We’re talking about Finn Askew, a 20-years-old artist from Somerset with a unique sound and multidimensional style that will get you hooked.

We all love rockstars, don’t we? Well, Askew is the Gen Z definition of one. His inclusive understanding of music, reflected in his modern melodies, have taken him from making music from his bedroom to internationally recognised releases with over 2 million streams on Spotify.  

What intrigued us about his style is how he manages to include different genres without necessarily being defined, nor limited, by a single one. If you haven’t listened to him yet, his music is fresh, funky, and relatable. It remains representative of his generation through music fluidity, taking inspiration from some of our all-time favourites like Frank Ocean and combining it with old-school influences like The Smiths to Nirvana.

This fluidity is present in each of his tracks and recent releases, from his first single ‘Roses’ to his latest one ‘Cherry Bomb’. Talking to Voir, the young rockstar chats about what music is for him, how he creates it, and where he’ll take us with it.

Hey Finn, how have you been? What are you excited about at the moment?

Hey, I’m very well thank you! Just excited about life man, everything is slowly getting back to normal & I’m all for it. I mean, just yesterday, I had my first pint inside and I can’t lie, it was unbelievable. Like sipping summer.

How would you describe yourself as a musician?

I wouldn’t know what to call myself! My sound doesn’t fit into one genre, it’s just a mash-up, some would say genre binding. But hypothetically, if I was to label myself, I’d probably use to word rockstar, makes sense.

Could you tell us a bit more about your approach to music and the process of making it?

There are so many different ways to approach making music. Most times though I start with my guitar, I feel like I write better when holding a guitar. It just feels a lot more natural.

How did you first discover music and what was special about its discovery that convinced you to pursue a career in it?

I was put into the music world from an early age. My mum used to take me to some local ‘music for toddlers’ club every week. The teachers said I had good rhythm which was nice to hear, not that I remember it but it’s what my mum says. But I feel like the moment I knew music was what I wanted to do was when I first picked up a guitar, which must’ve been at around the age of like 7ish. It just felt right and that was even before I knew I could sing, once I realised that I was dead set on making it big.

When did you first start performing and what is your relationship with live shows?

I mean I’ve been performing all my life not always musically, for instance, I was in a dance crew from a young age. I was really into my acting too so I did a few performances for that.

But I played my first actual show at the age of 12, in some local pub down the road from home. I guess I’ve been hooked on that feeling ever since. It’s a shame Covid had to take away that aspect of life from us but I’m happy to know that I have a few shows coming up this year.

Being a rather young artist, would you say that age has helped or limited your career in music? Has it ever affected your role in the music industry and the perception other artists or audiences have of you?

I think that it has definitely helped me. I’ve found that when you’re young and if you’re popping you get a lot more hype around you. It’s all about time and in this day and age, the sad truth is the older you get the harder it is to make it.

People love to see young artists coming through because they can see potential, and the youth love it too because they can relate more to someone young making music than someone older.

Would you say that your music reflects your generation and the current times?

I feel like my music is the sound and reflection of the youth. Because back in the day most people were exclusively into one genre of music. You had the punks, the indie kids, etc. but nowadays people like what they like, no one is putting themselves into one box. I grew up listening to so many different artists and I try and show that through my music, that’s why it’s so unique.

What is the song or project that identifies you the best? And why? Would you say that it’s the one that put you on the international music radar?

I feel like the music that identifies me best is yet to come. The next project will be the true Finn Askew sound, which I’ve just been experimenting with previously. Once you hear it you’ll understand.

Could you talk a bit about for first EP and upcoming projects?

Yeah, I dropped my debut ep ‘Peach’ a few months ago now and the response was crazy. It went worldwide and did the maddest numbers, I really couldn’t have asked for much more from a first project. But the next EP is 10x better, it truly shows me as an artist. That’s why I’m so excited about it, it’s a masterpiece.

How did your music evolve since then, and what happened in the process that led to you to change?

When writing my first EP I was really trying every sound possible, I didn’t want to limit myself to the idea of genres. But I realised that as much as it worked I needed to cement my sound, so when people hear it they know who it is. There’s more to me than I’ve shown previously and I want to show it to people.

Which would you say have been your biggest accomplishments until now?

