Having already established herself as one of the more progressive names doing the rounds right now, Nigerian-American artist Marysa Ada is back to her vibrant best once again with her latest EP 'Fumilayo'.
Honing more of that rich and riveting aesthetic she has been cultivating over the years, this new five-track collection makes for an incredibly bold and driven listen. With her spellbinding vocals spread across a dynamic production at every turn, 'Fumilayo' continues her ascent as one of the more distinctive names on the rise right now.
So with the new EP available to stream now, we sat down with her to find out more about her origins and what has been inspiring her most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The first instrument I fell in love with was the violin. This was the instrument I first learned to read music and understand theory. I was chosen to play in an orchestra with different schools from all over the city. That massive sound of us playing all at once is something I will never forget. It was a clear moment of experiencing heaven on earth.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Roots Reggae music has always had a special place in my heart since I was little. My dad often played Bob Marley and The Wailers on vinyl on our clean up days. The music resonated with my soul. Everytime I listened to Exodus, I felt as if was my first time and I always learned something new with the message and vibration of the tones.
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first album I ever owned that was completely mine was Exclusive by Chris Brown. Wow this was in 2007. Up until then I only had access to my parents and siblings CDs.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
I truly believe every artist who wrote a smashing banger that helped this world in any kind of way were chosen to and for that I don’t wish to have written a song that any other artist wrote. But if I absolutely have to choose I would say “Hip Hop” by Erykah Badu.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I noticed that I would put out a project every 3 years when I first started out. I really needed to experience life and share what I learned. But now I’m dropping projects back to back mainly because I am surrounded by a lot of dope creativity and productive artists of all art forms. Everything is inspiring me now. My rituals are dynamic but some things I practise while in a creative mood are burning incense, developing hooks in the shower, writing songs in the car, and really anytime I receive a message from God, I will stop everything to formalise it in a song. Decluttering my mental and physical space allows me to be more open and ready to record. Decluttering includes letting go. I release it all in my music. That’s why we call them releases.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I’m currently listening to IAMDDB, Shae Universe, Bloody Civilian, Sho Madjozi, and Complex Ricki. These are the Sirens I take notes from. Their songwriting ability is something out of this world. I also love the creative ways in which they infuse harmonies and melodies in their music.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
If I could open a show for anyone in the world it would be Masego. I know it is written in the stars for us to not only collaborate but also to do a concert together or a tour. His audience would love my music style. Masego and I have shared the stage before at our community art festival in Park Place Norfolk, Virginia. He even wanted to collaborate back then but I didn’t have the means to move freely as I do now. A couple years later Masego is performing all over the world. I don’t feel that I missed my chance. Rather I feel that we already put it in the atmosphere to work together and so one day soon we will.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
The most rewarding part about being a musician is my ability to heal from it and heal others. It gives listeners a peace of mind and motivates them into action. That’s why it’s so important to spread a positive message and bring forth conscious music because it can really change someone’s life. I have a friend who quit smoking just from listening to my song “God’s Child” . The song is about conquering addiction in a not so obvious way so that the song is still light and enjoyable.
And what is the most frustrating part?
The most frustrating part for me is time and money. I work full time which means I missed a lot of good opportunities such as touring, networking, and more. I keep myself encouraged by saying I am not missing out on anything. I also believe my music is so good that I don’t need to put in as much overtime as other artists. But honestly every artist needs the space and time to be the best they can be. I work full time because this music shit is expensive but I believe in it and it’s worth the investment. I wrote a song called Nimebarikiwa and in that song I proclaim to soon be set free from my job so I can live my dreams as a full time artist. The truth is, the only limitation in life is the mindset and I’m working on freeing myself more and more each day.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Shoutout to my sistren and mentor DJ Stiletto (Mari Malek). She told me a few things. One is to never take advice from people who don’t have what I want. I also worked with a filmmaker to produce a soundtrack for one of her films. She told me to write a song like it would be my last song I would ever write. I started applying this to every song I write and it has truly been the best advice for me as an artist.
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Marysa Ada's new EP 'Fumilayo' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.