01Profile
A Chikaya Photo
Chikaya
Bristol — Musician
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Chikaya, Out of Space
Describe your style in three words?
Monochrome, unplanned, casual.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Kelela in 2018 is up there because I’m a big fan of hers and was playing her music a lot around that time, so getting to see her sing the songs up close and personal was surreal and awesome.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Nirvana - so I could lose my shit listening to them in a sea of bodies.
Red Hot Chilli Peppers - 'cause so many classics.
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
Personal faves are probs: Post-punk, Indie Pop and Rock, Punk Rock.
Going against the grain to create something new and different, expanding on what's already there and building on it, is influential and inspiring no matter what!
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
My grandma. Sadly she passed away in the ’90s and I never got to meet her. She was a Tribe leader in Zambia, I’m told people would go to her for advice and help. They would bring her chickens and fruit and things haha. She was a strong and smart woman and I wish we could have met and talked about life.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Benji B is the guy, he’s put me on so much music over the last decade through listening to his radio shows, I respect how he’s brought through so many left-field artists and what he’s done for the electronic music scene.
Hotly-tipped alt RnB songstress Chikaya starts 2020 with the release of her brand new single ‘Stargazing’ out on the 13th February. 2019 saw the Bristolian release a trio of singles – 'Castles,’ 'Evolve' and 'New Wave' attracting praise from Complex, Clash and London In Stereo, alongside the likes of Jamz Supernova, Toddla T and BBC Introducing, with Huw Stephens including ‘New Wave’ on his Radio 1 Hot List Ones To Watch for 2020.
Chikaya's new single 'Stargazing' is out now.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
Avril Lavigne - 'Complicated'
That whole 'Let Go' album was rinsed daily when I was a kid.
A song that defines the teenage you?
Smashing Pumpkins - 'Set The Ray To Jerry'
It's angsty and beautiful. I love the instrumental because it's really ethereal, and the bass groove is so sick. It was the exact kind of music that catered to my teenage melancholy.
One record you would keep forever?
Stardust - 'Music Sounds Better With You'
A song lyric that has inspired you?
"Players only love you when they’re playing"
Fleetwood Mac - 'Dreams'
Summed up perfectly haha.
A song you wished you had written?
There isn’t a song I wish I’d written but I really love the words and personal experiences Adele wrote in 'Hometown Glory'. It's so stunning and I’m grateful she brought it into the world.
Best song to turn up loud?
Arctic Monkeys - '505'
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
K Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas - 'Kyenkyen Bi Adi Mawu'.
This is my f*cking Jam! Hands down one of my absolute favourite pieces of music! So many elements. It's brilliant.
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
Too many come to mind but let's go with Crystal Waters' 'Gypsy Woman'! I’m big on intros and this one is so enticing when its blasting through speakers.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
MGMT - 'Electric Feel' 'cause it just brings pure joy! You will always catch me playing this in the uber after a night out or if I’m ever in charge of aux at afters - it's coming on, no questions haha.
Any new bands you are into at the moment?
I’ll admit I’m out of touch with music these days, but this year I want to start discovering music again because I miss that feeling of discovering a song or a band that blows my mind away.
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Chikaya, Out of Space
Describe your style in three words?
Monochrome, unplanned, casual.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Kelela in 2018 is up there because I’m a big fan of hers and was playing her music a lot around that time, so getting to see her sing the songs up close and personal was surreal and awesome.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Nirvana - so I could lose my shit listening to them in a sea of bodies.
Red Hot Chilli Peppers - 'cause so many classics.
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
Personal faves are probs: Post-punk, Indie Pop and Rock, Punk Rock.
Going against the grain to create something new and different, expanding on what's already there and building on it, is influential and inspiring no matter what!
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
My grandma. Sadly she passed away in the ’90s and I never got to meet her. She was a Tribe leader in Zambia, I’m told people would go to her for advice and help. They would bring her chickens and fruit and things haha. She was a strong and smart woman and I wish we could have met and talked about life.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Benji B is the guy, he’s put me on so much music over the last decade through listening to his radio shows, I respect how he’s brought through so many left-field artists and what he’s done for the electronic music scene.
Hotly-tipped alt RnB songstress Chikaya starts 2020 with the release of her brand new single ‘Stargazing’ out on the 13th February. 2019 saw the Bristolian release a trio of singles – 'Castles,’ 'Evolve' and 'New Wave' attracting praise from Complex, Clash and London In Stereo, alongside the likes of Jamz Supernova, Toddla T and BBC Introducing, with Huw Stephens including ‘New Wave’ on his Radio 1 Hot List Ones To Watch for 2020.
Chikaya's new single 'Stargazing' is out now.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
Avril Lavigne - 'Complicated'
That whole 'Let Go' album was rinsed daily when I was a kid.
A song that defines the teenage you?
Smashing Pumpkins - 'Set The Ray To Jerry'
It's angsty and beautiful. I love the instrumental because it's really ethereal, and the bass groove is so sick. It was the exact kind of music that catered to my teenage melancholy.
One record you would keep forever?
Stardust - 'Music Sounds Better With You'
A song lyric that has inspired you?
"Players only love you when they’re playing"
Fleetwood Mac - 'Dreams'
Summed up perfectly haha.
A song you wished you had written?
There isn’t a song I wish I’d written but I really love the words and personal experiences Adele wrote in 'Hometown Glory'. It's so stunning and I’m grateful she brought it into the world.
Best song to turn up loud?
Arctic Monkeys - '505'
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
K Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas - 'Kyenkyen Bi Adi Mawu'.
This is my f*cking Jam! Hands down one of my absolute favourite pieces of music! So many elements. It's brilliant.
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
Too many come to mind but let's go with Crystal Waters' 'Gypsy Woman'! I’m big on intros and this one is so enticing when its blasting through speakers.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
MGMT - 'Electric Feel' 'cause it just brings pure joy! You will always catch me playing this in the uber after a night out or if I’m ever in charge of aux at afters - it's coming on, no questions haha.
Any new bands you are into at the moment?
I’ll admit I’m out of touch with music these days, but this year I want to start discovering music again because I miss that feeling of discovering a song or a band that blows my mind away.