Think my biggest achievement has to be the development of my Asian fanbase. I’ve somehow managed to blow up over there before I’ve blown up in the UK which I think is quite crazy. Another highlight is probably hitting 30 million views on the ‘Roses’ video, mad numbers.

When you think about possible collaborators, who comes to your mind and what qualities do they need to have?

When it comes down to collaborations, it really isn’t about how big they are it’s about if I actually fuck with them or not. I wouldn’t ever wanna just do something for the money. But I would love to collaborate with Frank Ocean or the Kid Laroi!

Finally, what can we await from you for the rest of this year? Are you planning to get back into performing (covid-permitting) and where is your sound going?

Yes, I’ve got my first headline shows coming up at the end of the year, I’m playing at the courtyard London on the 10th November, and then playing at the cavern in Exeter on the 11th. Make sure you go, cop a ticket and get down for the mazza.

Listen to Finn Askew’s EP:

Interview By Chiara Ferrari

The post An Interview With Finn Askew, A Rockstar You Should Follow appeared first on Voir Fashion.

“An artist who simply expresses her feelings through sounds and visuals”. That’s how South African singer Keziah Zoë Meyers, known as lordkez, describes herself and her relationship with creating music.

The simplicity and apparent confidence with which lordkez describes her music is exactly what intrigued us about it. Through her latest EP, “Juicebox”, released on April 30, she explores themes of everyday life in a vulnerable, yet fun, manner that characterises her work with diversity of sound, and even thought.

Her music reminds us of the sounds of Erykah Badu and Jorja Smith, with the revolving rhythm and flow of artists like IAMDDB. But if you’re not familiar with her music this description won’t be enough to understand the intricacy of her music and productions.

lordkez does not consider herself as a certain type of artist, nor she associates her music to a single genre. She’s an artist of all forms, one who perceives music as a multidimensional industry in which to grow and experiment in.

“As soon as you start expressing yourself, and as soon as you start making something, you become an artist… That’s essentially what I do, I just sit there and I create a world in my head”.  

We wanted to know more about this world, about the mind behind the catchy hip-hop rhythms and experimental sounds that we hear in “Juicebox”, which is why we decided to ask her directly.

Have a read below to find out everything about lordkez and her music:

How did you first discover music? And what is your relationship with it now?

I discovered music at a very young age. My very first memory of discovering music would be the one of my mom singing to me throughout my childhood. Then as I grew up, I started playing a little home organ and writing my little melodies up to when I started playing for the church. That acted as the foundation for me.

I continued with that until I moved abroad. I started spending a lot of time by myself, in my own exploration… Instead of figuring out what I did not want, I concentrated on what I could do with what I wanted. That’s how I started writing songs. I made a couple of songs and realised that it was my passion. I will only be doing something that I feel this passionate about, I wouldn’t let myself do anything besides this. I am focused on my dreams.

What kind of artists do you describe yourself as?

I consider myself as an artist who simply expresses her feelings through sounds and visuals. I’m definitely not a specific type of artist. Because I believe that as soon as you start expressing yourself, and as soon as you start making something, you become an artist.

So I do experiment a little bit with poetry, words and arts. I’ve had a big love of fine art for a very long time in my life. I was even studying art. I do it just like music, I paint not only to let go but just to hang out, just chill out, you know… It’s one of my favourite things to do. It’s also good for mindfulness, you sit there and create your own world. That’s essentially what I do, I just sit there and create a world in my head.

What do you enjoy the most about creating art?

For me, it’s the progress of creating, it’s the “juice” as people say. It’s the journey and not the end, and that’s my benefit. Because when you work on something for so long and enjoy it, then at the end it’ll always be a wonderful product. The work of creativity, the ideas, the back and forth, that’s what is important for me.

I also really love seeing people’s reactions to it. I just love how music makes me feel. And because I feel so deeply about it I hope and enjoy when my audience feels the same way as I do.

What is the most challenging part of working in the music industry?

I think that being a woman who is also a musician is challenging. It’s also empowering, okay, but this industry is selected and framed by men. Often they are the ones who approve of you and hold on to you, and once you’re in it you will know what’s going on.

I would say that in the beginning, I was scared because I was just surrounded by masculinity. Especially in the rap scene, it’s all just guys… but the kids are happy about it. I feel like it makes it a bit more difficult for women because we also have things to say. We write words, to say the same thing over and over and over again, right? But in the end, it’s all about the consumer.

