Exclusive Interview With the Gorgeous Kadija Kamara

by Saima Omar | 6 September 2013

Soulful Kadija Kamara

Introducing the beauty Kadija Kamara with her exciting , vinage yet modern and soulful single ‘Loving from the Past’ coming out next week. I am loving the vibes this single gives off; the melody and combination of soul and pop makes you feel emotion and what more, is that they are perfectly sung by Kadija’s smooth and sensuous tones.

Can you begin by telling me about your musical background, what age did you start and how did you become passionate about music?

Soulful New Single 'Loving From The Past" by Kadija Kamara due to be released 15th September 2013. Can be Downloaded from iTune too.

I've loved music from as young as I can remember. From loving my parents playing old records at home, to singing in school plays. It wasn't till my mid teens, when I started to take it more seriously. That was when I discovered I had a talent and wanted to take things further.

You have a new single 'Loving from the Past' being released next week, can you tell me about this single, what message does it portray?

The single is about a love from the past that didn't quite work out. But despite what happened, I will always have love for the person.

It's about past loves that made you stronger for today and newer relationships. Turning the negative in to a positive.

So your songs tell a story then? And what is your favourite lyric from your single due to be released.

All my songs I sing are stories, and this single talks about one particular love from the past. And it is saying that back then when we were younger, comparing then to now. Also saying the mistakes and things that happened then, I don't hold them against anyone. Todays a new day so I am taking the negative and turning this into a positive.

The video portrays that too; My favourite line from the single is 'Back then we would wonder - stop take a look for a sec then breathe." because it is a positive feeling that many people feel. Almost like, when you are in love with someone, you don't have to say or do anything, you just look at each other and have a feeling. And although it is a feeling from the past, you still get that with a current love, it's just you two in that moment sharing that special thing.

Awwh...So your songs are of a romantic nature - do you make the personal to your own love life?

Most of my songs are based on my personal experiences, but some are of others that I know or even fictional.

Who provided you with the most support in the creation and making of this single?

I would say my band 'the Kadettes' and the producers. I wrote the song on my guitar and had musical ideas which I then played to my band.

We then worked on the arrangement and played it a couple of times at different gigs, just to get the right feel. When the time was right, we went into the studio to record it.

The producers 'Tony Hayden' and 'Max Grunhard', worked on the production and mixing of the track you hear now. These guys have been working with me for a while and we have a great working relationship. We're currently working on my album.

Personality wise - how would your nearest and dearest describe you?

Witty, focused, loyal, caring and determined

What do you enjoy doing apart from music?

Anything creative really within fashion, art, video production ( I produced the video for Loving in The Past and the one for Groovin), travelling and theatre. I love meeting new people and of course having a drink and a catch up with friends too.

Can you describe a typical day in your life for our readers?

It's mainly rehearsals, I do my music usually in the evenings and the weekends or take a day off and take periods off when I need to. Now at the current moment while I've been
off work it's been sleep!! That's if I can. (laughs) Well I try to get some rest because I do quite a lot in the day, so I wake up, and then I tend to emails, and then I try to
do a bit of promo stuff on-line stuff, whether its a tweet, Facebook or Instagram.

Right now because I have this single campaign I catch up with everyone I need to, so with PR and also with the process of recording my album I normally am liaising with the producers. I also do some writing, or pair up some ideas and listen to some stuff, and depending on what day, I might just head to the studio and do some work - or stay in my own zone and try to be creative.

What do you attribute to be your "drive as a music artist"?

Passion really, I just love music. I've always loved music since a very young age, not just as an artist but just generally for listening to. I listen to old records too. My Parents have a
massive collection of records and I've been given some, I took that, and I wanted to create that myself really - the stuff that I listen to. So the stuff I am working on, we are
recording like an analogue - id love to have stuff pressed on vinyl - to me that is a benchmark for high standard music.

Is your journey of music an independent one or will you work with anyone else in the future?

