May 26, 2025 • 22 mins
Rising artist KWN stops by We Need To Talk opens up about her evolution in the music industry, reflecting on the creative process that fuels her work and the personal growth that has shaped her sound. She speaks on the importance of authenticity, navigating fame with intention, and remaining grounded in his values. KWN also discusses how her cultural background informs her music and shares a glimpse into upcoming projects, including her aspirations for Grammy-level recognition. With humility and focus, she invites listeners into his journey—past, present, and future. Tune in and comment in the socials below.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to we need to talk with production of the
Black Effect Podcast Networks. And you're like, I'm trying to.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Get down with you with you and your boys know
what's up now?
Speaker 1 (00:15):
And we need to do talk the girl mone along
and you're not, you need to talk my girl. We
need a time. Is your music videos reflecting your real life?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Yeah, I mean you say you're still in the bitches.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
I think I'm allergic to professional studios. I prefer just
working in my bedroom for no disrespect to them, but
like if they don't like it, I'm gonna do it anyway.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
So that explains all the toxicity. That explains it.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
What's up, guys? K a money single? Do I say?
Is out? Now? What's something now that we need to talk?
Speaker 1 (01:03):
What's up?
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Guys?
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Now? Let's go on here with another episode that we
need to talk. And today I have a very special
guest across the pond. We got Kwan in here.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
How are you?
Speaker 1 (01:12):
I'm amazing man, I'm excited to have you.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
My favorite genre of R and B is definitely sultry
R and B, and you are dominating that right now.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
I appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
You've been nominated for Rookie of the Year. You've been
nominated for what is it, Best International Act by the
t Awards. How does it feel.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
I'm just so grateful, man, it's super overwhelming. Well, yeah,
I'm just grateful. I'm just so glad that people are
taking in my music and they like it as much
as I do.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Yeah, this is my introduction, like this year is my
introduction to you. But I've seen you been at this
for a while now. Previous previously to your single with Kialani,
you were on her project, and then you also had
a project out before that in twenty twenty three, So
just talk to me about your background in music.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
I put that first project out in twenty twenty I
think it was twenty twenty two, that one was, But
I kind of hated the songs on there because they
were just old, Like some of them I had written
in that twenty seventeen twenty eighteen, so I felt like
they were just a bit outdated for me, and I
was just like trying to push myself to a different level.
(02:23):
But I knew that people obviously had to hear the
journey and see you like where I started, you know
what I'm saying. So we still decided to put it out,
and then after that I started putting out singles and
when I dropped, eyes wide open, and I feel like
that's when people really started to take me and and
that's when I really started to like enjoy it too,
(02:43):
because I was like, this is actually the music that
I love, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
So, yeah, did it take time for you to find
your footing sound wise?
Speaker 2 (02:51):
I think it's always been there underlying.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
I just.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Couldn't make it blossom at first, you know what I'm saying.
And I feel like from as word opened, that's when
I was like, yeah, I've got it. Now, Yeah I've
got it. I've got it.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
And what is your relationship like with music growing up?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Like?
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Were you surrounded by music? Yeah, musicians, church.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
My whole family super they love music. My dad used
to be a DJ back in the day, but that
was before I was born, so I didn't really get
to see that side of him. I got two sisters,
they love music. My eldest sister she did like performing
arts in college, so she was always singing around the
house or whatever. My mom tone deaf, but she loves
(03:34):
music and she likes good music too. My granddad loves music.
My step grandad plays the piano. That's like my earliest
memory of music is like waking up at his house
and him just playing the piano in the morning, and
he plays the guitar as well. But yeah, super musical household.
Growing up. I didn't go to church or anything like that.
(03:55):
My family's not religious at all, but yeah, I just
at that that church side and gospel side. I love
it still though, even though I di I didn't grow
up around that, I still love that. So yeah, appreciate
the music, yeah for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
So growing up, what type of student were you? Were
you like good in school? Were you never never never
cared because you were always attracted to like entertainment.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
No, My my mom and dads were always like, you
need to do yeah, you need to do good in school.
My parents' evenings were like do you guys have those parents'
evenings like your parents coming? Yeah, there you go. Parents
each night they'll just be like, she's great, she just
can't concentrate, She just she can't sit still, and she
(04:40):
just she talks a lot, which is weird because I'm
super introverted and I'm not a talker. But like in school,
I was I just school was weird for me, Like
I enjoyed it, but I didn't at the same time,
what your signed?
