Q Have you been to Womad before?
A Yes but this is the first time I’ve played solo, the first time I’ve headlined.
Essential road trip items?
Oh, definitely a well-curated playlist, my togs and a towel just in case, snacks - I love proper crisps, tortilla chip cheese and jalapeno, hummus and some natural confectionery aeroplanes, the sour ones and a big thing of coconut water.
Your songs speak to me about resilience and digging in when things get hard, which feels so apt right now.
Are you kidding? I was just watching Jenny May [reporting from Tiniroto]. I’m grateful I’m not in that situation. But we are all feeling their pain. It’s tangible, the collective stress, the intensity; you can feel the sadness and melancholy. Our feet, our backs, our spirits are tired. We all need to experience some levity, everyone needs a Rip van Winkle-style nap. Or three days of just communing, a big convivium of people.
Are you playing all three days of Womad?
Actually I’m cooking on the second day; I’m doing a cooking demonstration. A Southern-style sweet potato souffle. I love to cook. I cook a lot at home, it’s my love language. I’m pretty good, well, so far the reviews are good.
You are involved in almost every part of your content?
I was just working on the design work for [the new album], I’m usually involved in some way, the design work, the videos. Just put the challenge in front of yourself and see if you can do it.
The new EP is called ‘‘Future Classic vol 1: Classic’’
My soul is baked in old-school music, that’s my ancestry, my whakapapa, my bloodline. My dad’s (blues musician Taj Mahal) family are all musicians and I need to honour that, but I’m always looking to the future. It’s two sides of the same coin. People always try to pigeonhole you, but my dad always says you don’t have to understand the person to enjoy the music. Does the music make you feel something? Is the music good?
I’m inspired by classic R&B artists Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield ... not just one style though, I’m after a timeless classic sound for the six songs on this EP. I want to write songs that are forever, not just something that reflects the times. It’s a real bedroom production. I worked with Chris Wethy, an awesome Christchurch artist who just won an Apra Maioha award at the Silver Scrolls [for Waiata Reo Maori]. We’ve just spent half the lockdown year in my bedroom, working off a beat or an idea I put together. Working with all local musicians, I play on it a little bit, and Auckland musicians Michael Howell and Marika Hodgson, on the last track, are also from Auckland. Everyone is from Aotearoa, it’s very special to me. I needed to make this music and I’m desperate to share it.
Being independent can not be easy.
Hell no. People aren’t handing it to you. As a woman, and a black woman, you’ve got to figure it out, especially if you aren’t mainstream, it’s a totally different landscape. You do your content and social media and grow as an artist. This was my challenge to myself. What are you made of? It’s really honest, it’s super earnest. It means so much to me. I want to be honest about my feelings, so the music penetrates hearts and minds, promotes vulnerability. But this record, I also want to be able to enjoy singing the songs. I love a sad torch song that I can sink my teeth into. Working with Chris was just a dream. We took the approach ‘‘what makes this music feel like it flows? What makes it feel good?’’
What is it like to be on stage?
It’s exhilarating. It’s intimidating, it’s a lot of things. It’s really euphoric. You feel connected with the highest form of energy and creative source. It’s like you are conducting that energy. I’m going to play the six new songs from the new EP, I’m jazzed on that, and old stuff, all my songs and tracks. I’m performing with a seven-piece band, we start rehearsals next week. I’m dying to get on that stage.
• Womad will be held from March 17-19 at the Bowl of Brooklands and Brooklands Park, New Plymouth.