I didn’t know that being a full-time artist would be this challenging. But it’s also a warning because at the end of the day, I am doing everything that I love and I had to realise the challenges that would come up. You can’t just get a rainbow out of nowhere.

When talking about the challenges that women face in the development of their career and making it out in the music scene, do you think that this has started to change in recent years? Have you noticed any changes or do you think there is still a long way to go?

I do think that it’s changing quite drastically, because so many kids, other people who make music, fight these challenges. We have so much potential to be even greater than what they expect us to be. I can say that the audience is growing, especially the one of the alternative scene. Although alternative music is a very new thing… people back here, just like to listen to something that sounds nice. But that’s not my case, I just want to talk my shit. However, I do feel like it’s growing and we’re gonna take our spot up there.

We know that you do not identify with a single genre. Can you tell us a bit about your experimentation with different music?

With experimentation, I’m just going to go anywhere where my music takes me. I don’t want to be stuck. I do identify with soul, hip hop and with the foundation of the indie genre. But I also love some jazz. So I like to ‘chunk it out and just think that whatever happens happens. I like to think of myself as an artist, an alternative artist in the art hub, or just an art girl.

Out of all of the songs that you have written and posted until now, which one would you say is your favourite one and the one that represents you the best as an artist?

Juice, it must be juice.

Could you tell us why?

Because I got the juice. That song is like an embodiment of fun, of the things that taste sweet and make you happy. While I made that song, I was extremely happy. I recall recording and hyping myself up at the booth because juice is just like a burst of flavour and fun.

If you could describe juice in three words, which would these be?

Tasteful, unique and saucy.

And finally, what are you listening to at the moment?

Right now I’m listening to Tierra Whack, Tia Corine and Doja Cat.

Listen to lordkez’ latest EP here:

Words By Chiara Ferrari

The post Meet lordkez – The South African Artist Embracing Experimentation With Her Music appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Meet Ruth B, the Ethiopian-Canadian singer and songwriter who made her way into the music industry after going viral on Vine with her 2015 hit-single “Lost Boy”. Her nostalgic soul melodies and alt-R&B lyricism set her apart from the content present in the comedy-centered application (back in the day), and allowed her to build a platform in which she could share her passion for music.

A passion that led her to reach 1.5 billion streams for her debut EP and album, and that after 6 years continues to surprise us with a constantly evolving career. The 25-years-old singer has since then released soothing songs with relatable stories, the kind one can’t help but fall in love with. And not only due to the stories told, which transmit a transparency that’s so often underrated in music, but also because of her vulnerable yet warm voice that allures the listener in.

We had the opportunity to chat with Ruth B, who told us everything about her latest release “Situation”, the production of her highly anticipated album “Moment In Between” and opened up about her journey in the music industry. Have a look below as we discuss with Ruth B the ‘ins and outs’ of her path in music.

How did you first discover music?

I grew up loving music. As a kid, I was always singing around the house and just like listening to whatever I could get my hands on.

I didn’t really anticipate a career in the music industry… I kind of just started posting little clips of myself singing on a social media app at the time called Vine. After that it just took off and that’s how I got my foot into the world of music.

How would you describe the importance of Vine in your career? And what was your relationship with it?

I’m from Edmonton, Alberta, where there’s not much of a music scene. So I don’t really know how so I would have gotten my voice out there without Vine. I attribute a lot of importance to it.

I actually started using Vine by accident, I was just fooling around on there. I would sing a little bit with my brother chiming in in the background, and afterwards I would just post it for my friends. I think I had around 12 followers at the time, I was in high school, and suddenly everyone started commenting and encouraging me to “keep on singing on there”. So at first, it seemed like a really weird concept to try to sing in six seconds, but eventually, it started to become really fun.

How has your music evolved since then?

Vining for me was the first time that I had really started experimenting and writing music. The first song I’d ever really written was “Lost Boy”. So ever since then I’ve fallen in love with writing and the creation of music all over again. I do hope that I’ve grown as a writer, and I think that has been one of the best parts of this; learning how to write and how to feel, and being able to put that into music.

How do your feelings transcribe into your music?

When people ask for songwriting advice I always tell them that the main thing to do is live life. Then it’s just about trying to take those experiences and put them into songs. That’s how it is for me, because I do think that the best songs are the ones that are derived from your own experiences and your own stories.