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Super introverted aries, That doesn't make any sense.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
I'm in until you get to know me, okay, yeah,
and then once once you got me, you got me.
I'm all yours. Yeah, I'm all yours. But yeah, I'm
shy and I'm quiet to begin with.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Got it? Okay, super introverted arias, that's hilarious. I had
never heard that. So I am a leo. So we're fired.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
My dad's a Leo.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Amazing, but okay, So, and then did you go to
college at all?
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Yeah? From sixteen to eighteen. You guys have a different
college to us. I think that your college is our university.
I think, oh yeah, so college for us is sixteen
to eighteen, and then we go to university.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
So college for you guys is high school, right sixteen
to eighteen. Wait, so you guys break down the system.
For me, it's elementary school for US, middle school, high
school college.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
So we go primary school which is from like four
to ten okay, yeah, and then secondary school from like
ten eleven to sixteen, and then college sixteen to eighteen,
then university from like eighteen to twenty one.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
That is crazy, but it's it's college similar to primary school,
where it's like just in the building.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yeah yeah, same thing, same thing. By the university uniform campus, Yes,
uniform university is where you go for like your degree
in that.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
But living situation is different, right.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Yeah, and you live on campus and that, but you
don't have to. You don't have to. Okay, okay, yeah,
some people doing.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Okay, So let's talk about your latest music video. Patrenails
has been everywhere all on TikTok. Everybody's singing it. I
love it and I really love the music video because
it's so player. It's so player. Are you really this
p or are you like?
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Well, both, I'm a bit of both. I'm both. Okay,
I'm both. I can be super weird and for goofy,
but also yeah, I'm a little he.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Said when it comes to this music ship.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yeah, at the same time.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
So yeah, okay, everybody in the comments is like I
wish I was the all of the all of at
the end, oh yeah, you're eating. But talk to me
about that music video. Is it shot in one shot
or yeah it is?
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Can I say? What can I tell him about the
little Nah, yeah, it's shot in one shot, said, we
have some it's one shot.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Well, very well done. Who shot that?
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Chris Chance?
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Yeah, my director, Chris Chance.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Did he do the other one as well?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Behavior?
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Yeah, but he did that one to ye phenomenal. Who's
coming up with these treatments?
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Chris? It's me, Me and my manager calling and Chris.
We would just sit down, Me and Colin will have
an idea, like I'll have the song and then like
we'll call each other and be like, Yo, what do
you think about this idea? And we'll be like, yeah,
that's fire. Then we'll take it to Chris and he
just brings it to life and then haunts it even more.
Or sometimes Chris would be like, Yo, what do you
think about this idea? And we're like yeah, absolutely, But
we would trust each other so much.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
You guys are eating with these visuals. I feel like
music videos, like great music videos is kind of lost art,
and each time it's like it's a cliffhanger, or it's
just very aesthetically pleasing, like who, I don't know whose
idea it was for that fucking dancer. I was so
fired and then yeah, I'm I'm such a fan.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
I love it, thank you, and I want to.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Know about your creative process just in the studio, because
even like the details to the ums, or even like
the shoulders that match the ums. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Like I always say to people, if you watch my
dad listen to music, you would understand why I moved
the way I do. When I listen to music, like
where exactly the same, we just feel the beat differently,
like it's just it just runs through us. But processing
the studio, I think I'm allergic to professional studios that
(09:04):
I prefer just working in my bedroom. For real. I
make most of my songs at home in my room.
I don't ever force it. I'm always like, if it comes,
it comes. If it don't, I'm shut the laptop and
take myself away because I know my like, I don't
like forcing my brain to do stuff and putting pressure
on myself. I feel like when I was doing that,
(09:26):
I was taking the fun out of making music and
it just felt like a job. And I was just like, oh,
I've got to get this song, I've got to get
the next song. But I'm just like, no, I want
to keep loving this as much as I did at
the beginning. So yeah, I never try to put too
much pressure on myself.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
I love that. Do you feel like like working with
a major label made you feel like pressured at all?
Speaker 2 (09:50):
In any way? N because I know what I'm trying
to do and I know what I'm going for and
no disrespect to them, but like if they don't like it,
I'm gonna do it anyway, So.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
No disrespect. Now. On this show, we play a game
called Questions That Need Answers. All you have to do
is fill in the blank.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Okay, okay, the.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Older I get the less.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
I is these actual sayings.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Like no, like answer the question, the older I get
the less. I So what is something that you do
the older that you get?
