Hey Our Basement,
My new EP, Checkmate, was borne of many pent-up emotions. As I came to terms with those feelings, I treated the EP’s tracklist as a motion from my starting point to an arrival in my creativity.
Checkmate features “Dirty Ice,” which I wrote as a way to soothe myself after a friendship ended with repercussions. It is a reminder to myself to carry on no matter what is being thrown at me. I wrote it in a way to forgive oneself for not listening to their intuition and keeping on their rose-coloured glasses in unstable interactions and relationships.
I explored different time signatures on this song, co-creating a fluid sound with New York based producer, Swaya. My intention was to develop a sound that mirrors life and how unpredictable it can be.
I am influenced by jazz singers such as Nina Simone and Billie Holiday. I wanted to recreate their storytelling singing style and combine it with my interest in experimental sounds.
Thank you for lending Checkmate your ears. This record was written to help you recognize your own strengths and have no fears.