EQUATE Meets BLESSED
"Music is my life and the one thing that makes me feel truly free in this matrix."
Like some of the greatest names in music that came before him, BLESSED is carving a path out for himself whilst simultaneously competing with all that the industry has to throw at him. Drawing inspiration from beautifully flawed artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Kanye West, Ghanaian-born BLESSED (yes, that’s actually his real name) is taking over the scene by amalgamating all that he loves in music; RnB, Punk and a little lo-fi Rock sprinkled in for good measure. Breaking the barrier of what “traditional Rock” should look like, the Western-Sydney raised polymath (on top of being an incredible singer, he’s also a rapper, guitarist and producer, literally, #BLESSED) is marking the next chapter in his musical journey, and we caught up with him right in the thick of it all with the release of his latest single ‘Something to Believe In’. A devastatingly beautiful politically-driven song, ‘Something to Believe In’ was written in response to global injustices we’ve witnessed over the past few months, and is used as a cry for hope in a world that’s seriously lacking some. We speak about this single in today’s interview, as well as the part his heritage has played in his ascent as one of Australia’s up-and-coming prolific rappers.
Read the interview below…
Words by Danielle Temeng
EQ: For those who aren’t familiar with you, can you tell us a little about who BLESSED is as an artist, and as a person?
B: My real name is Blessed and I’m an African-Australian artist/producer living in Sydney. Music is my life and the one thing that makes me feel truly free in this matrix.
I make tunes for the blues, good and bad moods but overall, I want to be a voice of comfort and relatability through my introspective poetry.
EQ: Where would you say you developed your interest in music and pursuing it? Were there any strong influences, or an ‘aha’ moment that led you to where you are today?
B: Since I can remember gospel music has always been present in my life. My parents are Christian missionaries and we always played and sang along to legends like Ron Kenoly and Mary Mary, but my first taste of secular music that I was allowed to listen to was Kanye West - Jesus walks. I’m a pretty obsessive person so from then on, I just wanted to be like Ye. Artist, Producer, Visionary.
EQ: Your music is pushing boundaries with its genre-bending RnB, Lo-Fi, punk style, how do you come up with creative concepts, and what’s your process like?
B: I don’t have a process, or a formula, or even an idea of what I’m going to make. I just listen to the muses and create from a space of freedom. I don’t have any training in music, just an inherent understanding of what sounds and feels right. It’s all beautiful accidents.
EQ: You cite Jimi Hendrix and Kanye West as two major influences in your musical journey; both gifted, but surrounded by controversy. What is it about those two in particular that you gravitate toward in terms of their artistry?
B: In my opinion, they both stand for what it means to be a true artist. Fearless, unapologetic and swimming against the currents musically, fashion-wise and in a culturally and societal sense. Both revolutionised music and what it means to be a Black artist not in favour of any opinions or criticism other than the ones they put on themselves.
“…I don’t have any training in music, just an inherent understanding of what sounds and feels right. It’s all beautiful accidents.”
- BLESSED
EQ: Being a Ghanaian-born, Australian dwelling artist, how would you say both these environments have shaped you musically?
B: My Ghanaian roots are the reason I feel so connected to music. Music is a universal language but from my culture music is a form of healing, expression, connection and storytelling. I played the drums at church growing up, so rhythm and timing have been a strong basis for my music. Coming of age in Australia, being one of the only African kids in my school and just wanting to fit in. I listened to whatever my mates were listening to and that opened me up to playing the guitar, understanding chord progressions and the more emotive sides of music.
EQ: …and is there one key lesson you’ve learnt in the industry so far (this can be good or bad). Was it what you imagined it to be?
B: The music industry is a business and most people are here to treat it like that. I was naïve in thinking that we are all here to create the soundtrack to people’s lives. Business is like snakes and ladders, the right people can build you up and the wrong people can tear you down. You are either the slave or the master.
EQ: Your new single ‘Something To Believe In’ is out now and is a beautifully real track that touches upon the world we’re living in right now, and its blatant injustices. What message do you hope listeners take away from this?
B: I want the listeners to question everything they hear, see and feel. Because it all comes from somewhere and we are fed the same narrative over and over again but where is the change. There’s a lot of pain in this generation but also a lot of hope in it too. As I said in the song, I don’t have the answers.
EQ:…and as a Black musician, but first of all a Black man, what do you think the world (& of music) is missing at the moment?
B: Unity. I’m an African man. I know where I come from and its place where we’ve been brainwashed into thinking we need to one-up each other instead of lift up each other. If we stand together, we can’t be stopped.
EQ: What are your plans the end of 2020 into early 2021, are there any EQUATE exclusives you can let us in on?
B: I plan to share more of my thoughts and feelings over dope beats and hopefully inspire others to do the same.
YouTube/BLESSED
Stream ‘Something to Believe In’ HERE
Follow BLESSED on socials
Instagram: @blessedtunes
Twitter: @blessedtunes