finished quite quickly, I felt like I needed to just get all my feelings and thoughts down so I could move on with my life post-breakup, and working with George really helped that
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes?
The main thing I’ve learned from this project is to let things go. To kill my darlings – try not to overcomplicate things, write how I feel, say what I mean and trust in my vision
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
I’m a perfectionist so there are definitely always things I’d change after completing records but I’m learning to stop trying to control everything, trust in the process and not focus too much on imperfections
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world
I’m running a live music night with my events company Venus in Flames on the 15th of March at Colour Factory on Hackney Wick. Realbackinfash x Venus in Flames Pisces Season Special. I’ll also be performing on the night – tickets are available on Dice, come through!
📸 Credit @cheaperthangold
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