It has been independent up until now, I'd like to get some support from major bodies. But in the meantime I will continue doing what I do and get the stuff done with the people I
work well with already. I've found my own feet. It's best as a songwriter and singer to do that first, to find your own direction, rather than being lead by someone else,
otherwise, you'd just become a singer. Where as I class myself as an artist. And I like to be involved with the creative side of things and decision making too.

So if there was 3 individuals or groups you could perform with from the music industry - dead or alive - who would you pick, and why?

Dead or alive...There are so many! One person I would pick that comes to the top of my head is Martin Gaye - I'd love to work with him just because his track's and record's are just fabulous.I can't explain it, I'd love to be in a room watching him, and learning things, do a duet and watch the way things are recorded. Alive...I'd say Aretha Franklin for all the same reasons as Martin, and I could learn so much from her, and it would be an honour to meet her aswell. Which is why I did a cover from the young article, I loved her version though. And another person, someone modern - there are so many great artists now, but I'd love to meet or work with Alicia Keys. She's a great performer and I'd love to learn about her journey as well.

As a child growing up many of us are surrounded by music. What type of music did you grow up listening to and how does it differ from what you listen to now?

I listened to a lot of stuff growing up - being in London, I listened to a lot of pop music. Also the soul stuff provided by my parents, depending on what they had, along with African music, Brazilian music. Most of it I would say was pop related - but I don't think its much different to what I do now because the sounds of my album has changed, we kind of tweaked the sounds. So although it has an old feel, it is gearing more towards my whole sound as alternative soul. And my alternative soul is my fusion of the old and the new. So I guess all of these things and the music I grew up with do infact play a part in my song writing and everything that I do.

So like with 'Loving from the Past' although the music and background are very soulful, the lyrics and the melody to somewhat can be heard as Pop - some people have quoted it to be a pop track. So simple melodies and simple song structures in terms of pop music - that is where it is similar. And the old music is in terms of the recording process, the arrangements and stuff like that. You are always influenced by all types of music throughout the years. I listen to Dance music as well, I've done some dance tracks as well with Fanatics and Joey Negro.

So if there was 3 individuals or groups you could perform with from the music industry - dead or alive - who would you pick, and why?

Dead or alive...There are so many! One person I would pick that comes to the top of my head is Martin Gaye - I'd love to work with him Just because his tracks and records are
just fabulous.I can't explain it, I'd love to be in a room watching him, and learning things, do a duet and watch the way things are recorded. Alive...I'd say Aretha Franklin
for all the same reasons as Martin, and I could like so much from her, and it would be an honour to meet her. Which is why I did a cover from the young article, I loved her
version.

And another person, someone modern - there are so many great artists now, but I'd love to meet or work with Alicia Keys. She's a great performer and I'd love to learn
about her journey as well. To give us some reassurance.

We all have a guilty pleasure...can you share with us What your guilty pleasure is?

(Laughs) There are many! (laughs) At this current moment, I am addicted to Lychee juice. I know its weird but It is so sweet. I seem to have it with everything like I have a bit of rum or mixed with other stuff, but even on its own. Apart from Lychee juice I would say Avocado.

Where do you think your largest fan base is located?

It's growing but I would definitely say in the UK. I also have a large growing fan-base in the US, second I would say. Also across the world, I have fans in places where I thought they would never find out about my music, such as Brazil, Australia, Loads of places in Africa, France, Sweden, Denmark and then it goes round even in Japan, and China. It's growing slowly but widespread rather than in one area. But it is definitely mainly in London, UK, because I am based here, I gig here, they get direct contact with me.

Art and music are so inspirational to people - both young and old. What advice can you give to any aspiring singers and songwriters out there?

I would say believe in yourself, believe in your art and just keep going. There will certainly be knock-backs along the way and not everyone's opinion is the same, but as long as you are happy with what you are doing, then continue. Find that goal and you will be happy doing whatever you are doing.

Where do you see yourself in the next first years as an artist? What are you long-term career goals?

Yes! Global Success (Laughs) Of course - Yeah I just want to keep growing and growing. It takes a while to get to any stage and I'm optimistic about getting major support. Making this Kamara Music brand bigger. Just doing well, writing albums, touring the world and collaborating with artists.

Saima Omar - @Lookitssaima