What other aspects of your life, besides your feelings, form part of your music and writing process?

I grew up in an Ethiopian household, and a lot of the music I listened to as a kid, and even now, is from back home – from Ethiopia. I’ve always tried to incorporate its rhythm and rich lyricism in my own songs, I think it plays an important role in the type of music I create.

When something is part of you it inevitably makes its way into your music. Growing up with Ethiopian parents, who made sure that my brother and I spoke the language and understood the culture, or simply travelling a lot to Ethiopia, both as a kid and as an adult, has influenced my music. When I sit down with different producers to make music I often try to incorporate the subtleness of Ethiopian music. But it’s definitely something I want to venture more into, eventually I would love to record a song in Amharic, the native language in Ethiopia.

In regards to your songs, which one would you say is your favourite one? And why?

I think my current favorite right now is probably my latest single which is called “Situation”. I’ve been sitting on this song for like a year and a half and I’ve been so excited for people to finally hear it. I think right now, as a songwriter, it’s my favorite song out of the ones I’ve written just because of its melodies, lyrics, and particularly its bridge. It’s a representative song, one that right now sums up as a writer very well.

What inspired you to write “Situation”?

The inspiration behind the song revolves around ‘situationships’. The song talks about this new type of relationships, when you’re together with someone but don’t really know what direction you’re moving on… Or what is even going on. It’s a very common theme, especially nowadays with the quarantine and Covid limitations. It’s a song about how it has become so hard to define and establish relationships.

The official music video for “Situation” has just been released. How was it bringing your lyrics to life through visuals?

The video was really fun to shoot, even if it was done remotely. The director was in Los Angeles directing us over a zoom call, it was a very different experience. But a cool one as well, since we were able to bring the song to life and give it beautiful visuals.

The video also includes a simulated 360 reality audio which I thought would be a fun immersive experience for listeners and viewers. I know for me, anytime a video is like that it’s always fun, so I thought it’d be a nice way to incorporate listeners in their own way.

What did it mean to write a song like “If I have a Son” in light of the Black Lives Matter movement? Would you say that your music tends to take a social stand? And is it something that you would like to continue pursuing in your future productions?

Writing this song was emotionally challenging, although when I was writing it I had no intention of putting it out. I was just so frustrated with everything that I was seeing… I felt scared, lost and just hopeless, and anytime I’m feeling some type of way I write about it.

Writing is my coping mechanism. So I came to my room and just wrote this song , it was hard to say those things and to recognise that so many people felt the same way. I wasn’t thinking about sharing this with the world, until I played it for my friends and family. They were the ones who kind of urged me to put it out.

Now it’s definitely something that I want to pursue. I think just the older I’ve gotten, the more mature I’ve gotten, the more I’ve realised that like having a platform does come with a responsibility and the desire to share your opinions and feelings for the betterment of society. “If I have a Son” was a song that I’d always wanted to write and always felt, but I just didn’t know that yet. At times I felt that it was too honest, and it probably is, but now I’ve learnt that using your platform to spread a message that you care about is too important. And it also just feels really good to do so.

What other challenges have you encountered throughout your career and how have you overcome them?

I really love making music and I’m so thankful that I get to do it, but just like anybody I struggle, whether it’s because of internal or external reasons it varies. It’s a very tough world to navigate for everyone, especially right now. So I do think that there’ll always be challenges here and there. But I think for me, it’s all about staying rooted in who I am and keeping those who really know me and love me close to me. That’s the approach that gets me through any turbulence.

On a more positive note, what would you say that are your biggest career accomplishments until now? And how have they built your perception of music and the music industry?

There’s been a few, like touring and being able to play live shows. Getting over my fear of being in front of people and putting on a live show has been like the greatest joy and such an accomplishment for me. When I first started this a couple years ago, the idea of being on stage was so horrifying, I hated it to the point that my managers had to hype me up to do it. Now it’s become something that I miss. It’s probably the best part of this job because it allows me to connect with people in real time, see their faces and even hear their stories. I think that will always be my favorite accomplishment, the ability to love and enjoy putting on a show.

I think this realisation and our current situation has really opened my eyes up and made me realise what’s important, how to consider the things that used to be taken for granted. I’m definitely excited to get back out there and perform, whenever everything will be safe.

