One on one with Leven Kali

Last week, I got the chance to have a chat with rising R’n’B artist, Leven Kali from Los Angeles (LA), California, who is set to perform at some epic festivals this summer. Leven is set to grace the same stage as Erykah Badu, Usher, Ella Mai, Summer Walker, T-Pain, Ari Lennox and Common to name a few at the Smokin’ Grooves festival in Long Beach in LA. And the Outside Lands festival in August alongside Lil Wayne, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals and Childish Gambino to name a few. 

Leven Kali and I had a great Conversation about:

  • An unreleased  song he and Usher collaborated on, that has The meaning behind his songs and his name having a deeper meaning
  • Dealing with attention from fans and his rise
  • Choosing between playing Golf professional and doing music full time.
  • His live London show and musical influences.
  • Working with Diggy Simmons and Syd from the Internets
  • Music of course and much much more.

Continue reading to find out all you need to know about the talented Leven Kali. 

 Full Leven Kali Interview

Fashion over health

  Pretty hurts

Hello!

  Hey, What’s up?

How you doing?

I’m Great! How are you?

I’m very good thank you. Thank you for joining me today.

  Of course thanks for having me.

So, you’re in the UK? How are you enjoying you London leg of the tour?

  It couldn’t be better to be honest.

 Yea

   I wasn’t even expecting like….. the… vibes we got. It’s been amazing!

Yea. How do you cope with like people knowing your from around the world? Do you know what I mean?

  I’m like learning how to do that. It’s my first time

*Laughs* Your first time in London?

No, I have been out here before. But it’s my first time being here like- you know promoting music and doing shows and stuff. Seeing like a response you know.

So, I read somewhere….cause you know I did a little research. That you use to play golf and you stepped away from playing professional golf?

I was playing erm like at the NCAA college. I wasn’t like A pro yet- but I was in school playing.

Goooolf though? I feel like that’s such a grown man sport.

Yea

How did you go from like golf to music?

I was like already doing music, so I was playing instruments and you know like jamming with the homies and then golf was like later. Golf was like the weird thing I did, compared to what people around me were doing. And then….. I just came back to the music. I was like I can’t be doing that.

I’m so happy you came to the music.

Me too.

 Beause I’m not gonna lie. I don’t watch golf. It’s a little bit boring for me.

I’m shocked. *Laughs*

*Laughs* I tried to play it once but it was an absolute failure.

It’s pretty difficult at first.

I was like no. I got kicked off the course. But that’s not the story. Anyway back to the music. You have got a tune with Syd from The Internet?

Yes.

Phenomenal collaboration!

Thank you.

How did that collaboration come about?

So that was errm….. that was like a blind date session. I had never met Syd before.

Ok!

And erm my best friend/collaborator coproduced her – Zack Sekoff. He and I linked up with Syd in the studio. We just kicked it and errr became homies. They maybe had worked together in the past. But as far as the 3 of us or me and Syd, it was our first time. So it was like linking up. Like I always like to talk to people before we get into the music. It was just a great vibe and then we made the song and then, yea!

Now that song is amazing and what else is amazing is your Low Tide project.

Thank you!

So many good tunes on there.

Thank you.

OOHHH My ! Like how did you get into that creative zone to create such beautiful work?

Erm it was just like over time . I’ve kinda grown even like when I look at that tracks, I see like how far I have come. Just as a musician, and as a producer, and a song writer and everything. It was like a mood spanned over time. You know.

Yeaa.

Did I answer the question?

You Did

Ok

Like a mood span like everywhere. I feel like everybody need to listen to that body of work because it just so like ….a lot of people say R’n’B is dead, but then when you hear that project it is so much alive.

Thank you- I appreciate that.

Who did you grow up listening to?… Cause it gave me like kinda like Keith Sweat vibe .. like some old skool 90s

Yeaaaa Twitsed and all that yeaaa, yeaaa.

As well as him, who else did you listen to growing up?

Erm I listened to a lot of Earth Wind and Fire and Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder ermm I use to love Rage against the Machine. errrm I went through a little metal phase, like a lot of like this band called Avenge Sevenfold and like System of a Down and kinda like some Jazz artists. I mean I love D’Angelo so much.

