“‘I think I came into the industry with a very, very, very strong sense of self that a lot of new artists don’t have.,” Essosa tells Remixd Magazine.
Fresh off tour with Rochelle Jordan, British-Canadian-Nigerian R&B/pop artist, Essosa (@essosajoy) is ready to make everyone a believer. Apart from this, she just released her sophomore EP, ‘Crush’ and it’s the perfect follow-up project. As trends evolve, you can always count on her to drop a digestible 7-song project for her to pour her heart out.
During an interview with Remixd Magazine, Essosa described her inspiration for ‘Crush’ as a raw reflection of her dating life and how she’s adjusted to dating while in the music industry.
“‘Crush’ is basically a concept project about my dating life in my early 20s to mid-20s,” Essosa tells Remixd Magazine. “So it’s just, like, if I meet someone who’s cool and not in the industry, I feel I have to latch onto them for my life.”
Read below for the full interview with Esssosa.
Interview with Essosa
Remixd Magazine: I hope all is well. Once again, thank you for taking the time again to have this interview with me. What would you say was the turning point that you realized need to take music seriously?
I always wanted to take it seriously. It was never a question of whether I was gonna do music or not I was gonna do music. It was just like, how was I gonna do it and to what extent makes sense. Obviously, like, with “Waste My Time,” kind of breaking me into the industry, that’s when I was like, I’m, gonna take this opportunity with both hands and make the most of what I got.
For sure. Did that moment kind of catch you off guard? Like, were you ready to blow at that time or no?
Yeah, I mean, yes, I know in the sense that, like, I didn’t really have a team or, like had industry knowledge. But I think in terms of my art history and what I had to say, I think I kind of got it down by that point. I think if I had had that moment any earlier, it would have been limited. I kind of was like, yeah, this is a route I’m taking kind of thing. I think if my sh*t had blown up years before, I would still have had a lot of evolving in sound. My sound is still evolving, but it’s just a bit more like, I know what this is now, rather than, I’m kind of figuring it out. I think I came into the industry with a very, very, very strong sense of self that a lot of new artists don’t have.
For sure.
That was a benefit. I started doing this, professionally when I was, like, 21, 22. So I was already an adult and I’d already been making beats, making music, and writing music. I’ve been doing that for a while. It was harder to pull me in a bit in different directions the way that young artists who who get signed really young, have to kind of go through. People did try to pull me in different directions, but I just didn’t listen. I don’t really care either.
London Ties
You’re from London, correct?
Yes. I, was born in East London, and then I lived in Canada. and then kind of since then, I’ve been living in Essex, like, back and forth between, like, Toronto and Essex.
So which place do you feel like you claim the most?
I would say. I would say London. I feel like London is, like, where I became, like, Essosa, but also, like, you know, my first ever memories are, in Mississauga. you know what I mean? So they’re kind of both home to me, I would say.
And with London, how do you feel like that shaped you into the artist you are today?
Well, you know, in, Mississauga, like. Well, the area that I was in Mississauga and in Oakville, like, in Canada, it was quite. It was diverse, but, like, there wasn’t that many, like, Africans or Caribbeans. Like, where I grew up was mainly suburban. So I think London, like, having people around me who was African, Ugandan, Nigerian, Jamaican, like, Ethiopian, Haitian. Like, having that diversity of blackness and diversity in general, I think helped me feel a lot more comfortable who I was, the person. and now I’m like, I only want to be in spaces where I feel appreciated as a black woman. And I think London gave me the privilege to feel like that. Where before, I felt like there wasn’t necessarily any space for me in music, in, whatever I was doing. I remember, I used to do gymnastics. I was really, really young. And, I wanted to go to the Olympics. That was my goal. But at the time, there wasn’t really any black gymnasts in my area, that’s for sure. And I experienced a lot of racism in gymnastics. And there weren’t any black famous gymnasts at the time to look up to. This is before Gabby Douglas. And so because I didn’t have that, I felt like there wasn’t space for me in that. In that career. So that’s why I kind of ended up switching. Representation is very important.
Taking it another way, what was it like opening for Rochelle Jordan? Like, what was it like just going on that tour? Was the experience everything you hoped for?
That was my first ever opening tour. I’ve opened for people. Like, I opened for Flow, before, but I never opened on a tour date. I’ve heard some horror stories. Like, I just heard about a really bad horror story, just before I went on tour with Rochelle. But I was like, okay, I’m gonna expect it to be bad. But I went, and it was amazing. She was so kind. She was so sweet. And, I feel so blessed that my first tour was such a good experience. I know that not every single support tour is going to be as good as that, but I’m happy that that was my first experience and it went really well. I didn’t want to go in and be like, we’re gonna be besties, but we ended up being besties. It’s more than I could have hoped for.
For my next question. I love that you were able to cross paths with KAYTRANADA. Like, take me through your head. What would that collab sound like in your head in a perfect world?
Dance, I love the way that he combines, like, hip hop with house and R&B. And, it’s just something that would really, really, like, really sound like me, But the fact that a any interview I’ve ever done and they ask who do you want to collab with? I always said, KAYTRANADA.