Talking about performing and the limits imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, how do you think this will or has affected your career and the music industry as a whole?

Personally it’s had its ups and downs, but overall, I think it has actually benefited me a lot, creatively speaking. As a result of the current times I ended up learning more about production, music engineering and recording my own music. I even set up a little home studio, which I probably would not have done if it weren’t for this. It pushed me to challenge myself and learn how to do a lot of the recording aspect of this album on my own. So there have been positive outcomes, under a production aspect it has been really cool. Now I’m interested to see how it affects everyone as a whole. But I think for now, all I can really speak on is my own experience.

In the meantime, what projects are you looking forward to?

I’m getting ready to release an album which is so exciting, since it’s been a few years since my first one. I’m really excited for people to hear the last little bit of my journey, that’s where my focus is right now, all eyes on album number two.

What would you say differentiates this album from your previous releases? Will your listeners hear changes from your Vine days?

I think they will definitely hear a change in the production and in the writing. I would hope that people would hear that it’s better and sounds, you know, more grown up because I’ve gained a lot more experience with writing and in making this album. But with that being said, it’s similar to the first one considering that it’s still very much very honest and raw. For me, everything has always been about the story and the message, and that will remain as the forefront of the songs. So in that sense, not much has really changed.

Who would you say that are your biggest inspirations in the music industry? And who would you look forward to working with?

My dream collaboration would be with Chris Martin from Coldplay, my favorite group of all time. I just love his voice and the way in which he writes. I always say that if I could write with someone, it’d be Chris Martin… or Stevie Wonder, as he’s always been my hero, but that one seems too unrealistic.

While we wait for the release of “Moments In Time” expected on June 11, have a look at Ruth B navigate through “Situations” in her latest single and music video.

Words And Interview By Chiara Ferrari

The post Ruth B Talks Songwriting, Situationships and her Latest Release with Voir appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Jordan Kristine Seamón, also known as J.K, is one of our favourite artistic revelations of the year. If you’ve watched Luca Guadagnino’s HBO’s series We Are Who We Are you already know who we are talking about. 

The Philadelphia native actress entered the entertainment industry radar through her role as Caitlin Poythress – an American teenager exploring her identity in a military base located in the North of Italy. 

But J.K’s creative path doesn’t stop there, the young actress doesn’t identify exclusively as such. Her talent also navigates in other realms, being a singer, songwriter, author, producer and basically all-round entrepreneur. Her debut album Identity Crisis is an exploration into her creative journey, a demonstration of her multifaceted talent, and a further reason for you to follow her. 

Identity Crisis is a beautiful yet intricate LP full of musical versatility and relatable stories. At a first listen you will be able to notice the strong 90’s influence which is followed by a hybrid of current pop and lo-fi R&B with songs like “the one for me” and “good & bad”. And that’s what we love about it, the experimental nature of this project and, of course, the J.K’s sublime voice. If, like us, you are curious about the behind-the-scenes of this album Jordan herself made a documentary taking us on her musical journey with her. 

But we still had quite a few questions, not only on Identity Crisis, but also on J.K’s creative path and approach to the world of arts and entertainment… So who better than J.K herself to explain it to us? Keep on reading to find out more. 

Hey Jordan, firstly, how are you? and how are you coping with the pandemic? 

Hey, I’m doing pretty well. Things are slowly moving along for me and my career so I’m extremely grateful. I think the pandemic has been a struggle for everyone, but I’m lucky enough to have a good family at my side, and great friends that check up on me, so I’ve been keeping positive and staying productive. 

How would you describe yourself and your career path? 

I would describe myself as a very simple person. I am still figuring a lot out, so I feel young personally and professionally and I’m not afraid to admit that. There’s been a lot of care and sacrifice that’s been put into me and exposure and access to my passions, (from so many people, especially my parents), so I try to take my time and make good decisions in my personal life and budding career. 

How did you first get into the entertainment industry? 

I would say that I didn’t officially get into the film industry until recently. But I had been working towards breaking into it for a while. I was in multiple youth groups and extra-curricular activities that helped me really harness my “talent”. FreshVisions, Youth Theatre, and the Georgia E Gregory Interdenominational School of Music were the main places that I developed the skills that I still use to this day. 

