Exhibiting us that recent enthusiasm all of us have to sip a morning cuppa sizzling chocolate and biscuits with, the superb UK-based French Afropop singer and actress Ayekpa spikes up the temperature together with her steaming sizzling 1st single Adrenaline Rush (Freakin’Out- Prolonged model) and tells us all about her respect for her Mother and the legend Brandy.

Llewelyn: Whats up, there Ayekpa. We actually thanks for taking outing of your busy day to talk with us. Firstly, are you a espresso or tea individual to begin every day and when did you first get on stage to sing?

Ayekpa: Whats up Llewelyn, love your identify, by the best way, it’s lovely. The pleasure is all mine, completely happy to be becoming a member of you on this interview. Truly, I’m extra of a sizzling chocolate individual, you realize. The best way some individuals like espresso or tea, I’ll decide a sizzling chocolate day in and time out. I suppose, you may’t take the Parisian out of me! The primary time I acquired on stage was again in secondary college in all probability yr 8, in Paris. I sang ‘Hero’ by Mariah Carey in entrance of the entire college. It was nerve-racking, I did fairly effectively although and needed to get again on stage each probability I acquired. I type of misplaced that drive to carry out for some time, but it surely by no means fully left as I all the time needed to sing in public. The kid in me stored telling me off, and ultimately, I gave in. Right here I’m for extra motion.

Llewelyn: Adrenaline Rush (Freakin’Out- Prolonged model). Your debut single has our our bodies shaking with pleasure. What’s the imaginative and prescient behind the track and who have you ever made it for? Your journey of braveness and perseverance is really inspiring.

Ayekpa: Thanks a lot, I admire that. The imaginative and prescient is the fervour that dwells in us, screaming to come back out and be claimed, an internal battle with oneself, a thirst for achievement, the bittersweetness of Baudelaire’s Flowers of Evil, the concern of failing or just throwing oneself into the water; it’s this ambiguity that lived in my coronary heart and soul after I wrote Adrenaline Rush (Freakin’ Out) for the TV present Afropolitaine.

Adrenaline Rush (Freakin’ Out) is about taking a leap of religion and giving into one’s ardour, the journey, evil ideas, damaging vitality (therefore the catchy freakin’ out hook) and ultimately the breakthrough with the adrenaline speeding by means of. I wrote it about me, my internal struggles and preventing by means of my legitimacy as an artist and making my ardour my utmost actuality.

Llewelyn: We love that you just’re so related with the French TV collection Afropolitaine. How did you first get the function and is it enjoyable being an actress and exhibiting your music to the world too?

Ayekpa: This all simply occurred randomly. I requested a pal if she may hook me up with a job in leisure again in Africa and he or she circled and stated that she was searching for somebody to behave in her upcoming internet collection. And that I’d be the proper individual. And similar to that I turned Elvira, a vibrant hairdresser working in a hair salon within the coronary heart of Black Paris. It has been enjoyable certainly, the primary season was all low finances, and on set it was a household really feel. The filmmakers are a mom and daughter-duo, Aline and Soraya Milla and most actors weren’t skilled actors, so it was a very fascinating vibe with extra authenticity, a grassroots really feel and higher studying curves for us all.

The second season was completely different, as we have been granted sponsorship from the worldwide French channel TV5 MONDE, which suggests we had a correct movie crew, deadlines {and professional} make-up and stylists. I’ve discovered a lot from each seasons, however I really feel like I’ve grown as an actress in the second, as I type of up my sport a bit extra and was positively relaxed in entrance of the digital camera, making the units my playground.

It’s much more exhilarating to advertise my track by means of the collection, because it’s gaining increasingly more recognition. I’m very proud to champion my appearing and singing on the similar time. I’m captivated with movies, television reveals specifically and mixing each of those passions is the cherry on the cake artistically.

Season 2 Episode 9 is centred on Adrenaline Rush (Freakin’Out), as my character Elvira begins her musical profession illustrated by the making of her music video for the track. The episode is a bit like a behind scenes of Elvira’s huge day ending together with her precise video. I’m wanting ahead to individuals watching it.

There are two variations of the track: a brief model, for the present (already accessible on all platforms) and an extended model, that got here out on June seventh.

The track is featured within the French TV present Afropolitaine (broadcasted on French worldwide channel TV5 MONDE, in practically 200 nations and translated into 5 languages, from June seventh, 2023) which sheds gentle on the African diaspora in Paris.

Certainly, such a storyline with black characters is so uncommon on the French media panorama, the showrunners deliberately supposed to deal with racism and colourism, while that includes dark-skinned actresses as their leads. They put the atypical lives of younger ladies of African descent on the forefront and away from stereotypes with a number of humour, nonetheless.