Speaking of your sound, I really love your sound. And, my question for you is, how do you find that perfect balance within your sound of nostalgia while also keeping it fresh?
People say this, but I don’t really think about it. Like, I don’t really think about it. When I was young, I was trained in jazz music. I didn’t know explicitly what jazz actually was, but when I started studying it, I was like, okay. Like, I see what this is now, AKA the foundation of popular music. So just setting the foundations of music is something that, And listening to songs that are the foundations of music, of pop music, of R&B music. Like to me is how I crafted my sound. I think everything about me is about taking stuff back to the foundation. Rather than, like, I will try to just sound nostalgic, because I actually don’t. But because I listen to a lot of foundational, music. I listen to a lot of blues music. I listen to a lot of rock and roll stuff. like, Buddy Guy. Do you know what I mean? Like Muddy Waters. Like, I actually listen to that stuff. And, I find it really fascinating, even. I literally just kept finding random bands from ages ago. I was really liking their music. And like, I love seeing the evolution from, like, from like music from like the 1920s to now, you know, and you find when you actually study music, you can find things that no one else is doing, you know, and you can incorporate that into your art. And suddenly you’ve now been set apart because you took inspiration from somewhere that no one looks, I think that’s really important.
And that kind of takes me to my next question. Like, now that you’re on your second EP, what are some important lessons that you feel like you learned on your last project?
Keep music from people, you know, I mean, not everyone needs to hear every song that you make. Keep that to yourself or to you and your manager. Don’t play all your music to everyone all the time. Just play for people you actually like. Play music for people whose opinion you actually trust. Don’t play for people who are nonsense. That’s what I’ve learned. That is the biggest thing that I’ve learned. Not everyone needs to hear everything.
With “Waste My Time,” being so successful, did you ever have any concerns? Like, dang, I feel like I have to make another one. Like, I have to recreate the energy or even like, in the back of your mind, like, dang, I have to make a song that’s going to sound good sped up.
I mean, I think all my music sounds good sped up, but I think there was a time on TikTok where speeding up music was a thing and now it’s just not a thing anymore. So I don’t really care about that anymore. I do think, like, I really wanted to have another viral song. I’ve had a lot of different viral moments, but like a viral music moment versus a viral song are two different things for sure. And like, all my songs have had some kind of moment of virality, but it’s like that versus being like a viral staple on TikTok is different, I think. You know, I think cultural importance is more important than virality. I think if you can get virality and cultural points as an artist, you kind of have hit the nail on his head. Right. Everyone gets that. It’s like, priority is novelty. It’s not something that you’re entitled to. and I think, you know, I made “Waste My Time,” because I just wanted to make good music and it happened to go viral. And, I just keep doing the same thing. Like, I just keep making good music. And if it goes viral, great. If it doesn’t go viral, it’s not the end of the world. Because I think being artistry is more important than virality. And I think. I think success and numbers and streaming is a byproduct of just being a good artist, bro, and having a good team. And that’s what I have.
I see what you mean. It’s like, long as you go into it, the right intent, it’s like you can never be mad at the results. Like.
Yeah. I mean, I never thought “Waste My Time” was gonna go viral, everyone told me that it would, but I never thought that was going to go viral. I didn’t think it was going to do anything near what it is, but also there’s a part of me that’s like, it could have done more. Do you know what I mean?
Are you a perfectionist?
I’m starting to think that I am. You know, I never thought that I was, but I’m so hard to think that I am because it’s like, I’m never really happy with anything. Yeah, but it’s. It’s hard, though, because it’s like, even “Waste My Time,” there was, like, a track in there that was, like, buried under all the other tracks, and it pisses me off every time because it was just a synth and it was so cool. And now no one’s gonna hear it because it got buried. And it’s like sometimes when I go back and I want to remix it, I want to go back and, like, remix some song, but not remix, like, change a whole track, but just, like, remix it, you know? Sometimes I still want. I want to change the cover art to ‘Essie’s World.’ I probably will still do that. Like, I’m never really happy with the final thing that comes out. I always want to, like, change bits involved. A lot of people are like that. But if you listen to any Mariah Carey interview, she’ll tell you that she hates all her songs. She will tell you that she likes the demo version and she hates the version that came out, so, you know, it happens.
And as someone who works in the music industry, like, I’ve noticed a lot, like artists like you, y’ all hate your older songs, but y’all will love the newer songs that you just made. But y’ all will hate the songs that the fans love.
Like, I mean, there’s a reason for that. You never know the reason. There’s so many reasons as to why an artist, might not like their song. There’s some songs of mine that I don’t like, not because I don’t think they’re good songs, but because the wrong people had to force me to release those songs. And I felt like it wasn’t released at the right time, or I know that if it was released at a different time, it would be received better. And I don’t like performing it because that whole situation annoys me. It’s just not always about the music. It’s sometimes about the story behind it. Yeah. I mean, you can make an album, you can submit to the label, and they just might not release it all. There’s so much politics that goes behind that effective timing. So just, I think, like, as an artist, you have to just give everything to God. But you can’t even be fixated on dates. You can’t be fixated on outcomes. You have to give it to God, bro. That’s it.