Speaker 2 (10:33):
The older I get the less? I have six really yeah,
if you get old.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Okay, okay, no, no, I'm talking about you, like you
personally right now. I'm like, really, okay, the older old
me right now? Yes, okay, we drum, we drum with
(11:02):
the older I get the less.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
I care about what people think. I love that. Okay,
I'm with you now. Sorry, sorry, so you're fine. God
see where my brain is.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
I'm like, really, I want you to give my life elderly.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
You know that.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
I don't know. That's good. The less you care, Yeah, good.
But is there any like moment where you was like,
you know what, I don't give a fuck and I'm
gonna do me.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Probably like when I was at twenty one, I was
just like that's kind of early. Yeah, like twenty one,
twenty two, I was just like, oh, I don't care
about nobody anymore. I'm just gonna do me. But I've
always been like that my whole life. I always say
that my mom is instilled that in me, like from
a super super young age. My mom is she's got
tattoos from here down, like piercings everywhere, shoot hair like
(11:51):
a buzzcart tap type thing, and she's always just been
like just do you, like, don't care about what people think.
So I've had that from a young age, but like
obviously to grow into it a little bit, you know
what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
So yeah, twenty one is still early to be able
to grow into that. So sou to you. I love that.
And if you don't mind me asking, what's your ethnicity?
Speaker 2 (12:09):
I'm half Nigerian. What Yeah, my dad's Nigerian.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
That explains all the toxicity that explains it.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Yeah, I'm half Nigerian. Everyone thinks I'm Jamaican, but I'm
just faking. I grew up in Caribbean culture.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
So okay, yeah yeah yeah, so wait Nigerian and British.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Yeah moms were yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Yo, it had to be something. I knew it was
Nigerians every time, every time, who even you know what
I do this. I don't want no problems with none
of them because I plan on going to Legos. But okay,
you would never believe me if I told you.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
You never believe me if I told you I'm Nigerian.
Thro I don't think every time nobody's ever guessed I'm Nigerian.
Yeah maybe I think one person, like a few weeks ago,
guessed it, but like that's the first person in my
whole entire life for real. Yeah, everyone thinks I'm Caribbean.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
I definitely would have never guessed that. Have you been No, No,
not yet, no, never been. Oh they're gonna love you
for sure. Sometimes I look back at my life.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
And sometimes I look back at my life and I
can't believe where I am right now. Yeah yeah, why
it's just act I can Yeah, No, I can't believe it.
It's just like it's just it's just so real. I'm
just like every day I wake up and I'm just
so grateful. I'm just like, Wow, more followers, more likes,
(13:42):
more people listening to my music, more monthly listeners, more
views of my music videos. Like, yeah, I'm just so grateful.
But yeah, it's very very sourril.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
I love that. Yeah, And I love that you're like
humble and like still excited about it.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
I'll be trying.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Ten years now. I want my legacy to be.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Just that I stay true to myself and didn't fold
in front of the big lights and fame and all
of that. I just want to remain exactly who I am.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
So Yeah, Outside from making music, my favorite hobby.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
Is building legos. Really yea love lego?
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Ye fire. Did you see the new keep Hearing ones,
the dancing ones? Yes?
Speaker 2 (14:31):
I did. Actually the ones that you.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Can put up on your Yeah, I want to get
some of those. The hardest lesson I've learned about fame
so far is.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
It's not to let I feel like I keep repeating myself,
but to not let it like blind you for real,
like you can get wrapped up, you know. I just
feel like you have to stay grounded and just like,
remember why you're doing this. There's you. There's never a
point where you're better than anybody. Like everybody the still
learning and still growing, Like don't mind how big you are,
(15:04):
or like how many accolades you have or how many
awards or whatever it may be. Like they're still learning
to do and you can still keep yourself grounded and
stay humble and stay having gratitude for everything. You know
what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
So yeah, yeah, after my first check, I bought a
car that was a couple of years ago.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Yeah, and then I had to say it because I
was broke against.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Oh my god, the journey, Journey. See. People need to
hear stuff like that because people think that it's just
once you start standing next to certain people getting certain looks,
people think that, Yeah, okay, my favorite album of all time.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Is you know what's crazy? I don't listen to albums.
