When it comes to this week’s hottest new releases, the only tracks worthy of a listen come courtesy of Falana and her new EP, “Rising”. Calling on a diverse range of genres to feature on her latest projects, the Canadian-Nigerian talent looked to inspire and spotlight the lived experiences of women through a set of introspective narratives and infectious cuts – all of which boast Falana’s syrupy tone, of course. With tracks such as “Energy” and “Joy” confirming the project’s status as a career-defining release, the EP is one that you are sure to have stuck on repeat.

When speaking on her new project, the artist claimed, “My first EP was self-produced and written. For this new EP, I was searching for a sound and voice that was my own, so collaboration was a big part of this project. I was trying to fuse together all the different influences and environments I have been moving through. So, there are notes of dancehall, afrobeat, soul, RnB, and pop throughout the project in a really seamless way.”

Upon the release of her sophomore EP, the artist got candid with Wonderland on her beginnings in music and the feelings she is looking to invoke in her listeners. Head below to enjoy our interview with Falana…

Hey Falana, how are you? How has this past year been?
I am great! Alive and excited for what is to come. The year was just so unpredictable and we really can’t control anything, now more than ever. So in all of the uncertainty, I have been just taking things one day at a time!

With everything that happened last year, how has your creativity been affected?
Well, I think my creativity was positively affected. I got to focus on different parts of my creativity, like playing my instruments a lot more and practising being present and mindful. I also was writing sensory journal entries a lot where I use my senses to describe a story. It’s a really helpful exercise when you want your songwriting to be vivid. I also watched a lot of music documentaries which was an amazing way to stay inspired.

Did you pick up any unusual skills during lockdown?
My friend’s mom taught me how to crochet! She is in the Champions League of crocheting, though, but it was great fun and actually very calming and therapeutic in a special way. The first thing I made was this very skimpy bikini top that I probably won’t be able to wear anywhere!

How did you first get into music? What sparked your interest?
Music was something I was always naturally interested in. I used to dream about being a singer as a little girl. So, I went from singing in my house to whoever would listen, to playing in a bucket drumming troupe, to winning singing competitions and performing in school, to buying my first guitar. And, the rest is history.

And now you’re dropping your sophomore EP “Rising”, what was your mindset going into this project?
I wanted to create a project that ticked a lot of boxes, from an artistic point of view, without losing my voice and sound. So, I was intentionally very open-minded when I was working with different producers and learned to really push myself. I knew for sure that my goal was to land in a place between vibes and message.

Did you approach it differently to your first EP?
Definitely! My first EP was self-produced and written. For this new EP, I was searching for a sound and voice that was my own, so collaboration was a big part of this project. I was trying to fuse together all the different influences and environments I have been moving through. So, there are notes of dancehall, afrobeat, soul, RnB, and pop throughout the project in a really seamless way.

It’s all about love, personal struggle and chasing your dreams! What was the biggest inspiration for the project?
The biggest inspiration behind this project was my own insecurities and connecting them to stories around love and the struggles of chasing my own dream with the stories of amazing women I see around me every day. I see this EP as a women’s empowerment project, especially with songs like “Electric Lady” and “Sweet Adetola”. Although, as much as it speaks to women’s power and tenacity, I think the themes also can resonate with anyone, no matter how they identify.

You also tap into an array of cultures for the project, how do they inspire you?
I have lived in a lot of different cities around the world such as Havana, Aarhus, Lagos, Toronto, London. So, I have a natural affinity for being inspired by different cultures and allowing different environments to influence my music. I was working with producers from Jamaica, Nigeria, the USA, United Kingdom and Canada, and I think that array of collaborators is also very true to my story. I also grew up listening to a lot of different music genres, and sometimes they influenced me without me even being aware of it. I grew up going to bashment dancehall parties, listened to a lot of pop, afrobeat, neo-soul, went through an ethereal pop stage as well. So that diverse influence is very present in this project.

Looking back on the project, which track means the most to you and why?
I think “Electric Lady”, with “Sweet Adetola” standing as a strong second. I wrote “Electric Lady” kind of like a letter to myself. I had to re-learn how to love myself, be kind to myself, and how powerful I am. So, that’s where a lot of these lyrics came from. But I think it’s important to me because I hope that it inspires women to feel empowered and electric and inspires confidence and self-love.

What do you want people to take away from your music?
Some of my favourite albums took me on a journey of feelings and emotions and I want that to be the takeaway from my music as well!

What are you most excited for? What’s next for you?
I want to be on stage as much as possible! I think that is the most exciting thing I have coming up because I really missed it throughout the whole pandemic. Oh, and of course, an album!