Name: Elsy Wameyo
Occupation: Singer, songwriter, rapper
Nationality: Kenyan-Australian
Current release: Elsy Wameyo's Saint Sinner is out now.
Recommendations:
1. Half of a Yellow Sun is an amazing read. Written by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Her pen is intensely blessed. She captured and transcribed the events of the Biafran War profoundly.
2. empathogen - Willow Smith

If you enjoyed this Elsy Wameyo interview and would like to stay up to date with her music, visit her on Instagram, Facebook, twitter, and tiktok.



Do you think that some of your earliest musical experiences planted a seed for your interest in writing lyrics or poetry? How and when did you start writing?

My love for writing came from my English classes. I really enjoyed poetry and learning how to convey different emotions through metaphors, alliteration and the sort. I enjoy riddles and parables. The ability to foreshadow or tell a story figuratively is so powerful.

We wrote songs in school during music classes. I also recall attempting to write songs at home. I found it was easier to tell stories through my music because of my prior knowledge in English.

Naturally, I write poetically and I've definitely been told I have a way with words numerous times.

It is sometimes said that “music begins where words end.” What do you make of that?

The first thing that comes to mind is when you’re having an argument with someone. Sometimes you reach a point where you no longer have the strength to say anything so you begin to cry.

Words are to be heard. Music is to be felt. They both have different flavours but together blend to brew the sweetest music.

I do understand words have the power to evoke feelings and I have also heard music speak to me with no words having been said. They go hand in hand like a symbiotic relationship, mutualism to be exact.

Entering new worlds and escapism through music and literature have always exerted a very strong pull on me. What do you think you are drawn to most when it comes to writing?

I write music to heal, learn and grow. This isn’t a hobby, it’s a lifestyle.

I come from a family where the art of music and writing is not common. My ways of communicating differ drastically from theirs so I’ve always felt misunderstood. This was the case during school too. Most kids around me were not so interested in music.

Writing became my safe place because I could express myself exactly how I wanted. I had the freedom to create melodies and stories that made my heart feel at ease. It’s a fantasy when you think about it.

What were some of the artists and albums which inspired you early on purely on the strength of their lyrics? What moves you in the lyrics of other artists?

When it comes to lyrics, Kendrick Lamar is the only artist I've studied. I gravitate to his work because of the depth in his stories. I love to create from substance and this is something he does really well. Everything has meaning. “Not Like Us” is a hilarious diss track but when you listen keenly, you find all his statements have references and receipts.



I have always considered many forms of music to be a form of poetry as well. Where do you personally see similarities? What can music express which may be out of reach for poetry?

When you’re looking surface level, poetry is music and music is poetry. They are both modes of expression which use words and rhythm.

Intricately speaking, music has no barriers. It has numerous interpretations which creates an endless reel of variations. Poetry can be strict. It has rules, rights and wrongs at times.

I feel poetry most times needs an end goal whereas music is only the beginning at all times.


Elsy Wameyo Interview Image (c) the artist

The relationship between words and music has always intrigued me. How do you see it?

Alliteration creates rhythm, onomatopoeia lends to sound. Words and music can’t live without each other.

It’s impossible to separate the two.

What kind of musical settings and situations do you think are ideal for your lyrics?

Intimate spaces with hearts that are open and willing to be inspired.

When working on music, when do the lyrics enter the picture? Where do they come from? Do lyrics need to grow together with the music or can they emerge from a place of their own?

My music is a translation of my day to day life. Most of the things I put on paper, I've been meditating on for quite some time. I’m an overthinker most times and tend to ask a lot of questions. Once I sit to compose, the music comes almost like a boat to help carry the words and stories I've already gathered in my mind.

There are so many ways to write songs. There’s never a right or wrong way, that’s the whole point. Personally, I feel the words, music and emotions driving the two need to always be present. Especially when you’re creating a very specific emotion or idea.

Do you feel like the music triggers specific words inside you? Or is it more of a feeling or a memory? Would you say there is instantly an entire idea in front of you or does the story grow as you keep listening to the music?

Music is a vibration, so it will always make your spirit feel a certain way.

Your thoughts and ideas will then become a reflection of the mood created from the music. These ideas may trigger memories from past experiences which felt, tasted or looked the same. It’s an endless train that slowly reveals itself as you continue the journey. One day your train may speed past all of your stops or, take its time at each location for you to soak in and relive the memories and emotions.

You may find you need to heal or learn from your past experiences. If you missed something the first time round, you have to go back before taking the next step. This is why some songs are written in 5 minutes, and some 5 years.

More generally, how can your music take the listener to places they would possibly not have visited otherwise?

I look at everyone like a book. Though I’ve lived with my siblings for many years, our walks of life and experiences are very different. My story will never compare to anyone else no matter the proximity.

When I share my music, I give you access to life through my lens. A journey you can never experience anywhere else.

When you're writing song lyrics, do you sense or see a connection between your voice and the text? Does it need to feel and sound “good” or “right” to sing certain words? What's your perspective in this regard of singing someone else's songs versus your own?

Your voice is like a paintbrush. You may have all the right colours and the perfect canvas but if you fail to use the correct brush and technique, the painting will be ruined.

When singing someone's song, if you don’t relate to or understand the meaning and context of the piece, you lose a big chunk of the music. The song will still sound great if sung well, but it wouldn’t be the same as a person who sings from experience.

When you sing, we don’t just hear your voice, we feel and experience your every breath, pause and intonation.

How far are you consciously aware of the meaning of the lyrics you're writing during the creative process? Do you need to have a concrete concept or can the words take the lead?

I always have to have a reason. Every letter, word and syllable come from somewhere. I sometimes spend a few minutes looking through the dictionary in search of a word that better describes what I'm trying to say.

I am always conscious of the words I’ve put down. How many times I've used it and why. It all has to make sense.

What is the value of song lyrics or hip hop bars outside of the music?

They inspire.

How do you see the relationship between harmony, rhythm and melody? Do you feel that honing your sense of rhythm and groove has an effect on your lyrics-writing skills?

Each genre has its typical melodies, rhythms and scales. When you hear black gospel, you immediately know what it is. Old school hip-hop, afro beat or reggae. Every genre has its thing which creates a distinct mood and emotion. I feel this is why RnB lends itself to love songs quite easily, hip-hop can be aggressive and soul is simply soulful.

A word can be soft in the same way it can sound harsh. The style of music will always affect your writing.

Creativity can reach many different corners of our lives. Do you feel as though writing or performing a piece of poetry is inherently different from something like making a great cup of coffee? What do you express through music that you couldn't or wouldn't in more 'mundane' tasks?

Creativity is in everything. It’s one's ability to think outside of the box. The possibilities are endless in everything that we do. We’ve unfortunately been tamed and over the years have become sterile.

It all depends on how far you’d like to take things. You can write a “basic” song in the same way you could put a tea bag in a cup, pour boiling hot water and call it a day. The story changes when you ground cardamom, cloves and toast spices before brewing tea on the stove. That’s an artform.