In Conversation With mphilo

mphilo is a Kenyan, though often mistaken as South African owing to her unique name, Afro-contemporary artist. She has a demo EP on Soundcloud named “Elementary”, is currently working on another EP that will be released on streaming services later this year and has recently been breaking her way into the industry with enthralling performances at Santuri Kenya and Hi8us, performances that we loved so much that we just had to have a sit down with her.

What made you first decide I want to sing? The canon event that made you want to be a musician.

I grew up singing just naturally around the house, and when I was about 8 or 9 my mom noticed I was actually pretty good and started trying to teach me how to sing properly. She’s also a singer and encouraged me to develop the skill. When I was in high school, she started a choir and it was there that I really started honing my skills as a performer.

How old were you when you started making music?

Well, it kind of happened in stages. I started writing songs when I was around 10, started composing on the piano at 14 and at 17 started composing on the nyatiti and guitar. Currently I’m combining all that in production, which I started learning at 21.

Who are your musical influences?

That’s a hard question because I have a lot of artists that inspire me, but if you listen to my music, it’s not super obvious. I’d say, SZA is a big one for her songwriting and the way she constructs melodies. Fellow Kenyan artist Zowie Kengocha also inspires me a lot with their melodies and vocal performance. Frank Ocean is another big songwriting influence. Sonically, I’d say I’m inspired more by genre, African drum rhythms and patterns definitely inspire some of my musical process.

How would you describe your sound?

I just recently found the perfect word to describe my music! The artist and painter Achieng Owira, used the word “Afro-contemporary” to describe her artwork and we bonded over not really having a perfect space for our art to exist. My music doesn’t specifically sound like any one genre, and until recently I wasn’t really using samples or anything, so the music that I would just create organically from within would come out sounding what I’d best say is “eclectic”. It couldn’t be confined by the conventions of any one specific genre nor even a blend of genres. I think I’m happy to just exist making music that sounds and feels good to me. My music uses a lot of complex melodies and rhythms, I’d say my music is very maximalist and because of that I try to keep more simple vocal melodies and arrangements. The sound is best described as, Mphilo.

If you could experience a day in the life of any musician for a day, who would it be. How do you think it would go?

Okay this was so hard to think about, but I’d probably say Kelly Clarkson. I don’t really listen to her music except that I know and like her hits. But she looks like a lady that has fun in life. She gets to make her songs and sing them on her own talk show, where she gets to meet really cool people and talk to fun celebrities. I’d love to have a talk show, so she’s kind of living my dream you know? And I think just generally living as a rich, white woman for one day would be a really great experience.

(Oh, I hear that. Not much to worry about but your matchas and who Taylor Swift’s new boyfriend is)

Which 5 people are in your dream audience?

My mom, Erykah Badu, Warren Buffet, Keke Palmer, Beyonce.

Explain how performing feels to you and what is your favourite performance.

Performing is thrilling for me. It’s a little scary, a lot of fun and always something different. I love being on stage, and sharing music with people. The moment when the audience connects with whatever feeling you’re trying to evoke with the music is my favourite part of being an artist. My favourite performance was probably one I did at Santuri East Africa in July of 2023. It was my first time on stage in 2 years performing originals. It was a journey getting there, I wrote all the songs and poetry, about enough for an album, in a record 2 weeks and put together the stage design with the help of my mom. It was all very harrowing honestly, but getting to sit on that stage and share my work and myself really, was so fulfilling. It encouraged and inspired me and I have so much energy to keep going with my music.

Can you share a personal experience or moment that profoundly influenced one of your songs?

Becoming an older sister has to be one of my most profound personal experiences. When both my sisters were born, I wasn’t particularly enthused. I liked my space and having my parents to myself. I was livid actually. Anyway, I wrote a pretty dope song called, “Enough”, to capture the feelings I had aas a kid with losing what, to me. felt like everything I knew to be true. I was very much a dramatic child.

Describe the challenges you’ve faced so far in your career.

My biggest issue as far as my career is concerned has probably been consistency, being disciplined to continue the work I’ve started when I was finding a flow. I have to be better about setting up time to make music, I tend to just let the inspiration take me where I need to go. That’s good in the creation process, but it doesn’t do much for me when I’m trying to put more work out there.

If you could make the theme song for any character (cartoon, film etc). Who would it be and why?

It would probably be Mrs. Frizzle from Magic School Bus. She’s this neurotic science teacher and wears cute fits inspired by the subject they’re learning, and she has this big beehive hairdo. She’s great! And I feel like I make music that would fit her vibe.

Who do you hope to collaborate with?

I’d really love to collaborate with Mereba, Stromae, and Obonjayar.

Fans love to know about the creative process. Can you walk us through how you typically write and produce a song, from initial inspiration to final recording?

I usually write with a theme in mind, I might be inspired by a TV show, movie or conversation that sparks a theme, which will drive how I derive the beat. This inspired instruments I’ll use, tempo, grooves etc. Once the beat is mostly constructed and loosely arranged, I’ll write the lyrics and start to structure the beat more around the flow of lyrics. I then clean up vocals and add any flourishes until beat is usually as produced as I could get it.

Are there any messages or feelings you hope your music conveys to your audience?

It’s a usually a different message and/or feelings for each song but I’m very inspired by my own feelings and emotions. I find it easier to write sad, more melancholic songs, but they vary because the beat might not always be particularly sad but every song has meaning that I hope the audience gets.

Beyond music, are there any other creative outlets or hobbies that influence your work as an artist?

I’m a writer. I write about music, do reviews, interviews, think pieces on music and people that inspire me. These all influence my work and art. I also draw (not professionally or anything) but it’s definitely an outlet for creativity, feelings, and for expression.

Your journey as an artist involves growth and change. How do you stay true to your artistic vision while adapting to evolving trends in the music industry?

I’m not sure if it’s bad but, I don’t really. Not because I feel like I’m too good for trends, I don’t even think I’d know how. I may just be too unskilled, but I don’t know how to copy. I grow within my own skillset, picking up skills as it pertains to where my own taste goes. Especially because I don’t make music with any genre in my head, it’d be hard to even follow any sort of genre, or industry trend.

If you had to create a playlist for a road trip to the moon, what three songs would definitely be on it?

Fold (Acoustic) by Zowie Kengocha, All My Girl’s Love to Fight by Hope Tala and Buzzed by ¿Téo? and WILLOW

If your music could come with a warning label, what would it say?

WARNING: A LITTLE BIZARRE!

In a world where all musical instruments are sentient beings, which instrument would make the best sidekick for you, and why?

I’d probably want a sentient drum. Maybe a drum pad, because I think it’d be great to have a lil, “Ba dum tss” after bad jokes in person.

Can you give us a little joke for the road?

I don’t have one, I’m only funny on a conversational basis aki pole.

You can discover mphilo’s enchanting tunes on Soundcloud under her EP “Elementary,” and thank you for joining us on this journey through Kenya’s underground music scene.