Oh yeah. Anytime people ask me that question, I always
struggle because I don't listen to of all time. This
is going to be I don't know if this is
(16:06):
going to be controversial. I love Leon Thomas's album. Yeah,
I'm going to say that because I actually listened to
that from top to bottom.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
So yeah, it's funny that you say that you're not
an album person. I became an album person in my
older years. But I would say especially your dad being
a DJ, because I'm a DJ too. I feel like
I've always just checked for hits. Yeah, because you're just
spinning to make like the crowd go, or like the
more you get into or like the more you get
(16:35):
invested into an artist, then you you dive into Like
but when you get into album mode, are you you
think you're going to be listening to projects or like,
how are you going to approach it?
Speaker 2 (16:46):
I don't know really. I don't listen to a lot
of music as it is what I do, but like,
I try not to take influence because otherwise I would
be like, I'll go into the studio, but I want
to make a song like that, you know. And I'm
such a person where it's like if I find a
song that I like, I'll listen to it one hundred
and fifty times back to back, so then I'll go
into the studio and then end up making a second
(17:08):
version of that song, you know what I'm saying. So
I just try and grab the inspiration from other things
that listening to, like I don't know, like if it's
instrumentals or something like that rather than like full songs,
you know.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
So yeah that makes sense. Are you into like the
low fi like jazz? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Little piece? Yeah? Yeah, little piece?
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Okay, little peace. I'm still a lingo man. By the
end of twenty twenty five, I hope to.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Be nominated for a Grammy. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Yeah, were going hard out there. Gay, I love it.
I love it. Okay, jay z Is.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Jay Z jay z Is jay Z jay Z. He's great,
he's good.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Oh man, Okay, Blake is one movie I can watch
with the sound off.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Oh uh, movie I can watch with the sound off.
Book of Eli. That's my favorite film. Yeah, Book of Eli.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
You know what, I was not expecting that.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Okay, I love that film.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
The craziest thing that happened to me on tour.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Is where were we when we went outside?
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Not they are all the time, they are.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
No, No, when we went outside to smoke. When we
went outside to smoke outside the front? Where was that
in Berlin? Was it or Brussels? One of them? We
just I went I went outside, and I went outside,
and everybody just came running up to me, and I
was like, whoa, this is crazy. Like obviously I'd never
(19:02):
experienced that before, and obviously being on tour with K
they're there for her. Do you get what I mean?
So it's like to see people then show me love
as well. It was just yeah, it was super super good.
And even just people singing my songs back to me
was crazy. Some girl flew from Toronto to Paris to
see me, which was insane. So yeah, I think it's
(19:24):
just a fan love. I just didn't expect it. I
don't think so. Yeah, you gotta get used to that.
I know, I know it's crazy. Even walking around the
streets in New York, I'm like, people be noticing me
and stuff, and I'm like, I know, it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Would you would you move to the US?
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Yea, yeah, yeah for sure.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Are you like a New York girly or La girly?
L A LA?
Speaker 2 (19:47):
New York is too similar to London for me?
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Okay, I can see that. Oh is is your music
videos reflecting your real life?
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Yeah, I mean, do I say you're still in bitches?
Speaker 3 (20:09):
I'm just I'm just asking, Yeah, do I say I
used to work in a restaurant in it, so we
kind of like paid homage to that.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
I wasn't a waitress. I was a chef, but we
didn't want to do it in the it was a chef. Yeah,
paty chef. Oh did that for a little while.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Wow you still be cooking?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Yeah, local peace.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
That is so dope. All right. So are we working
on a project? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Go project coming out June and the June. I'm doing
it in two parts, A side and the B side.
It is there's no lack story concept behind it, just
a bunch of songs that I really really like and
I really enjoyed making and I want people to hear
and I hope they like it as much as I do.
(21:02):
So yeah, it's for your headsap, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Okay, I'm excited. Let me see tour.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Yeah, end of the year. Yeah, I'm really excited about that.
I did a serious thing the other day and like
they had fans come and show love and that's like
the first time I've had people like show up for me,
So that was really cool. So I'm excited to go
on tour and like just feel the love.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
You know. It's I'm really like shocked by your shocking
feeling of people being excited to.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Meet you, Like, obviously I knew it was gonna happen,
and I keep saying this. I'm like, I say to
my manager all the time, I'm like, I asked for this,
I manifested this, Like I knew it was gonna happen
at some point, But it's still surrill to me. Like
it's just it's still mad. I'm just super grateful.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
So yeah, yeah, I'm excited for you.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
All my friends are so excited that I'm an interviewer.
