Premiere: B-ahwe x TAMBALA - Smile

Not only are we blessed with a new single from B-ahwe today but we managed to catch up and ask a few questions to learn a little more. Although not defined by genre and certainly not confined style wise, B-ahwe is an artist who we consider to be one of the most exciting emerging acts in U.K Jazz music carving her own path.

So, tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?

I’m the second youngest of seven kids, my parents love music and we grew up with musicals as our childhood films and all sang together and in church choirs. I was blessed to have music as a glue we all shared, as everyone got older they formed their own tastes and that was shared and passed on to us all. So I grew up around everything from Motown, soul, funk, pop, indie, grunge, rock, R&B, electronica… everything at some point! Until I was old enough to start forming my own taste and discovered jazz, hip-hop and all the windows it leads to. 

Getting straight into it, Smile featuring TAMBALA. Firstly, I’m obsessed with it! A slight switch up in style, both in production and you’re spitting bars on this track. I know you’ve displayed this skill before on Novembars but it seems there is still much to learn from B-ahwe, what can we expect from your upcoming projects?

Thank youuuuu! I’m mad excited to get this one out in to the world, it came from a beautiful place and I love writing with TAMBALA, we have such a different energy it’s always so effortless. Honestly I feel so much has evolved with my writing especially through lockdown, it’s been a big couple years of growing and experimenting. Producing my own tracks and working with new producers, delving out of the recorded band sound into new unique sound worlds. The next releases are all about jumping into completely different worlds and I think everyone will be surprised by them but also feel it still sounds completely like B-ahwe.

I’ve always been a fan of Drum & Bass and the connections it has to Jazz music. I’m loving the Circles remix with Tommy Villiers, perfectly launched this summer too, it’s been played at many BBQ’s. How did this link up come about? Can we expect more liquid DnB from B-ahwe?

Ahhh that’s beautiful to hear it’s bringing some BBQ joy aha, we love it. Tommy absolutely killllled that remix, I’m sooo gassed by it, very blessed to have collaborated with such a beast! I met Tommy through the webs of the Leeds-London music scene, I remember bumping into him at Shambala deep in the throws of the night forest, he was with my Leeds mates and a couple of them were dressed as Hotdogs, truly magical.  
I’ve always been a sly D&B lover, i’m the creature who would switch up the playlist at a party with a track and no matter what time or how tired I was, I would go in sooo hard with the D&B I just dropped haha. I love the energy it has, it unlocks some kinda mode within! I’ve loved playing with new genres and seeing what sides of me it brings out artistically so who knows what the future may hold, it’s all to play for! 

How would you describe your sound?

A lot is changing currently in terms of experimenting with genres and sound worlds, but I’ve never really thought of my music in terms of genres is fits into anyway. I’ve always felt it was filthy singer song-writer, vocal and narrative driven ethereal stories over gritty beats and backdrops. 

What is your proudest moment so far as an artist?

I think the most recent thing is always the proudest at the time, whatever you write this week or a show or live session, it’s easy to forget how much has happened the last few years. But when I take a step back it is mad that I stuck to it and released two EP’s through covid, didn’t let all the barriers stop me each time it halted. 

Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to get into music?

Trust yourself and start small, if you’re doing it for the right reasons for the love of it and the process then you will gravitate to where you need to be. It’s not about instant results it’s about finding a voice. 

What music are you playing right now?

Been obsessed with the new Ravyn Lenae Album ! Rosalia, Pip Millet, Charlotte Dos Santos. And Bad Meditation, an album by Ozzie soul king Mara Tk has been going round my mind for months now, so so beautiful. 

Anyone on your radar we should look out for?

I’m mad excited about Brummy rapper, singer, producer and all round angel Neone the wonderer, check him out if you haven’t! The band Lady just dropped ‘does he ever think of me’ from their coming EP which is gunna be a madness. Also Chloe Bodur, August Charles, Hemai and Bina, I can’t wait to see what they have coming.  

What do you like to do when you’re not making music?

I love seeing stand up comedy whenever i can, it’s just absolute gold, the hardest job. Can you imagine standing up there jeeeeez! There’s just so much of it in London and it’s always good. 

Name three things you can’t live without in the studio.

Piano, mic and honey&lemon tea! 

Interview by Nev