HOUSE/GARAGE SINGER-SONGWRITER CHIKAYA Drops New Single 'The Lion'

House/Garage singer-songwriter Chikaya releases her brand new single, The Lion, out everywhere now.

Written, sang, produced, mixed and mastered by three POC women, The Lion offers a message of empowerment, loving yourself, being self assured, secured and powerful. Produced by Simone V and mixed/mastered by Justine Bruce aka Likkle Jay, the track incorporates elements of house, garage, pop and R&B, all wrapped up in Chikaya’s distinctively sultry vocals and compelling lyricism.

Tell us about your latest release The Lion and how it came about.

I had the line ‘you wake up the lion inside of me’ floating around in my notes for a while I thought it was a cool concept to build on.

I had a demo instrumental idea for it and a couple others including another called chemistry, when Simone V and I started chatting I decided to send her both, she liked The Lion & was confident she could put her spin on it, and we went from there!

What should a song or piece of art communicate in your opinion?

I don’t believe it always has to communicate something. Just enjoy it.

We all experience art differently. Course, if you have a strong message / statement that you want to deliver, that’s different. If that’s the case, always be bold and stand tall in your truth.

Who were your top 3 artists last year?

I don’t consume music much anymore like I used to, but occasionally I’ll hear something I dig, last year I enjoyed listening to OVERMONO, I also loved Bklavas track ‘Sinner’ and I liked Kx5, deadmau5, Kaskade, Hayla track called ‘Escape’ Haylas vocals were incredible on that record.

What do you do when you’re feeling uninspired?

I simply ride it out! When inspiration strikes I welcome it with open arms, I write & write & record and embrace the wave of creativity that’s flowing inside of me, but that’s never gonna last, so I enjoy it til it inevitably fades, and then i get on with living my life, focusing on friends family, dancing, fitness nature, food- all the other things that keep my heart pumped!

What are your 2023 projects and goals?

Lots of collabs, dance releases and festivals in the summer time!!

Favourite movie or TV show?

Interstellar, love Christopher Nolan, love Hans Zimmerman on the soundtrack.

Kill bill vol 1&2

Also my comfort watch is Schitts Creek. So hilarious.

What is something you would want to change in the music and entertainment industry?

Safer environments for women. ‘What do you do if you think you’ve been injected in the club?’ – Should not be something we have to type in the search engine.

Who inspires your style and aesthetics?

I’m not inspired by anybody in particular. I like what I like and I always have.

I always had a very strong and forward thinking sense of style since I was a young child, I have no idea where that has come from. I think it’s ingrained in me, I remember if I had a lunchbox or a pencil case or school shoes in primary school it would have to be something nobody else had! That’s always been the way with me to this day, I just love unique finds!

I’ve always respected Rihanna for that so perhaps if I were to say anyone it’s badgalriri cause she was always the first to do it. The hair cuts, the tattoos, the piercings all the trends – she always did it a year before everyone else jumped on. Gotta respect it.

What is the achievement or moment in your career you are the most proud of and why?

I can’t pinpoint one thing, I’m just proud of myself for being relentless and never giving up on my goals. I’ve faced countless knockbacks and rejection in the music industry but no part of me has ever come close to giving up. I have tunnel vision.