Please tell me that you love your song, “Signs,” because I just love that song. Please don’t tell me you hate that song.
No, I do like that song. You know, I didn’t think it was gonna do anything, really.
When you and your friend did that snippet video, I was like, oh, my gosh, I was waiting so long for you to drop that.
I’m so sorry. I did not think that song was going to do anything. And, you know, But it’s one of those things again. Where, like, all my picky songs are. The songs I didn’t think were going to do anything. And then it just went viral. I’m like okay. So, yeah, I was just like, yeah I made a song. I liked it, but I just thought it was cool. My, manager was like, post it on TikTok right now. I was like, yeah, yeah, sure. Then it just went off. Yes. I was like, Jesus. Yeah, I’m sorry to keep you guys waiting long, but I just really had that thing where something goes viral, you’re in a rush to release it, and I just, like, couldn’t feel that pressure anymore. Just, like, drop it right out. Ah. Like, I just was like, bro, I want to finish my project. I’m gonna wait for the project to come out. I think after the projects come out, the speeds have gone up, so much. Because, in the context of the project, it just sounds really good, you know? And I’m happy because if I really used it when everyone wanted me to release it, it wouldn’t have been my project. I would have cut it.
Damn. So it’s good we waited.
Yeah, unfortunately, but fortunately.
‘Crush’ EP
My next question for you. What was your mindset when you made ‘Crush?’ Like, did you approach it differently? What was just going through your head?
I think I approached every project with a concept. ‘Crush’ is basically a concept project about my dating life in my early 20s, early to mid-20s, like, my dating life right now, like, leaving uni, and being in the music industry. It’s basically a concept project about my day in life. Now that I’ve left university, I’m in this really crazy music industry where it’s like, I don’t date in the music industry. I date people who are not in the industry. But, I don’t meet anyone who’s in the industry. So it’s just, like, if I meet someone who’s cool and not in the industry, I feel like I have to latch onto them for my life.
So you rather them not know anything about you at all and just, like, just approach you as a regular person?
Yeah, of course. But some people do know about me or, like, I’ve heard my songs. but they’re not fans, which is, like, amazing.
So you couldn’t date a fan?
Why would I? Would you date a fan? I actually prefer people that just don’t know who I am at all.
Do you ever just, like, make up a lie and it’s like, no, I’m a doctor, or just, do you have a lie?
Yeah, I lie. I lie all the time. I lie all the time. I tell everyone I’m a pharmacist. I actually. I went to college to study pharmacy. So sometimes if I meet a guy and I just. It’s just in general, if I meet someone, I don’t feel like talking about my music. I’ll just say that I do pharmacy. That’s it. Sometimes, even when I go to the border, like, if I go to different countries and ask, why do I say I’m a pharmacist? Or, like, I’m a junior pharmacist? I’ll just be lying I haven’t got time. Especially in Ubers. Oh, my God. I do not want to have a conversation about my music. I don’t even play my music in your car. Oh, yeah, please don’t do that.
What’s Next?
My next question for you is, what else can we expect from you the rest of 2026?
Just new music, bro. Like, I’m just gonna keep dropping music. I just want to keep being consistent and just keep my foot on everyone’s necks. I mean that’s what I want to do. I don’t want to stop working. I want to just keep doing that. I have so many ideas. I just feel like I had a really bad period, like, the whole of 2024. I couldn’t write any music. And now I have so many ideas and so many cool things I want to do. I just can’t stop. I’m the most creative I’ve ever been in my life, and I just want everyone to see that.
Where do you find inspiration for your music these days?
I would. I want to say that, but I don’t even live much of a life anymore. To be honest, once I kind of entered the music industry, my personal life took a nose dive because working at my old pub was like my entertainment. Like, it was just my personal entertainment. Now I don’t really have entertainment anymore, but I was like, listening to a lot of music. I listen to a lot of music. I’m always super inspired. I watched a lot of documentaries. I like to absorb from what’s around me. I try to live a little. I’m not living as much as I used to, but I do try to live a little.
What do you feel like keeps you grounded in those moments?
Nothing. I should really say God makes sense. Like, I should really say God. I would say God keeps me grounded, but it’s like, I don’t really need to be grounded because, like, I mean, my parents are always gonna make sure that I stay humble for sure. So that’s one thing, you know, I mean, I can never get too big for my boots. My parents are gonna make sure they let me know. So I guess that’s also like my parents and that I keep me grounded as well. But I’ve never been somebody who feels like I’m too big. I’ve never been like that. I don’t tell people I make music. Most times I don’t even tell people I make music or I’m an artist. I just can’t. I just can’t be bothered. I’m just a regular girl, man.
Okay, for my last question for you, I always like to end it off, you know, allow you guys to, like, you know, echo on the next generation. So I want to say, like, who are some artists that you like to give your snap of approval to that we may not be familiar with?
I mean, my sister makes boss music, Naomi. She’s great. I love her. So I want to give a shout out to Naomi. I like Tyler Lewis. She’s a UK artist. I like Summer Banton.
Stream ‘Crush’ by Essosa below
