‘5 Questions With’: Loie
“I’ve always been surrounded by music and encouraged to be creative.”
22-year-old South London singer/ songwriter Loie is fairly new to the industry but is already growing in leaps and bounds and has just released her jagged, soulful debut “Take You There”, produced by Kadiata. Graduating from University and signing almost immediately with the Cloud X team less than a year ago, Loie has already been in studio mode with some of the city’s hottest producers and musicians incl. Jim Reed, Benjamin and Thomas Totten and Mack Jamison alongside the effervescent Kadiata. “Take You There” emerges as a seductive combination of soulful grooves and jazz undertones, Loie’s frank lyricism balancing the polished instrumental to create something playful and pop-leaning.
Speaking on the track Loie states: “This song was written as a form of escapism, to momentarily distract you from all your internal and external stresses and clear your mind though love and sunshine. For me, I think it captured my longing for this and that feeling of freedom you get from being somewhere beautiful, far away from the UK.”
Read out 5 Questions With the star-on-the-rise below…
Words & Interview by Danielle Temeng
EQ: Hi Loie, welcome to EQUATE. Can you tell our readers a little about you? Where does your love of music stem from?
L: Honestly my music probably stems from my family home and city. I’ve always been surrounded by music and encouraged to be creative.
EQ: You (impressively) signed to Cloud X almost immediately out of university, what was that process and journey into your artistry like for you? Has the industry been what you expected so far?
L: I think there is a lot of stigma about the music industry, horror stories of artists being exploited or trapped into bad deals, I think as a female there’s even more precaution there for me, but Cloud X team were introduced to me by a good friend and have quickly become like family.
I always wanted to be a songwriter but only began to pursue my artistry around this time last year so to already have a management team behind me is a dream.
“…through thick and thin my song writing has always been there for me, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a complex relationship.”
EQ: We’re obsessed with your brand new, soon-to-be-released single ‘Take You There’, your vocals are ethereal and sultry, but what I’m even more blown away by is your lyricism, together it just gives me all the feel. I know you studied this in university, but did song writing always come naturally to you?
L: To be honest, through thick and thin my song writing has always been there for me, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a complex relationship. Sometimes my music falls out of me in the most organic and natural way, and I’ll have a song within an hour but other times the song requires a bit more time and nurturing which I think is important. Your songs are often a gateway into your mind, and it is important to look after this.
EQ: You are a perfect mix of jazz infused, soul, RnB delightfulness, but if you could describe your sound in three words, what would they be and why?
L: I find this question so hard [laughs]. I guess serene, warm and empowering.
EQ: This is your debut offering, but do you already have your next moves planned? What can we expect from you the rest of the year and beyond?
L: Mostly just expect some good vibes and a couple bops this summer! Then once those are out perhaps a cheeky EP a little later on in the year if you’re lucky.
Stream ‘Take You There’ HERE