Anybody can relate to the moms’ hilarious mannerisms which communicate to the neighborhood and past. They supposed to create characters individuals may relate to past their pores and skin color, similar to blacks do in reveals with white characters.
The response was fairly constructive with Pageant TV de Luchon awarding Finest Feminine Newcomer for each lead actresses Tracy Gotoas and Amanda Touré.

Llewelyn: Do you’re keen on the music scene within the UK and have you ever spent a while again in France performing too? We’d like to know the variations out of your viewpoint.

Ayekpa: That’s a wonderful query. I’m solely now beginning my profession and can’t say for positive what the distinction is, as I haven’t skilled it as knowledgeable singer but. I’m within the means of discovering venues to carry out as we communicate each in England, France and elsewhere. However from a spectator viewpoint, I can say that the UK viewers appears to be extra laid again and completely happy to bask in the entire live performance/pageant expertise. You understand the ingesting, the unwinding, the dancing, they simply let go and provides in. The French I really feel are extra severe I’d say, they’ve enjoyable however they appear to be on the reserve. I went to a couple live shows in each nations and loved it on a special degree, nevertheless, nobody does festivals just like the Brits. I’ve a number of stay classes within the pipeline, I’ll inform you extra when it’s all confirmed. I’m wanting ahead to beginning my stay efficiency journey as an artist, from the opposite facet wanting in.

Llewelyn: Who has impressed you most throughout your profession up to now and who’s your rock when issues are going badly (or effectively)?

Ayekpa: Brandy is my entire time favorite singer, due to her vocal vary and the way we immediately recognise her voice. It’s all about her being an excellent actress and singer, to me she is a celebrity: A method icon. I all the time braided my hair like her as a teen, and I beloved her easy cool trend sense again within the Moesha period. I can say that her appearing and singing impressed my inventive path, but additionally referring to her as a child made me really feel extra assured and exquisite as a black woman born and bred in France. Lastly, I had somebody who appeared like me, who’s fairly good and a go-getter. Not one other stereotypical black woman, however I may completely and proudly relate to her. I needed to create music like Brandy, soulful and classy, in with the instances and nonetheless timeless. I nonetheless hearken to her 2002 Full Moon album, produced by Rodney Jerkins, it’s a god despatched.

My mom is my rock, she motivates me, she is there after I want her probably the most and he or she helps me any day. She is my life inspiration, an instance of resilience, dedication and confidence. She is my actual star.

Llewelyn: Who’s at present in your playlist and what was the final track you listened to?

Ayekpa: In rotation on my playlist:

Shingai: Zimtron

NxWorries, Anderson Paak: Daydreaming

:3ION: Yesterday

Little Dragon: Slugs of Love

Arlo Parks: Blades

Peggy Gou, OHHYUK: Nabi

Danielle Ponder: Roll The Credit

Blur: The Narcissist

Olamide, Clay: Trumpet

Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar: America Has a Downside

Varnish La piscine: Ceviche

Lotti: Hollywood

Vedo, Chris Brown: Do you thoughts

Jorja Smith: Attempt Me

Marshmallow, Brent Faiyaz: Fell in Love

Janelle Monáe: Lipstick Lover

Coi Leray, DJ Smallz 732: Gamers – DJ Small 732 – Jersey Membership Remix

Thundercat, Tame Impala: No extra lies

Miguel: Give it to me

Masego: What you wanna strive

Alex Vaughn, Summer time Walker: So be it (remix)

SZA, Doja Cat: Kill Invoice

KAYTRAMINÉ, Aminé, Pharell Williams: 4EVA

Daybreak Richard: Bubblegum

Michael Kiwanuka: You Ain’t The Downside

Child Rose, Smino: I Gained’t Inform

The whole lot However The Woman: Warning To The Wind

Q: Stereo Driver

Mokoomba: Nzara Hapana

6LACK: Since I Had A Lover

The final track I listened to: Róisín Murphy: CooCool

Llewelyn: Final query. The place can we see you reside subsequent or do you’ve got something thrilling deliberate for the remainder of 2023?

Ayekpa: Adrenaline Rush (Freakin’ Out) music video is to come back out later this yr to coincide with the present’s broadcast on TV.

In the mean time the present is barely accessible on-line and on the TV5 MONDE app, in practically 200 nations and 5 languages.

I’m wanting ahead to releasing one other piece of labor.

And one other launch arising, I’ll maintain it as a shock. However all I’m gonna say is that it will likely be a collaboration, nonetheless browsing on that Afrobeat vibe, deeply exploring soulful vocals.

I’m additionally within the means of ending one other track that might be far more into the RNB and soul style, about mourning the lack of a loving pal. Not as cheery as the opposite ones, however so profound. It’s the concept we undergo breakups in friendships as we do in relationships and generally it may possibly even be as painful if not worst. Can’t anticipate you guys to listen to it.

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Flip up the audio system on loud through Spotify.

Observe this massively clever and soulfully swish artist through her IG.

Interviewed by Llewelyn Display screen