July 31, 2023 |
Coming off the release of his first EP Out Of Mind, 18-year-old Sekou Sylla (who goes by the stage name Sekou) has quickly established himself as an artist to watch. He first garnered industry attention when he was just 16, when he was signed by music label Good Soldier Records after he posted a video of himself singing in a carpark.
Lauded as “a voice of this generation” by various music titles, Sekou’s vocals have a richness far beyond his years. A mixture of both R&B and pop, his EP was produced by the likes of Sounwave, while pulling inspiration from icon artists, such as Whitney Houston, who was played in his house growing up.
The multi-faceted artist was recently invited by Pierpaolo Piccioli to sit front row at the Valentino menswear show in Milan. Originally from Leicester, Sekou now spends time recording in Los Angeles and is based in London, where he is returning for a sold-out performance this evening at The Lower Third.
Before he hits the stage, we grab Sekou for a quick round of VIQs (that’s very important questions).
1. Who is Sekou?
“That’s such a big question – I don’t really know how to answer that [laughs]. I guess I’d say I’m a singer-songwriter from Leicester, currently living in London.”
2. Do you have any pre-gig rituals?
“I’m usually really nervous before a gig – so nervous I could be sick! So, I take some time to myself, do some breathing exercises, and listen to some music to get myself ready.”
3. What song do you pick to get you hyped up pre-show?
“’It’s Not Right’ by Whitney Houston – I love that song!”
4. What are you most looking forward to about your upcoming London show?
“I’m really looking forward to being in a room with people that love, and are starting to love, my music. Just building the connection with the audience and growing a strong fanbase is amazing. It’s going to be so surreal.”
5. How has your experience in the industry been for you so far?
“It’s definitely been fun, but it can also be a lot of pressure. I tend to try and ignore the hype though and concentrate on being as much in control, and as present as I can be.”
6. Who’s been the best person you’ve seen play live?
“Beyoncé – of course, she’s an icon!”
7. If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
“Flying, because then I’d love to just up and go to beautiful places.”
8. You worked with some of the most notable producers and songwriters (including Sounwave and Al Shux) on your debut EP. What were some of the greatest lessons you learned from them?
“The greatest lesson I learnt was just to be honest – as a person, in music and in life, that’s the most important thing. Also have fun with this experience, I’m embracing it all.”
9. If your sound could be described as a colour, what colour would it be?
“Red – because it’s a bright colour, it’s also raw, fiery, and passionate.”
10. What does the rest of the year hold for you?
“I’m continuing to make music, get some live performances in, and hopefully work towards being tipped for 2024. Honestly, I just want to continue building my fanbase and being successful on this journey.”
Sekou performs at The Lower Third in London, this evening, July 31.