I can hear the Jazz in your project as well

Yea, I mean  I grew up playing drums in a jazz band -so that was that like big.  Being in a Jazz band in school they like make you listen to all the classics and play a bunch of standards all the time.

And speaking of the music on the project one particular tune ‘1 on 1’.

That’s like my Keith Sweat join

Yeeaaah. I was like woooo. You really brought the 90s in 2019 so well.

Yea

Talk to me a little bit about that tune.

Sooo, there’s a producer from Australia, his name is MXXWLL. You know about him?

Yea yea

He is a beast. So that we linked up and now that is like a brother of mine. Like a close friend.

So we are gonna have more music from you two?

Oh yea!

ok. Good good good.

But yea he produced that one, that was him. and we just caught a vibe. He had like an idea of the beat, loop and we were kicking it and I heard it. and I was like this is mine. And we wrote it and that was it. It was like a pretty quick creation, but then we added that bridge and that modulation and everything later. My DJ and my bass player helped me write the bridge and then it was like a cool. It definitely made the record go from like here to here.

Yea yea

It is sooo. Like listening to it…. it definitely did give me Keith Sweat vibes and erm when you are hearing it, it’s like….you know when you are listening to an old skool 90s tunes you know you are listening to Jodeci, you know you are listening to like…… and it sounds like its coming from there.

Yea

You two did it so well, where it sounds like you kinda second guess it-  did this come out now, or did this come out in 1992?

Yea

Was I alive when this tune came out. It’s really really really good. So

Thank you that’s props to MXXWLL. I mean he produced that joint that’s like his ear on the beat and just like we spent so much time tweaking it, and like mixing it, and then going back and fourth between us and Jimmy Douglas- who helped mix it, so that was a real props to MXXWLL thank you for blessing me with that track.

Yea, Big up MXXWLL. Cause I love it and I have it on repeat. Someone else who you have worked with is Diggy Simmons?

Yea

You feature on a tune ‘Text Me’?

Uh HUH

I wanna know. If you was to text your crush what would you say?

Well I mean I don’t have to text any crush cause I have a lovely lady that I can say whatever I want.

Sorry ladies he is not available. I’ll just leave then

*Laughs*

*Laughs* Only joking. I’m joking i’m joking. If you had a free pass to text a crush.

You tryna get me in trouble 

hypothetically speaking- what would you say Or give some advice to the guys out there

Maybe errr, maybe err I would say “Yo, do you wanna come kick it with me and Sophie” and instead of a 1 on 1, we can do a 2 on 1.

*Laughs*

Ok, so you are just friend zoning all the crushes out there. Ladies it’s not a thing. On the topic of text, we will move away from the crush talk, cause you don’t want to get yourself in trouble. Well done

Right

OK, yea yea yea. I still feel like girls are gonna be screaming for you but well you know. Your gonna have to bat them away. Errr on the topic of text what is your most used emoji.

Probably the palm tree

Reeeaaally?

Yea, I love the palm tree.

I was not expecting that 

Well we have a thing called Palm Studios, so Palm Studios is like our movement, our place were the homies, the creative force behind like everything we have going on. So Palm, you know I’m from LA so there is palm trees everywhere. and erm yea

That is such a random emoji to use, I wasn’t expecting that.

I love the palm tree. I love the palm tree and I like the errrm the face that’s like agghh. *Laughs*

*Laughs* I reckon I can’t relate to the palm tree cause look. you know you are over here in london, you can’t see it but the window is right there grey clouds. so unfortnately.

The rain drop and the chicken.

You opened up for the one and only Lauryn Hill

Yea, that was crazy

Oh My Oh My Gosh. What was it like sharing the same stage as her?

F’in crazy. Insane!

Yea. We will just beep that out

oh sorry.

No your fine.

It was unreal. It was an honour. I mean the night before the show we got a call.

No way? The night before?

I had known a week before that she was picking or her agent was picking between a few different options. or R’n’B artist that were already in the area. We had just done a festival in Northern California and so we got that call. It was actually crazy. We had just got off stage, like tripping and got a phone call saying we were gonna open for Lauryn soo… it was just like. The emotions at that point were just like.

That is mad…. How do you prepare for that?

