5 Questions With’
South-East London’s gem Abimaro is a true musical and artistic talent. Having collaborated with the likes of Zero 7 and The Cinematic Orchestra, to name but a few, her talents have caught the attention of tastemakers and fellow artists instantly. Through raw and vulnerable storytelling, Abimaro is sharing her experiences with her heartfelt lyrics – addressing relatable issues such as loss, desire and hope, she wants to give listeners a glimpse into her life, hoping for them to feel a sense of comfort.
Read the full interview below…
EQ: Can you talk us through your single ‘Without You’?
A: ‘Without You’ is about grief & loss, and that inability to control anything about it. It’s about trying to preserve something beautiful in the pain. I was trying to trap the beauty of what I lost in a song. Trying to bottle those golden moments in a melody or a feeling, so that at least that is something beautiful that could be held and remain.
EQ: Where do you take most inspiration from for your songs?
A: I take inspiration from stories. Stories that I’ve read, or overheard, or experienced. I’m so interested in the stories of life that repeat themselves, and those issues that connect us all, and that we can all relate to. I’m also really interested in how you tell familiar stories differently, or how you give a voice to things that don’t often get spoken about. I hope I create songs that people can relate to in some way.
EQ: What was it like working with producer Sam Beste?
A: I’ve known Sam for years and I’d wanted to find the right project to work with him on. It was really important to me to find someone to work with who understood the sensitivity needed to produce the songs. Sam’s an incredible musician and I really trust how he hears things, so it was such a joy to work with him.
“I take inspiration from stories. Stories that I’ve read, or overheard, or experienced. I’m so interested in the stories of life that repeat themselves, and those issues that connect us all, and that we can all relate to.”
– Abimaro
EQ: Tell us more about your other artistic side and your show at the Color Factory in NYC! What’s it like collaborating with your sister?
A: Me and my sister Lakwena have always collaborated, and it’s one of the best things I get to do. She can really sing, and so we always used to sing together whenever we got the chance. I don’t really see myself as a visual artist, but I have always been able to draw, and I have always been interested and inspired by colour, and I work really well with my sister. When Lakwena started getting more work overseas painting these huge murals she needed someone to help her paint, and it was just a very natural fit that I would accompany her and do what she told me to do! It then just kept developing and we would sometimes collaborate on the words that she painted, or get a speaker and paint along to my music. Then we had this opportunity to collaborate with the 2 disciplines of music and art at The Color Factory, and so we created this room – ‘Sing me high, sing me low’ all based around this idea of returning. We had the BEST time, and that particular show is still showing at Color Factory in NYC.
EQ: What else are you working on right now that you can share with us?
A: I’m working on my EP, set for release towards the end of this year. I’m so excited to release a body of work, and to share the stuff I’ve been working on. It’s such a great thing to be able to release songs, and it just frees my head up in a way where it feels like I can move onto the next thing. So I’m excited to see what comes next.
Listen to ‘Without You’ below…
Spotify/ Abimaro
Stream ‘Without You’ HERE
Follow Abimaro on socials:
Instagram: @abimaro
Twitter: @abimaromusic