Introducing Moss Kena
Moss Kena is a talent unlike any other. With a distinctive sound and voice, the emerging artist is creating his own lane in music. Bursting on the scene in 2016 with his jazzy-soul filled rendition of Kendrick Lamar’s ‘These Walls’, he grabbed the attention of listeners everywhere including Lamar himself.
Since then the singer/songwriter has been steadily releasing music – including two EP’s – while also supporting Rita Ora on her concluded UK & EU Phoenix Tour.
We got a chance to chat with Moss Kena about everything including his new track You & Me, upcoming headline show at Camden Assembly, and more…
When you were making You & Me what were your intentions and production goals that you wanted to achieve with the track?
When I was making You & Me my intention was really to get across a sense of fun and cheekiness to the listener, the synth sound that features heavily throughout the track almost sounds like a 8-bit video game, I thought that was a really sick way to evoke that feeling.
The track features Miraa May and Buddy, how did you link up with these two artists?
I’ve been a fan of Miraa since her first E.P and I really wanted a female response verse on the track, she was an obvious choice so I reached out to her. Buddy was in London and I knew his A&R at the time so I just rolled up to Metropolis studios and hung out with him and he laid down a verse, such a blessing to work with them both.
You recently completed a main supporting slot on Rita Ora’s UK and EU leg of her Phoenix World tour, what was that experience like for you?
I honestly had the time of my life. I’m so grateful to Rita for allowing me into her world and really I just became a student of her, I would study not only her performance, how she commands the audience, but also the infrastructure around her and her show and how she runs things, she’s a real talent and boss.
What do you find the easiest and hardest aspects of touring?
The easiest I would say is actually performing, when you do what you love it’s hard for it to become a chore although there is a quick 30 seconds of crippling anxiety before I go on but once I’m out there it’s an unparalleled feeling.
The hardest part for me is after a show, I always experience a low when it’s over I’m so pumped, coming down and trying to switch off from that can seem like quite a crash back down to reality, the dopamine and adrenaline wears off and you’re reminded you’re human again but still I’m so lucky to know that rush, If I could bottle it and sell it I’d be as rich as Bill Gates in no time.
Do you have a specific routine to get the creativity vibes flowing while you’re in the studio?
Listening to good music helps. I don’t have a specific routine, for me, there is no rhyme or reason as to when or how I will get in the flow, some days I’m open to it and some days I’m not. I just try and have a good time with whoever I’m with, you can’t create under pressure so I just go in with zero expectations and have a bit of a giggle.
Kendrick Lamar gave you praise for your rendition of ‘These Walls,’ how did you feel after hearing such positive feedback from him?
Honestly it was a mixture of tears and elation, the guy doesn’t waste his words, you hear that in his music every word is beautifully calculated and that’s what a conversation with him is like, he speaks, you listen, you learn. He’s given me invaluable advice, he taught me about the value of the uniqueness of my voice and to keep it front and centre of everything I do. What a man.
With you just getting off a European tour, do you have any upcoming performances?
Yes! I’ve got my headline show in London at Camden Assembly on Wednesday the 11th of September, bring all your mates, it’s gonna be fun.
Are you working on an album or EP? Are you working with a specific sound on your new music?
I’ve been working on an album for a minute, by that I mean I’ve got about 200 songs written and I’m not gonna stop writing til the week of release, you never know when the next good song will come. My voice is the theme, the thread that ties it all together, I’m just gonna try and tell my story in real-time.
Make sure to listen to Moss Kena new track You & Me feat. Miraa May and Buddy below!
