Interviews

Soul Clap Records have got the golden ears for talent and new signing Khyenci, is no exception to that. Sounding like a future Soul Star in the making, whilst at a writing workshop, Khyenci met Charles Levine of the Boston duo and instantly, the creative sparks began to fly. Together with Soul Clap, Khyenci releases ‘Amazement’ on Soul Clap Records, and on the week of the release, we catch up for a chimney side chat with this truly exciting Bay Area artist

Where are you at the moment and how are you spending your day?

I am at home right now, with my daughter, focused on some work and music while she plays and honestly it's my favorite place in the world to be.

Where were you born and where are you based?

I was born in the Bay Area, CA (in Marin County) and I've moved around but I live in the Bay Area again now!

What do you love most about where you live and what keeps you there today?

I love that the Bay is sort of a little bit of everything, we have all sorts of people, all sorts of culture, all kinds of environments and climates even. It's like, if you live here, you can have it all. It's just something about the Bay - there's no place like it.

What is your earliest musical memory?

My earlier music memories were really watching my parents be working musicians. My dad was a drummer, vocalist and DJ in a band that my mom also sang in. I learned how to sing harmonies while I’d listen to her rehearse sets in the car.

Is there an album that sticks in your mind from when you were a kid?

A few really but Testimony: part 1 by India Arie, Continuum by John Mayer and Chain by The Family Stand stick out particularly.

Who are you musical hero’s from the past?

Amy Winehouse, Etta James, Prince, all absolute legends we probably never could have had enough time with.

Are there some artists that you admire 'lyrically’ today? Who do you think is really saying something with their words through music?

Lyricism is everything to me, I’m a big fan of Dominic Fike and Chappell Roan right now. It’s not necessarily about preaching to me, more so about storytelling.

How long have you been making music?

I’ve been making music for what feels like forever, I was always singing in choir and doing the solos at school performances, but I didn’t start writing and recording my own music until about 10 years ago.

Do you remember the first time you sang in front of people?

I was probably 9, and it was my singing recital at school because I had been taking singing lessons, and long story short, I threw up on stage! Fast forward to today, stage fright is non-existent to me now.

Who are the vocalists that inspire you currently?

I like Renee Rap and Coco Jones a lot.

What do you think or people like Little Simz?

Love her.

And Sault. Are you feeling what these guys are doing?

Love it. I think we need thoughtfulness in this industry right now more than ever. We need consideration and intention - I think any individual or group putting the effort they have into having a dynamic relationship with fans and listeners deserves their flowers. It’s too easy to create, release, and move on, but what they’re doing has some depth.

Where do you think your passion for poetry and words stems from?

Writing was my first therapist, and probably the best (and cheapest) one I’ve ever had. My first escapism was reading books, then I realized my thoughts and experiences could come out in the form of short stories and even poetry. I thought I was going to write and publish a book by the time I was 18, instead, I ended up a songwriter. Writing of any kind got me through, and continues to, to this day.

Have you written any songs for others at all?

I write songs for others often, and more than I work on songs for myself these days. Im working on a few songs for an amazing up and coming artist from Germany right now, and she’s amazing. She reminds me of everything I love about music and songwriting.

What projects have you been working on prior to Amazement?

Lots of songwriting gigs and collaborations.

How did you get involved with the Soul Clap guys?

One of my favorite creatives and friends, G Koop, told me about them and spoke highly of them, and said we should meet and do some work when they came to town. Then ironically, I got an invite to their writing camp from another colleague and we all met up there which just felt like Kismet.

Talk to us about Amazement and its inception. How did the track first start?

It literally just happened. Charlie played me the track and we just sort of put it together - the concept came quickly, I laid down a concept and we just fell in love with it. So we filled in spaces and gaps, had it feeling cohesive, then just vibed through the recording and I think you can hear that. It feels lucid and just free and unrefined and that’s what I love about it.

Is there a story in the lyrics?

I just needed it to feel like breaking free and letting go, and with that came just the ethereal blissful thoughts and feelings. I think we achieved that.

What are you most proud of with this release?

How good it feels. The vibe is so strong. I think anyone could listen to this and feel good anywhere and anytime.

What was the most challenging part of bringing the release together?

Coordinating from different states. I wish we could have linked up more but it’s 2024 and we got it all done!

Other than that, it was a breeze.

What can we hope to see next from Khyenci? Any plans for a live?

Definitely - always plans for that! New singles and hopefully some new songs from other artists that people will love where my name is in the credits!

I can’t wait to share new stuff I’ve been working on no matter if it’s my voice or another bringing it to your ears!

When you are not in the studio making music, what might we find you doing?

Probably spending time with my family or doing some sort of art, project or craft . I love creating things so whether it’s music or refurbishing old furniture, I’m usually working on something.

What has been one of your favorite moments from the past year?

Honestly this year has been full of amazing moments, getting to collaborate with new artists and creators is what it’s all about for me and honestly the writing camp at Empire where we created this song was one of my favorite sessions of this year.

What drives you to make music each day?

My heart and brain don’t always work in unison, and making music helps them to work more cohesively. Honestly, I do it for my mental health and hopefully the mental health of others. It makes me a better person to create, and I can give the world a better version of me.

Tell us something that we might never know about you?

My life’s dream is to move further North in CA, and to own a huge ranch and tons of land with gardens, and a big pond and all sorts of horses and animals and a huge studio made out of an old barn, so I can have everyone and everything I love in one place and never move back to the city (haha.)

Check out the latest release from Khyenci.