But shout out to your Graham. Let everybody know where
they can follow k one if they don't already k
W n W A y amen on all platforms. Guys,
tune in. We Need to Talk is a production of
the Black Effect Podcast Network. For more podcasts from the
(22:19):
Black Effect Podcast Network, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Mixture you
guys follow We Need to Talk at w ntt LK
on Instagram and TikTok
Welcome to we need to talk with production of the
Black Effect Podcast Networks. And you're like, I'm trying to.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Get down with you with you and your boys know
what's up now?
Speaker 1 (00:15):
And we need to do talk the girl mone along
and you're not, you need to talk my girl. We
need a time. Is your music videos reflecting your real life?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Yeah, I mean you say you're still in the bitches.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
I think I'm allergic to professional studios. I prefer just
working in my bedroom for no disrespect to them, but
like if they don't like it, I'm gonna do it anyway.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
So that explains all the toxicity. That explains it.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
What's up, guys? K a money single? Do I say?
Is out? Now? What's something now that we need to talk?
Speaker 1 (01:03):
What's up?
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Guys?
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Now? Let's go on here with another episode that we
need to talk. And today I have a very special
guest across the pond. We got Kwan in here.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
How are you?
Speaker 1 (01:12):
I'm amazing man, I'm excited to have you.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
My favorite genre of R and B is definitely sultry
R and B, and you are dominating that right now.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
I appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
You've been nominated for Rookie of the Year. You've been
nominated for what is it, Best International Act by the
t Awards. How does it feel.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
I'm just so grateful, man, it's super overwhelming. Well, yeah,
I'm just grateful. I'm just so glad that people are
taking in my music and they like it as much
as I do.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Yeah, this is my introduction, like this year is my
introduction to you. But I've seen you been at this
for a while now. Previous previously to your single with Kialani,
you were on her project, and then you also had
a project out before that in twenty twenty three, So
just talk to me about your background in music.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
I put that first project out in twenty twenty I
think it was twenty twenty two, that one was, But
I kind of hated the songs on there because they
were just old, Like some of them I had written
in that twenty seventeen twenty eighteen, so I felt like
they were just a bit outdated for me, and I
was just like trying to push myself to a different level.
(02:23):
But I knew that people obviously had to hear the
journey and see you like where I started, you know
what I'm saying. So we still decided to put it out,
and then after that I started putting out singles and
when I dropped, eyes wide open, and I feel like
that's when people really started to take me and and
that's when I really started to like enjoy it too,
(02:43):
because I was like, this is actually the music that
I love, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
So, yeah, did it take time for you to find
your footing sound wise?
Speaker 2 (02:51):
I think it's always been there underlying.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
I just.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Couldn't make it blossom at first, you know what I'm saying.
And I feel like from as word opened, that's when
I was like, yeah, I've got it. Now, Yeah I've
got it. I've got it.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
And what is your relationship like with music growing up?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Like?
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Were you surrounded by music? Yeah, musicians, church.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
My whole family super they love music. My dad used
to be a DJ back in the day, but that
was before I was born, so I didn't really get
to see that side of him. I got two sisters,
they love music. My eldest sister she did like performing
arts in college, so she was always singing around the
house or whatever. My mom tone deaf, but she loves
(03:34):
music and she likes good music too. My granddad loves music.
My step grandad plays the piano. That's like my earliest
memory of music is like waking up at his house
and him just playing the piano in the morning, and
he plays the guitar as well. But yeah, super musical household.
Growing up. I didn't go to church or anything like that.
(03:55):
My family's not religious at all, but yeah, I just
at that that church side and gospel side. I love
it still though, even though I di I didn't grow
up around that, I still love that. So yeah, appreciate
the music, yeah for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
So growing up, what type of student were you? Were
you like good in school? Were you never never never
cared because you were always attracted to like entertainment.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
No, My my mom and dads were always like, you
need to do yeah, you need to do good in school.
My parents' evenings were like do you guys have those parents'
evenings like your parents coming? Yeah, there you go. Parents
each night they'll just be like, she's great, she just
can't concentrate, She just she can't sit still, and she
(04:40):
just she talks a lot, which is weird because I'm
super introverted and I'm not a talker. But like in school,
I was I just school was weird for me, Like
I enjoyed it, but I didn't at the same time,
what your signed?
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Super introverted aries, That doesn't make any sense.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
I'm in until you get to know me, okay, yeah,
and then once once you got me, you got me.