Musically, I’ve been singing since I was little… But when my Nana, Christine Lewis-Dukes, who was the greatest singer in our family, told me that I could sing, I never looked back. I also linked up with a girl-group initially in Georgia, before we parted ways and I went solo. I wrote my first single in response to that break-up and continued to move music forward in my life with the support of so many. 

What role do you identify the most with? 

I would say songwriter. I’ve always enjoyed writing in general. Songwriting allows me to deal with the ups and downs of life in a therapeutic way; a simple way. I have the ability to truly be alone with my thoughts and my soul. Songwriting helps me celebrate and heal. 

Would you say that you have a stronger affinity with music or acting? Or do you believe that it is possible to be equally devoted to both? 

Right now, I think that I am equally devoted to both. I put the same amount of energy into both. I’m not really sure how, but a lot of my inspiration for music comes from real life, so when I experience emotions from a role that I’ve secured or a friendship that didn’t last, the more that I become exposed to things I am inclined to write about it. I would say that creates balance between my music and acting. 

What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome in the filming of We Are Who We Are and what lesson did it teach you? Did this lesson trespass the acting world and translate into other aspects of your life?

I learned a lot about how I handle challenges and express my opinions, based on the character that I was playing. I would often find myself afraid to express myself and truly let myself go in whatever it was that I was doing, but especially in life and acting. 

Luca and my cast-mates really encouraged me to be courageous, speak my mind and let myself go when it comes to life and performing, and that has definitely been applied in my day to day life. 

Now with music, I always try to remind myself to attempt to go that extra mile and own my vision and I was able to do that with Identity Crisis. I think this really helped bring a lot of authenticity to the project. All of these things definitely transfer into my personal life, especially during the pandemic, and the social justice issues that have been very difficult to deal with. 

Did your acting experience in We Are Who We Are influence you or motivate you in any way when creating Identity Crisis? 

Definitely! Playing the character Caitlin really influenced me to learn a little bit more about myself, as Caitlin was going through a sort of identity crisis as well. This simultaneous discovery that my character and I were going through inspired me to take the time to write some music which helped me understand what I was feeling. 

How would you describe Identity Crisis as a musical project? And how would you describe it as a personal one?

Identity Crisis is a project that came from trying to learn and discover a little bit more about myself. It’s a project about exploration and acceptance. Lastly, I would say that it is a strikingly vivid snapshot of young adulthood in flux, which runs the gamut of emotions from loss and regret to love. 

What do you want your songs and overall music career to transmit to your audience, family, and friends? Is there a certain subject matter that you gravitate towards? 

I just hope that my music brings someone, somewhere, some peace. I hope that people are able to listen to my music and use it to better understand how to deal with what may be going on in their lives. I just want to create art that gives people a little more insight into themselves and others. 

Your self-made documentary showing the making of Identity Crisis is a very genuine and first-hand demonstration of the independent journey creating this record. Many artists often opt for a “professional/external” production for their documentary, why did you decide to create one independently? Does this decision in any way reflect or match the message you try to share via your music, if so how? 

I wanted to have the creative direction over my very first documentary. And I am aware that sometimes when you bring external production teams into personal projects your own vision can get lost. I wanted to determine what I wanted to document and what message was going to be shown throughout the documentary. I have never been and I don’t think I will ever be someone who is very flashy and showy, so the footage also reflects the idea that less can mean more. It reflects how I view myself, very relaxed and down to earth. The documentary also speaks to young artists about realism, learning your craft and the business aspects of it, all without depending on others. 

In The Making of Identity Crisis you mentioned not knowing how to talk about your own music, why do you think this is? Do you believe it is something too personal to be explained and should be left to the interpretation of its listeners? 

If I’m being honest, I’m still not really sure. I think it’s for the same reason that I can’t really talk about myself or describe myself. I don’t write my music with the idea in my head that people are going to want to analyze it and try to deeply understand what my thought process was when I was writing or creating it. I write my music to help me understand myself a little bit more and to deal with things that have affected me or continue to affect me. I think as I get older I might be able to, but for now, I just like to leave it up for interpretation, I suppose. 

Which one is your favourite song on the album and why? What differentiates it for you from the rest of the tracklist?