You don’t have that much time, when it’s the night before, but we had a set already, as we planned to do other shows around that time. So we just do what we do.

Did you get to speak to her and get any advice from her?

I did. And that was pretty magical, because you hear so many things about celebrities and I’m a big believer in you can’t take somebody’s word for somebody  else until you meet the person. So getting to meet Ms Lauryn Hill -was like such a pleasant surprise and such an….amazing experience because you know we all look up to her so much and she had nothing but positive nice things to say and gave me a big hug and we took pictures. She said “You know- we gotta do this again” and like yo That was really cool. So thank you to whoever made that happen. Thank you Ms Lauryn.

How did you keep your cool around her. Cause I’m not even gonna lie I feel like I would be fan girling out. 

Nah we, *Laughs* were tripping. We had to like make a whole plan, cause we knew she had a meet and greet. But we knew if we could stand in front of her looking sad for long enough, she would notice us and feel guilty and come over and talk. So you know we had to talk to her team and finesse our way in and then  finally get the picture and all that.

That is incredible! Oh My Goodness

It was pretty crazy.

Who else like with Lauryn Hill have you been in ore of meeting?

Oh, I opened for the legendary Craig David that was like my first

Craig David, and you called him a legend. I respect that you respect the London culture like this.

Yea! You got to.

That’s my cousin Craig.

*Laughs*

No he is ligit like everyone’s cousin over here

He is a beast. I love his music. and he is also like same thing. Meeting him was like wow. Like once again another example of like somebody who. Not that I ever heard anything but just like you never know what to expect when you meet somebody of that stator and that level. He was humble and kind and respected everyone on my team. You know nothing but respect for you Craig. 

Oh, I just love that you love a bit of craig David. What is one of your favourite tunes from him?

This hit *Hmmms Craig David 7 days Song*

Monday, took her for a drink

Yea, is that 7 days

I’m not gonna sing it but Love a bit of Craig. Now what can we expect from you in 2019. The rest of 2019

We got a bunch of shows. Not sure how fast this is coming out, But on Saturday we have Smokin’ Grooves in Long beach- Erykah Badu and Usher Headlining that.

Oh my god

Crazy! And then we have a few festivals in America and then High Tide part two.

So wait, can we go back to Eyrkah Badu and Usher. You going to be at a festival with them.

They are headlining. It’s a super R’n’B festival, Erykah Badu, Usher, Ari Lennox, you know. Who else is performing there Tom? *Asks friend in the room*

  *Friend in room answers * I’m gonna telll you right now

*Sighs* that sounds amazing

Its honestly just a Stack line up. 

When is this

*Friend in room replies *Usher, Daniel Caesar, Kali Uchis, T-Pain, The Dream, Teddy 

*Sings* Turn out the lights. NOOOO!

Yeeeeaaa!

When is this

Saturday in Long Beach

I feel like London we kinda Lacking. We are coming

You got that festival that like Love

Lovebox?

That’s out here that similar R’n’B thing similar.

That’s more R’n’B than Lovebox. I’m not gonna lie

Well this one is pretty insane like this is like that line up is.

It sounds insane

Its an honour to be part of that line up

Have you met Erykah Badu before,

Nah

What you gonna do when you meet her? Apparently you don’t look into her eyes, cause you will like fall in love. Yea, cause she is that awesome.

Yea you just like yea. You gotta like look at the floor

A 100%

I don’t know, I like if I get a chance to meet her that would be cool but you know how it is at those festivals. she probably busy. And I am like an earlier set time so I like be in the crowd.

But that’s good though.

Don’t be in the crowd, mingle.

I wanna hear that you don’t get good sound backstage.

No, I Know, In the crowd is so much better. Where it needs to be.

But a collaboration with you and Erykah or You and Usher? I’m here for

I have a crazy fact to drop on you

Drop it now *Makes bomb drop sound*

In the deep, deep, vault ungrounded, underneath the back cave, like you know face recognition passcode, finger print everything. In a super locked vault there is a Leven and Usher track.

Shut the front door. Why is this not coming out?

It was just like a vibe. U know that’s like big bro? Yo, its nothing bro. It was like a little bit ago we had some sessions in the studio because he was working with Srillex and the time and I had just been introduced to Srillex so we were working on some stuff just like kinda just vibing out and went to dinner a couple of times.