I'm all yours. Yeah, I'm all yours. But yeah, I'm
shy and I'm quiet to begin with.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Got it? Okay, super introverted arias, that's hilarious. I had
never heard that. So I am a leo. So we're fired.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
My dad's a Leo.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Amazing, but okay, So, and then did you go to
college at all?
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Yeah? From sixteen to eighteen. You guys have a different
college to us. I think that your college is our university.
I think, oh yeah, so college for us is sixteen
to eighteen, and then we go to university.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
So college for you guys is high school, right sixteen
to eighteen. Wait, so you guys break down the system.
For me, it's elementary school for US, middle school, high
school college.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
So we go primary school which is from like four
to ten okay, yeah, and then secondary school from like
ten eleven to sixteen, and then college sixteen to eighteen,
then university from like eighteen to twenty one.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
That is crazy, but it's it's college similar to primary school,
where it's like just in the building.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yeah yeah, same thing, same thing. By the university uniform campus, Yes,
uniform university is where you go for like your degree
in that.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
But living situation is different, right.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Yeah, and you live on campus and that, but you
don't have to. You don't have to. Okay, okay, yeah,
some people doing.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Okay, So let's talk about your latest music video. Patrenails
has been everywhere all on TikTok. Everybody's singing it. I
love it and I really love the music video because
it's so player. It's so player. Are you really this
p or are you like?
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Well, both, I'm a bit of both. I'm both. Okay,
I'm both. I can be super weird and for goofy,
but also yeah, I'm a little he.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Said when it comes to this music ship.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yeah, at the same time.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
So yeah, okay, everybody in the comments is like I
wish I was the all of the all of at
the end, oh yeah, you're eating. But talk to me
about that music video. Is it shot in one shot
or yeah it is?
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Can I say? What can I tell him about the
little Nah, yeah, it's shot in one shot, said, we
have some it's one shot.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Well, very well done. Who shot that?
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Chris Chance?
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Yeah, my director, Chris Chance.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Did he do the other one as well?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Behavior?
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Yeah, but he did that one to ye phenomenal. Who's
coming up with these treatments?
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Chris? It's me, Me and my manager calling and Chris.
We would just sit down, Me and Colin will have
an idea, like I'll have the song and then like
we'll call each other and be like, Yo, what do
you think about this idea? And we'll be like, yeah,
that's fire. Then we'll take it to Chris and he
just brings it to life and then haunts it even more.
Or sometimes Chris would be like, Yo, what do you
think about this idea? And we're like yeah, absolutely, But
we would trust each other so much.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
You guys are eating with these visuals. I feel like
music videos, like great music videos is kind of lost art,
and each time it's like it's a cliffhanger, or it's
just very aesthetically pleasing, like who, I don't know whose
idea it was for that fucking dancer. I was so
fired and then yeah, I'm I'm such a fan.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
I love it, thank you, and I want to.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Know about your creative process just in the studio, because
even like the details to the ums, or even like
the shoulders that match the ums. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Like I always say to people, if you watch my
dad listen to music, you would understand why I moved
the way I do. When I listen to music, like
where exactly the same, we just feel the beat differently,
like it's just it just runs through us. But processing
the studio, I think I'm allergic to professional studios that
(09:04):
I prefer just working in my bedroom. For real. I
make most of my songs at home in my room.
I don't ever force it. I'm always like, if it comes,
it comes. If it don't, I'm shut the laptop and
take myself away because I know my like, I don't
like forcing my brain to do stuff and putting pressure
on myself. I feel like when I was doing that,
(09:26):
I was taking the fun out of making music and
it just felt like a job. And I was just like, oh,
I've got to get this song, I've got to get
the next song. But I'm just like, no, I want
to keep loving this as much as I did at
the beginning. So yeah, I never try to put too
much pressure on myself.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
I love that. Do you feel like like working with
a major label made you feel like pressured at all?
Speaker 2 (09:50):
In any way? N because I know what I'm trying
to do and I know what I'm going for and
no disrespect to them, but like if they don't like it,
I'm gonna do it anyway, So.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
No disrespect. Now. On this show, we play a game
called Questions That Need Answers. All you have to do
is fill in the blank.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Okay, okay, the.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Older I get the less.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
I is these actual sayings.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Like no, like answer the question, the older I get
the less. I So what is something that you do
the older that you get?
Speaker 2 (10:33):
The older I get the less? I have six really yeah,
if you get old.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Okay, okay, no, no, I'm talking about you, like you
personally right now. I'm like, really, okay, the older old
me right now? Yes, okay, we drum, we drum with
(11:02):
the older I get the less.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
I care about what people think. I love that. Okay,
I'm with you now. Sorry, sorry, so you're fine. God
see where my brain is.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
I'm like, really, I want you to give my life elderly.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
You know that.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
I don't know. That's good. The less you care, Yeah, good.