I would say my favourite songs are “thnx.” and “drugging u”. Both songs came from me taking a different approach to their creation, and in my personal opinion it really paid off. I enjoyed writing them. With “thnx.”, I really put my heart and soul into those lyrics, and I think you can really tell. With “drugging u.” I was hit with such an aggressive inspiration that, when I began writing the song, I was shocked at how quickly I was able to develop it. I was able to step outside of myself with “druggin u”, through inspiration from a television show, so that was new. Of course, it’s fictional and doesn’t condone drugging anyone, ever. 

Who are your biggest inspirations in the music industry and the entertainment one? Out of these inspiring personalities, which one is the one you would like to collaborate the most with and why? 

I have so many inspirations that I can’t even begin to list all of them. As far as music, I would love to work with Pharrell Williams. I think he is one of the most talented producers ever and to get the chance to pick his brain and study him in the music arena would truly be an honour. As far as acting, I’ve been lucky enough to work with so many amazing actors already. I would say I would really love to work with Ava Duvernay or Jordan Peele. Again both extremely talented creatives and just to even be in the same room as them and be able to take a little bit of knowledge from them would be life-changing. 

How was it working with Kid Cudi in the acting realm, would you consider a music collaboration with your “fictional father”? If so, of what genre and style? It was so cool working with Scott (Cudi) because he is such a nice person and it’s always amazing when you meet someone that you’ve admired for a long time and they are just as nice and kind as you hoped they would be. He has been a great ear and support system. I would definitely love to do a musical collaboration with him and we’ve had that discussion already, so stay tuned. I think the style and genre couldn’t really be labelled since I think both of us are very open when it comes to making music. I think if we did collaborate it would be something that you really couldn’t put in a box. 

Your career and projects have also led to incredible fashion jobs and collaborations, is this something you look forward to expanding in the future? How does fashion relate to your creative path? 

Definitely. Fashion was never something that I thought I would have any interest in at all. I never thought I was a very fashionable person so it was the last thing on my mind. Now that I’ve been exposed to so many different styles and brands and I’ve met so many amazing people that have taught me cool tips and tricks that I now follow around fashion, it’s really become a form of expression for me. 

Out of curiosity, what is one song that you are listening to on repeat at the moment? What are you binge-watching?

‘I Wish You Love’ – Nat King Cole and American Dragon: Jake Long 

And finally, what would you like to work on next? And what projects can we look forward to? 

I hope I get to do some more amazing projects like Identity Crisis. You can expect some new music from me, coming very soon! And I can’t fully disclose it right now, but you will see me in some more film projects.

Words By Chiara Ferrari, Graphics By Millie Pollok

The post Meet Jordan Kristine Seamón, the Lo-fi R&B Singer That Has Been Taking Over Our Playlists appeared first on Voir Fashion.

As we all know the ongoing pandemic has drastically changed our everyday lives. And although it seems we are taking slow steps down the path to normality one of the biggest industries to be affected by this is the music industry.

We don’t think anyone could envisage a situation where there would be a ban on all live shows. Gigs and festivals offer such a unique and memorable experience and often are what we’re all looking forward to throughout the year. On the other hand, for artists, this is arguably the worst possible scenario and one that none of them were ready for. Live Nation, who were one of the first organisations to postpone all of their gigs, have stated they hope to resume concerts at “full scale” in the third and fourth quarter of 2021. Which will be a torturous wait for any musician.

With all concerts and festivals being canceled for the foreseeable future it’s beginning to take a toll on the up-coming artists over the world who rely on touring meticulously to make most of their money. Independent artists who don’t have the machine of a major label behind them are starting to struggle, this pandemic could throw away huge amounts of potential due to the fact that without touring it’s difficult for artists to stay financially afloat. Given that The Music Industry Investigative report revealed that just 17% of musicians said that they were not always able to pay their bills every month even before COVID-19, it’s quite startling to think about what those numbers maybe today.

Live Nation, who were one of the first organisations to postpone all of their gigs, have stated they hope to resume concerts at “full scale” in the third and fourth quarter of 2021. Which will be a torturous wait for any musician.

The one thing artists have been able to do more of is make music. With this excess of time on their hands, there has been a surge of users on music distribution services such as TuneCore and United Masters uploading music at a never before seen rate. It may seem obvious but the best thing an up-coming artist can do right now is to keep on releasing music, and try to reach as big of an audience as possible while they have the time to do so.