Just casually went to dinner with Usher?

It sounds like I  am saying it light- But I have had time to come down. *Laughs*

*Laughs*

But it is pretty crazy but year Usher when he speaks to you in real life you are like you’re a legend. He sings when he speaks. and weaars shades all the time, and has the Wraith with all the lights. 

*Laughs* Now that is….. When did you lot record that?

Errmmm it was like 2017, 2018

I’m gonna need you to release it

We just have a few ideas

We will see maybe we will reconnect and see what happens.

You need to- At the festival on Saturday. Jus be like Usher do you remember that tune. I’m just gonna release it on Tuesday. I’m just going to drop it.

Exactly

And he will probably be like “Yeah, Yeah” *Sings Ushers Song Yeah*

*Laughs*

That was my cheesy joke for the day.

Nah you landed that though, I like that. Congrats

Thank you very much, thank you. 

Round of appaulse *Claps*

No we are gonna need to hear that. So as well as you have a secret Vault Vault locked away with Usher. Who else would you like to work with in the future?

Erm I think it would be incredible to be around Stevie Wonder. Even just like jamming to learn and absorb. He is like one of the last to like, all time legends that we still have on the planet with us so …I feel like that’s a irreplaceable moment to value and look at. You know what’s crazy I’ve sat at a table next to him once and that was almost enough, but I would really just like have him at a keybroad and be around him that would be like over the mooon! Like ultimate!

When you were at this table did you speak to him. Did you get to speak to him?

No, he was getting bothered by a bunch of people so. He was turning to chill to.

I believe in putting things out into the universe, so if you say it multiple times stick it on a mood board you will meet him.

I love it!

So anyways thank you for joining me today.

Thank you for having me.

I mean it’s a pleasure! Where can we keep up to date with everything you have got going on?

Ermm so Where can you keep up with it?

Like if we wanna stalk you. Not too much cause we know you are taken.

Everything is @ L-E-V-E-N K-A-L-I. Leven Kali.com, Merch we got the Low Tide Stuff. Can’t wait to come back here

My Lucky Day, with Lucky Daye!

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of talking to New Orleans soulful R’n’B artist Lucky Daye, who is set to perform at the 2019 BET Awards. Lucky Daye will perform a live rendition at the BET Awards, alongside the likes of; H.E.R, Cardi B, Lil Nas X, DJ Khaled, Migos, DJ Mustard, Billy Ray Cyrus, City Girls, Lizzo, Lil baby, and Kiana Lede.

Lucky Daye and I had a great Conversation about:

  • The meaning behind his songs and his name having a deeper meaning
  • Dealing with attention from fans and his rise 
  • His home town New Orleans and their Southern Hospitality
  • His live London show and musical influences
  • Music of course and much much more.

Continue reading to find out all you need to know about the delightful Lucky Daye. Whose London show was great and full of vibes, energy and left the crowd wanting more… You can also watch the full video on youtube

 Full Lucky Daye Interview

Hello Everybody! I am joined with a very special guest, and I’m going to drop a little cheesy joke….. It must be my Lucky day!

*Makes siren sound*

Because I am joint with Lucky Daye.

*Laughs* Yes, Yes, Yes. Thank you for having me.

How you doing?

Yea, I’m good. I’m good

Is this your first time in London?

This is my second time in London. But this is my first time in London with a dollar in my pocket. *Laughs*…Like… I could go to the store and be like…. I was just talking about this with somebody, and like we’re like. Yea- I go to the store and be like I could buy that.  But I’m not *Laughs*…

But last time you were here, you were probably just staying in the hotel then?

Yea

You got here. but that was it?

Yea, that was it.

*Laughing*

*Laughing*

Now your name is really interesting. Why Lucky Daye?

Erm… Well… Lucky is when preparation meet opportunity. And I want it to be every day. It took me like two weeks to figure out. I only looked up the definition of ‘luck’, because one of my family members thought it was like it sinful to call myself Lucky.

But, really? 

