“In This Bih”: SOUNDS OF 16 with Kah-Lo

Sounds of 16, our summer playlist series, has returned! For our first episode, we sit down with Kah-Lo— the Nigerian-born, globally-minded electronic and pop artist who has spent the better part of a decade resisting easy categorisation. Hot off the heels of her new single, she talks about the dancefloor as a kind of home, what she stopped explaining about herself, and why the people who need to find her, will.

Conducted by Tushar Hathiramani.

© Daniel Uwaga & 080 Studios

Tushar: "Rinse & Repeat" came out almost ten years ago. Do you remember the moment you first heard it played somewhere that wasn't your laptop?

Kah-Lo: Yes, outside a now closed club in Brooklyn called Output — and the bouncer wouldn't let me in because he thought I was making it up.

T: Pain/Pleasure was your first solo album — your name, your record, no Riton. What did you stop apologising for when you made it?

K: I was never in the business of apologising for anything.

T: You've talked about not wanting to be branded by your Nigerian heritage. Has that position evolved? Where do you stand on it now?

K: No, it hasn't — because as an electronic and pop artist, I want my music to be taken in as is and not limited to where I'm from. I am a proud Nigerian, but the fact is most people will presume what they "expect" Nigerian music to sound like and wouldn't give my music a chance. It happens in the opposite direction too — Nigerians who aren't familiar with my sound will expect something else entirely when I tell them I make music. I am in a very unique position, and I don't take that lightly. I want my music to reach as many people as it can. They will find out I'm Nigerian when they listen.

© Daniel Uwaga & 080 Studios

Part Two: The Dancefloor as Hometown

T: There's a difference between a song that gets streamed and a song that gets played out. Which side of that divide are you chasing right now?

K: My solo work leans more towards streaming because it's a lot more introspective. My latest single, Suddenly, That's Strange, is for headphones on during a commute.

T: You've collaborated with everyone from Mr Eazi to Idris Elba to Diplo. What's the collaboration that's still on your list — the one you haven't asked for yet?

K: There's a Calvin Harris feature that never manifested and I'm still salty about it. I'd also love to work with Charli XCX and Santigold.

T: What's the ideal crowd you'd like to play for? Large or small? High tempo? Paint us a picture.

K: [KAH-LO'S ANSWER]

T: Walk us through what's inspiring you music-wise — and how you created the Sounds of 16 playlist.

K: [KAH-LO'S ANSWER]

RSVP to Kah-Lo’s Sounds of 16 party on the Friends of 16 app.

Follow Kah-Lo on Instagram here.