Looking on the bright side, many independent artists tried to make the most of the circumstances and began doing live performances via streaming. Although it’s not the colossal moneymaker that is live touring, it’s given artists a great way to interact with their fan bases without having to be directly in front of them. It’s clear that the smaller artists using this tool are really trying to keep a strong connection with their fanbase and cultivate it even further which in turn will hopefully support them during these unprecedented times.

Luckily, there are still ways to support your favourite artists in these dire times, one of the best ways to help out is buying their merch. Many artists who had tours planned will have made huge orders on tour merch which they would have expected to sell at their upcoming shows. However, due to their cancellation, they are now stuck with endless amounts of merch and a huge financial loss. Buying a t-shirt from an artist you love could go a long way in ensuring they continue to make music and remain in a financially stable situation to do so.

Although it would be understandable for any musician to take a break right now in favour of financial stability, equally we have every hope that emerging artists will bounce back and be able to show their talents in the flesh, as we slowly return to normality.

Words by Chris Saunders

Graphics by Georgia Walters

The post How the Pandemic is Affecting Emerging Musicians appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Crookes’ voice has been compared to the likes of the late, great Amy Winehouse for its rich vibrancy and expression.

You may not have heard of her yet, but Bangladeshi-Irish singer Joy Crookes has been garnering some much-deserved attention. She has managed to amass 108k followers on Instagram, almost 7 million views on her YouTube channel and, not to mention, a feature on Miss Vogue describing her as ‘One To Watch In 2019’.

Crookes’ voice has been compared to the likes of the late, great Amy Winehouse for its rich vibrancy and expression. Her vocals are gentle yet husky with a velvety warmth reminiscent of classical jazz musicians. Though the 20-year-old is flattered to be compared to one of the ‘greats’, she is clearly determined to “do [her] own thing” – whether in terms of her fashion choices or musical style, and this is undoubtedly what has kept her global fanbase growing.

Joy’s videos – specifically ‘London Mine’ and ‘For a Minute’ beautifully encapsulate the colourful yet raw aspects of London that are typically unglamourised

Joy’s lyricism really manages to keep her audiences’ ears pricked – her two EP’s Reminiscent and Perception which dropped this year were delicately infused with her experiences of growing up in South London and her dual-identity. ‘London Mine’ kicks-off lyric “Bangla noise on Brick Lane / That’s the sound of my home”, purposefully highlighting the multicultural nature of the UK and the historically Bangladeshi settlements of East London.

Her videos – specifically ‘London Mine’ and ‘For a Minute’ beautifully encapsulate the colourful yet raw aspects of London that are typically unglamourised as they’re considered a “shit hole by the rest of the city”. Fruit & veg stalls, African fabric stores and “£2 chicken & chip shops” all form the backdrop of her videos, making her work all the more iconic and embracing of Britain’s rich immigrant culture.

“My dual identity reflects more about me as an artist. I grew up with so many different cultures and influences around me… Irish people have a real way with words, we have incredible writers like Oscar Wilde, Paddy Kavanagh, Van Morrison. Then Bangladeshi culture is different – the way we style our hair, the way we present ourselves, our mannerisms”. Crookes’ style is perhaps the most profound aspect of her image. You’d never catch her without her statement gold jhumki (traditional South Asian earrings) and fabric entwined braids. Her elegant hybrid of animal print vintage coats with street-style sports luxe truly makes Joy Crookes Joy Crookes – and you can hear her lyrics through her resounding style.

Having so few South Asian artists in the music industry is one of the reasons Joy proudly asserts her Bangladeshi roots

This kind of fusion – mixing East and West, traditional and contemporary – has been more popularised nowadays. To name a few, fashion designers Ashish and Kim Shui; artists Jorja Smith in ‘Be Honest’ and singer Raveena, underlines how artists and musicians of various descent negotiate their cultural identity within their work.

Having so few South Asian artists in the music industry is one of the reasons Joy proudly asserts her Bangladeshi roots: “For South Asian artists, MIA is the most famous in the West – Jay Sean and Zayn Malik too, those three probably… it’s good that I’m opening up to the fact that I’m Bangladeshi.”

Ultimately, Joy’s agenda is to spread positive energy with her music. She manages to not only do this, but also empowers her audience by openly loving her culture, incorporating the jewellery and accessories typically tucked away for weddings and festivals into her every day style. Joy commences her European tour in October.

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