Petty, right? Yea, I know. But I looked it up and I was like isn’t nothing wrong with that. So…. I’m ’bout to make a stand. I’m like I don’t know why they make me do this….  * Laughs*Like imma make a stand. I’m a be Lucky every day. And then I read Marvin Gaye; his name use to be no ‘e’ and then he added an ‘e’ so like I’m a start mine with an ‘e’. 

Ok, ok!

ummm hmmm

Now speaking of Marvin Gaye, you see when you sing you got this like old soul passion.

I like to think I channel  the greats.

So, who did you grow up listening to, cause I feel like I can hear it in your music?

errrr….. I eventually listened to like Tyrese. And  well I  never name women, but there it’s a lot of women that have influenced my voice.

Like who?

Like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. People like that.

Yea!? Can you hit them high notes though? Like Mariah?

Yea, I just got my whistle voice.

Ooooh, *Claps- applauds* Congratulations!

Thank you!

I’ve been working on mine for a very long time.

Oh, Really? Let me hear you?

*Attempts to sing*No. Oh, It’s just not there. It is usually there but I’m just stage fright. 

Oh nah, nah nah.

 I mean you know- there is a professional in front of me.

*Laughs*

I’ll send you a voice recording then you’ll get it. If it sounds like Mariah it’s not her, it’s me!

Oh, Yea *Chuckles*

Did you also listen to 90’s R’n’B?

Yea, I listened to Tyrese and Kelly price.

The Iseley Brothers and that?

I listened to them like later

But you do know that song ‘Mr Big Song’, right?

The ‘Mr Big Song’? How does that go? Use your whistle voice on that one. 

*Sings Isley Brother song*

You can’t sing that! *Laughs*

What about? Oh yea. What about Busted? Is that? oh

You can’t sing that either. Cancelled!

Moving on to the next question. Moving on swiftly. Your tune Karma taken from your latest project, talk to me about that one?

That song…. Tune-How y’all say it. That is called Karma and it’s talking about a friend that I had…. that I wanted to just stay friends with so bad- because she was so sad all the time. But then she liked me in a like romantic way and I knew at the end of the day I just wanted to help her not be sad. Because for me my care comes before my physical needs.

That’s nice. so…You’re not an F boy?

Oh, Nah nah. Never that.

That’s lovely. Continue ….*Laughs*

That’s a disaster story right there. But nah she  alway came around telling me stories and stuff. And like I’m empathic. I wanted to like build her confidence and that. She liked me but I couldn’t like her because that wasn’t the way. But, it got to a point where it was like…alright- you cute, you nice, you know what I’m saying?

Did you let her grow on you?

I let her grow on me

Ahhh, thats dangerous you know.

It’s bad, but I let her grow on me and right when I let her grow… she did something bad to herself and it broke my heart and then she left us. I was like- wow why would you do something like that? So the song comes from- she won’t stop running round you and right when I wanted to love her she do something like that.

But  does that then make you think you’ve got a kind of maybe, when something is presented to you, take it straight away or like… do you know what I mean?

But I didn’t like her (in a romatic way). but when I started liking her and I just like prep her up. She went to like a deeper depression, because when I wasn’t around it was worse.

Yea. Did you become her happiness?

yea

It is a lot of responsibility when you become somebody’s happiness

  I know now. Yep, I know now

I never knew that listening to the song. It sounds like

It’s a happy song?

Yea, so it doesn’t sound like. It’s like- how can I say it? It doesn’t sound like Destiny’s Child- Bug-a-Boo. 

*Bursts out Laughing*

But it’s like the 2019 male version of Bug-a-Boo.  

It gave you that feeling?

Yea *Sings  You make me wanna* through my Karma… Remix!

Ahhhh… *Sings Karma 

That’s interesting how you are able to go so deep on a tune, but still keep it up beat

yea  because, I wanna be ok to dance. I wanna be ok to know that. What is crazy is her mom tried to blame it on me. She killed me. I was broken down. I didn’t even have a Christmas. I was like wow. that crazy.

Was this recently?

Yea- it was erm  2016.

How are you know Lucky? 

Yea, I’m alright. She chose.

Aww this is so sad. I feel for you. I’m going to need tissue

I know, this is why I don’t talk about my songs. Now you gonna be thinking about it in a sad way? You suppose to be dancing!