But is there any like moment where you was like,
you know what, I don't give a fuck and I'm
gonna do me.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Probably like when I was at twenty one, I was
just like that's kind of early. Yeah, like twenty one,
twenty two, I was just like, oh, I don't care
about nobody anymore. I'm just gonna do me. But I've
always been like that my whole life. I always say
that my mom is instilled that in me, like from
a super super young age. My mom is she's got
tattoos from here down, like piercings everywhere, shoot hair like
(11:51):
a buzzcart tap type thing, and she's always just been
like just do you, like, don't care about what people think.
So I've had that from a young age, but like
obviously to grow into it a little bit, you know
what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
So yeah, twenty one is still early to be able
to grow into that. So sou to you. I love that.
And if you don't mind me asking, what's your ethnicity?
Speaker 2 (12:09):
I'm half Nigerian. What Yeah, my dad's Nigerian.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
That explains all the toxicity that explains it.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Yeah, I'm half Nigerian. Everyone thinks I'm Jamaican, but I'm
just faking. I grew up in Caribbean culture.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
So okay, yeah yeah yeah, so wait Nigerian and British.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Yeah moms were yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Yo, it had to be something. I knew it was
Nigerians every time, every time, who even you know what
I do this. I don't want no problems with none
of them because I plan on going to Legos. But okay,
you would never believe me if I told you.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
You never believe me if I told you I'm Nigerian.
Thro I don't think every time nobody's ever guessed I'm Nigerian.
Yeah maybe I think one person, like a few weeks ago,
guessed it, but like that's the first person in my
whole entire life for real. Yeah, everyone thinks I'm Caribbean.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
I definitely would have never guessed that. Have you been No, No,
not yet, no, never been. Oh they're gonna love you
for sure. Sometimes I look back at my life.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
And sometimes I look back at my life and I
can't believe where I am right now. Yeah yeah, why
it's just act I can Yeah, No, I can't believe it.
It's just like it's just it's just so real. I'm
just like every day I wake up and I'm just
so grateful. I'm just like, Wow, more followers, more likes,
(13:42):
more people listening to my music, more monthly listeners, more
views of my music videos. Like, yeah, I'm just so grateful.
But yeah, it's very very sourril.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
I love that. Yeah, And I love that you're like
humble and like still excited about it.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
I'll be trying.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Ten years now. I want my legacy to be.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Just that I stay true to myself and didn't fold
in front of the big lights and fame and all
of that. I just want to remain exactly who I am.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
So Yeah, Outside from making music, my favorite hobby.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
Is building legos. Really yea love lego?
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Ye fire. Did you see the new keep Hearing ones,
the dancing ones? Yes?
Speaker 2 (14:31):
I did. Actually the ones that you.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Can put up on your Yeah, I want to get
some of those. The hardest lesson I've learned about fame
so far is.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
It's not to let I feel like I keep repeating myself,
but to not let it like blind you for real,
like you can get wrapped up, you know. I just
feel like you have to stay grounded and just like,
remember why you're doing this. There's you. There's never a
point where you're better than anybody. Like everybody the still
learning and still growing, Like don't mind how big you are,
(15:04):
or like how many accolades you have or how many
awards or whatever it may be. Like they're still learning
to do and you can still keep yourself grounded and
stay humble and stay having gratitude for everything. You know
what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
So yeah, yeah, after my first check, I bought a
car that was a couple of years ago.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Yeah, and then I had to say it because I
was broke against.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Oh my god, the journey, Journey. See. People need to
hear stuff like that because people think that it's just
once you start standing next to certain people getting certain looks,
people think that, Yeah, okay, my favorite album of all time.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Is you know what's crazy? I don't listen to albums.
Oh yeah. Anytime people ask me that question, I always
struggle because I don't listen to of all time. This
is going to be I don't know if this is
(16:06):
going to be controversial. I love Leon Thomas's album. Yeah,
I'm going to say that because I actually listened to
that from top to bottom.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
So yeah, it's funny that you say that you're not
an album person. I became an album person in my
older years. But I would say especially your dad being
a DJ, because I'm a DJ too. I feel like
I've always just checked for hits. Yeah, because you're just
spinning to make like the crowd go, or like the
more you get into or like the more you get
(16:35):
invested into an artist, then you you dive into Like
but when you get into album mode, are you you
think you're going to be listening to projects or like,
how are you going to approach it?
