Born in London and raised in Essex, Konyikeh grew up with music. At only seven years old, she began playing the piano. Quickly adding classical singing to her resume, it was only a matter of time before the Guildhall School of Music and Drama protegee began writing her own music. Studying piano and music theory alongside playing violin and singing in chamber choir, she obtained a well-rounded and comprehensive music education that has evidently set the technical basis for her debut singles. Arguably more than that, however, she learned to play with emotion — to bring out her innermost feelings and put them into her music. This, she has carried with her since.

These emotions, feelings and raw vulnerabilities in her music centre around themes of identity, isolation, unlearning negative self-worth, and embracing love. Of Cameroonian and Jamaican heritage, her lyrics touch on the racial and financial systemic barriers within the classical field, and her own experiences facing them. Singing with the utmost power and honesty, she truly uses her voice to make an impact. Reaching a dedicated audience who see themselves in her, the artist released her debut singles just this year. Leading with “Sorrow” and following with “Teenage Dreams”, she shared her breathtaking vocals, raw lyrics, and distinctive sound with the world — establishing herself as one to watch in the scene.

We hear from Konyikeh about her musical influences, finding her love of songwriting, her debut singles, and her upcoming EP.

Watch “Teenage Dreams”…

Read the interview…

How are you? What are you up to at the moment?
I’m good, thank you. Currently I’m in the process of picking a treatment for my 3rd music video, so just making sure that’s perfect. I took a short break from writing but I’m getting back into it again, meeting new producers and writers. I love that part, because you never know who you’re going to make great music with.

Your vocals are so incredible. When did you start singing and when did you realise you had something special?
Thank you! I started singing classically from around the age of 11 or 12. I was part of choirs, like the National Youth Choir, and my love of singing just grew from there really. It sounds so obnoxious to say outloud but people were not only telling me that I was good, but also a lot of people started crying at my performances. I was already studying the violin at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, so when I was around 16, I added on studying voice as a second study. The style I sing in now isn’t classical, so it’s nice to hear that people are enjoying it.

How did you find your love of songwriting?
Growing up I found it quite hard to express myself. I tried everything, from journaling to painting and none of them seemed to stick. I initially thought I hated words, as English wasn’t my favourite subject at school, but music combined with words turned out to be the sweet spot for me. I would walk home from school humming melodies and then it just seemed that words came along with them. That’s how “Sorrow” was created. I find songwriting the most precious and authentic way in which I can show someone the inside of my mind and convey my thoughts and feelings.

How has your sound evolved to where it is today — and how would you describe it in your words?
It’s hard to describe my ‘sound’ in words. My music is really influenced by a lot of the music that I listen to. For example with “Sorrow”, I was listening to a lot of classical flamenco music and a lot of Bossa Nova. As I grow as a musician and my palate expands, so will the breadth of my music hopefully.

What music are you currently listening to?
I listen to a lot of music. All from different genres, from opera to dancehall and I love them all. I would say a current staple in my music taste is female rap. Obviously I’m still infatuated with rappers like Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown, but the new girls like Latto, Maiya the Don and Lola Brooke have really piqued my interest over the last couple of years.

How was the experience of performing at the BRITs with Dave?
It was incredible. To have that as my first performance, to this day I can’t believe it was real.

What was the decision to release “Sorrow” as your debut single? What does it tell us about you as an artist?
To be completely honest it’s because it was one of the first songs I ever wrote. I wanted the listener to hear my music from the very start of my journey. I hope it portrays me as a storyteller and not only a singer. I also hope that you can hear my influences in the track, Bossa Nova and classical flamenco, as I said before. I want the listener to take from this that my music won’t be linear.

Can you talk us through “Teenage Dreams”? What inspired it, what themes are present, and what was your songwriting process like for this track?
I can’t remember when I wrote “Teenage Dreams” but I remember I wrote it in my bathroom. I was reminiscing on the differences of adolescence that people may have and similar to “Sorrow”, exploring the themes of ‘all isn’t what it seems’. It’s quite a personal track for me as it explores themes of abandonment and rejection and comparing myself to my peers at the time. I had heard the beat and fell in love with it, which was different for me because usually I write my songs and then create the track around it.

What are you most excited for the world to see with the release of your EP?
I’m just excited to have people hear my music! The project was written over at least 6 years and so when it is released I think it will feel like I’m letting go of something so precious. I really hope people enjoy it and take time to really listen to the messages I convey through the songs.

What do you hope people take away from it?
I hope that people can understand my story and therefore see/hear a side of me that I don’t often show to the world. Each of the songs on the EP encapsulates a different time in my life where, to be honest, I was going through a lot. I hope they get to understand me as a writer and a musician.

Aside from the EP, what are you most looking forward to in the near future?
I’m really looking forward to performing live. It’s an exciting new challenge that I’m ready to take on. Not only that, but to be able to see in real time people connecting with my music would be amazing.