What we will do is everybody listening  out there. I mean I like it, it’s chilled,  it’s a vibe. What we gonna do is when we are out with friends (summer is here),  we are gonna have a good time with it. It is when we have gone home and we are by ourselves we can take it in.

Think about it. And have a box of tissues?

Yea. Now your London show is tomorrow? I’m going!!! *Cheers* I’m super excited.

I’m gonna be looking for you.

I’ll be at the front. So when you point at me Imma scream, ‘He was pointing at me’?

Yup. Imma be like- you damn right.

Thank you

*Laughs*

What kind of energy you gonna bring to the stage?

Oh, big energy!

Ok

I got my band. I flew my band out.

Yaahhh!

I aint gonna do that for nothing.

I love a band!

Oh yeah? We bout to tear that stage up. It’s gonna be a sweaty floor, when I get off stage.

Oh, I don’t like sweaty

 when I get off. You gonna be on the floor.

I don’t like on the floor either. Maybe I should wear jeans, i was gonna wear a nice little dress and heels.

You should wear a raincoat.

*Laughs* and an umbrella. How does it make you feel to have so many fans around the world?

Well – Somebody just bombarded me for an autograph outside. So, that was nice

Was, it weird. Is it weird when people do that?

I was like damn how you supposed to be like a star? Are you meant to sign it? Are you meant to be like, nah so they can want it next time. I don’t know. But I just want to be nice to everybody. For some reason. so, I just signed it- then I was like let me take a picture. cause I appreciate them. I didn’t make the songs for people to like do that, I didn’t make the songs for people to go crazy over me. or noting. Cause I go crazy over them. I got crazy over people, and I realised that.

That’s nice. Really?

Yes! 

So, they are like Lucky Daye and you’re like… So like, can we get a picture? And you are like, can I get a picture?

Oh My God! Yea. *Laughs*. Literally, I do.

No way? That is so awesome. That’s nice. Don’t ever lose that. Some people over the time get a bit tired of it.

Nah, I do. Don’t (ever lose it)?Nah, I am not gonna be uptight. I’m from New Orleans man! Southern Hospitality. You know we know how to do all that. We keep it real country.

I like that. I’ve never been to New Orleans.

You know we have great food?

I’ve been to Atlanta, is that close?

No-Kinda.

OK. I’ll make sure next time I go over. I’ll go there.

Atlanta is nice. Atlanta taught me how to make commercial music. And it taught me like how to hustle. In the street…. like how to make money and stuff like that. So…

Did you live in Atlanta?

Yea, I stayed out there for like 3 years, 4 years. and I was just trying to like survive. And make money.

Were you there whilst doing music?

Yep, that’s why I went. Like, trying to make music,  because I didn’t know nothing about music.

I’ve notice in America, people either go to like LA (Los Angeles) or Atlanta.

It use to be like New York, Right? Somebody told me that New York use to be like popping for that.

But isn’t that more like just for Rap?

New York?

Yea?

ummm, maybe.

I don’t know- im making up. Just like I dont know

You might be right.

LA was more for  acting. New York was more rapping and Atlanta was more like…..

Everything black

Who would you like to work with in the UK?

Who would I like to work with in the UK? Errr…. Is Sampha still working? He is cool!

Do you know who you will sound good with? Nao

I hope she come to my show

If she does come to your show. I will be screaming for you and her.

*Laughs* Ok, that will sound good. That will be fire

Yea, she is sick. You got to reach out

That would be crazy I was listening to her song ‘Another lifetime’ today. It is one of my workout songs.

Oh, you’ve got Nao on your workout playlist?

I workout to Soul R’n’B. Y’all can workout to Trap all day. I don’t care. I’m working out to slow stuff.

I heard someone else say that. Like they run to slow jams.

Yeaaah

That will put me in my feeling. I’ll probably run to like my ex’s house

I work out to like James Blake.

But like Jodeci Feenin’. I’ll be like running to my ex. I went for a run but I ended up at your house like, I don’t know how I did this?

*Laughs*

Ok, we are gonna wrap this up. But before you go. To prepare for you show Tomorrow. Where can be keep up with everything you have going out?

You can keep up instagram @IAMLUCKYDAYE 

Daye with and ‘e’. 

and YouTube Lucky Daye I put some live videos on my YouTube.