Speaker 2 (16:46):
I don't know really. I don't listen to a lot
of music as it is what I do, but like,
I try not to take influence because otherwise I would
be like, I'll go into the studio, but I want
to make a song like that, you know. And I'm
such a person where it's like if I find a
song that I like, I'll listen to it one hundred
and fifty times back to back, so then I'll go
into the studio and then end up making a second
(17:08):
version of that song, you know what I'm saying. So
I just try and grab the inspiration from other things
that listening to, like I don't know, like if it's
instrumentals or something like that rather than like full songs,
you know.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
So yeah that makes sense. Are you into like the
low fi like jazz? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Little piece? Yeah? Yeah, little piece?
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Okay, little peace. I'm still a lingo man. By the
end of twenty twenty five, I hope to.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Be nominated for a Grammy. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Yeah, were going hard out there. Gay, I love it.
I love it. Okay, jay z Is.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Jay Z jay z Is jay Z jay Z. He's great,
he's good.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Oh man, Okay, Blake is one movie I can watch
with the sound off.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Oh uh, movie I can watch with the sound off.
Book of Eli. That's my favorite film. Yeah, Book of Eli.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
You know what, I was not expecting that.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Okay, I love that film.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
The craziest thing that happened to me on tour.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Is where were we when we went outside?
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Not they are all the time, they are.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
No, No, when we went outside to smoke. When we
went outside to smoke outside the front? Where was that
in Berlin? Was it or Brussels? One of them? We
just I went I went outside, and I went outside,
and everybody just came running up to me, and I
was like, whoa, this is crazy. Like obviously I'd never
(19:02):
experienced that before, and obviously being on tour with K
they're there for her. Do you get what I mean?
So it's like to see people then show me love
as well. It was just yeah, it was super super good.
And even just people singing my songs back to me
was crazy. Some girl flew from Toronto to Paris to
see me, which was insane. So yeah, I think it's
(19:24):
just a fan love. I just didn't expect it. I
don't think so. Yeah, you gotta get used to that.
I know, I know it's crazy. Even walking around the
streets in New York, I'm like, people be noticing me
and stuff, and I'm like, I know, it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Would you would you move to the US?
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Yea, yeah, yeah for sure.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Are you like a New York girly or La girly?
L A LA?
Speaker 2 (19:47):
New York is too similar to London for me?
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Okay, I can see that. Oh is is your music
videos reflecting your real life?
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Yeah, I mean, do I say you're still in bitches?
Speaker 3 (20:09):
I'm just I'm just asking, Yeah, do I say I
used to work in a restaurant in it, so we
kind of like paid homage to that.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
I wasn't a waitress. I was a chef, but we
didn't want to do it in the it was a chef. Yeah,
paty chef. Oh did that for a little while.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Wow you still be cooking?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Yeah, local peace.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
That is so dope. All right. So are we working
on a project? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Go project coming out June and the June. I'm doing
it in two parts, A side and the B side.
It is there's no lack story concept behind it, just
a bunch of songs that I really really like and
I really enjoyed making and I want people to hear
and I hope they like it as much as I do.
(21:02):
So yeah, it's for your headsap, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Okay, I'm excited. Let me see tour.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Yeah, end of the year. Yeah, I'm really excited about that.
I did a serious thing the other day and like
they had fans come and show love and that's like
the first time I've had people like show up for me,
So that was really cool. So I'm excited to go
on tour and like just feel the love.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
You know. It's I'm really like shocked by your shocking
feeling of people being excited to.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Meet you, Like, obviously I knew it was gonna happen,
and I keep saying this. I'm like, I say to
my manager all the time, I'm like, I asked for this,
I manifested this, Like I knew it was gonna happen
at some point, But it's still surrill to me. Like
it's just it's still mad. I'm just super grateful.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
So yeah, yeah, I'm excited for you.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
All my friends are so excited that I'm an interviewer.
But shout out to your Graham. Let everybody know where
they can follow k one if they don't already k
W n W A y amen on all platforms. Guys,
tune in. We Need to Talk is a production of
the Black Effect Podcast Network. For more podcasts from the
(22:19):
Black Effect Podcast Network, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Mixture you
guys follow We Need to Talk at w ntt LK
on Instagram and TikTok
Host
Nyla Symone
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