Are you dropping a video for Karma?

Imma drop a video for every song.

Do you know why? because I fully know what Karma is about now? Before I was like Bug-a-Boo. But if you tell that story in a music video. It would be like a mini movie

Oh my God, you said the magic words. I think you woke up a chil’. Mini Movies. Yea.

I’m telling you, and obviously if you are looking for a lead?

*Laughs* Yeaaah. A lead in it. We’ve got a lead.

Yea, I can be the girl moving in slow motion. Loook….

Oh, that’s the Spike Lee Joint.

*Acting out scene* That’s me crying cause you don’t like me. Look see

oh, no. I don’t want you to cry.

I think I did quite good- innit?

Oh you got the 411 with it.

Yea

That’s nice. I digg

Thank you for joining me today.

Thank you for having me.

Enjoy the rest of your time in london

I will

And i’ll see you tomorrow at your show

Make sure you tell me, where to turn up at?

No, I will

Do you want me to tell you

Ok

On air or of air?

No this is off now. Done

My weekend on Ends …

The Ends Festival on Saturday … Ready to see Wiz Kid

So last weekend was the first ever Ends festival … taking place in Lloyd park croydon with over 30,000 people attending over the weekend. 

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to attend Friday so I didn’t get to see Nas headline (begins to cry but then stops to not ruin mascara) 

I did however get to shake a leg on the Saturday and Sunday.

So what did I think of it all ? Well let me tell you 

The Line up for Saturday

This day was definitely the afro beats day with performances from Wande Coal, Teni the Entertainer and Maleek Berry just to name a few. Wizkid headlined and boy oh boy did he shut it down. A few people in the crowd including myself, waited so see if he would bring out Skepta or maybe even Drake. So when he said that he wanted to bring out his brothers, I jumped so high I thought I was going break an ankle. The brothers he was talking about were actually NSG, who I must say brought nuff energy to the stage and the crowd went wild. 

I heard a few girls mention that there was a lot of girls at the festival and not enough guys. To be fair it was 1st June which marked the championship final between Liverpool and Tottenham, so I would imagine that many men were watching the match instead. 

Each performance on the day was sick and every artist really delivered on stage. I have to say though, my fave was kranium. In true Jamaican style he asked a couple girls to join him on stage and let one run into his arms for a whine (of course I had to capture this moment on snapchat) 

The sun was out and the vibes were good, so I left the festival excited to return for the next day. 

The line up for Sunday

I returned back to the festival super excited to see Miraa May, as she is one of my favs in the UK. 

The Sun was hiding this day but the weather was still warm. Just like Saturday, the energy on stage was on point. It was my first time seeing Nao live and she really did her thing on stage. She might be sweet and softly spoken but her whine is serious, throughout her performance I must have shouted YASSSSSS girl about 10 times. Damien Marley was awesome and seeing him perform a couple of his fathers tunes was emotional. He really gave his all to the performance and literally stayed on stage for about an hour an a half. 

A few talented people I got to link up with Miraa May, Teni the entertainer, Jaz Karis, Harry Pinero and Alicai Harley.

Over all 

Would I attend next year? 

Absolutely … the line up was so sick and if they keep that same energy for who they get to perform in 2020, then it’s sure to be a success.

There was three stages all in all… The main stage, another semi main stage and also a future stage ( a dope place to see up and coming talent) 

There’s a variety of food stalls to eat from, even if your vegan but just know the queues get crazy later on in the day, so don’t leave it to late before you grab some food.  

Toilets are everywhere and although I didn’t use them myself, I’ve been told that they were decent and clean. 

To get to Llyod park it’s a simple tram ride alway from East Croydon station but the trams are locked off from around 9:30pm and 10:30pm. I’m assuming this is due to health and safety. Yes it does leave you with a bit of a walk back to the station but walking with the festival crowd makes it a vibe. 

I had the pleasure of going back stage to meet and interview some artists, so watch this space because a Vlog will be on the way very soon.  

For more information and to keep up to date on the 2020 announcement visit theendsfestival.co.uk

Quick selfie in the middle of Wizkid

So as I decided to wear extremely uncomfortable boots on Sunday, I’m off to sock my feet.

See you soon 

Chyna 

XOXO