EQUATE Introducing Henjila
Read the full interview below..
EQ: Hey Henjila. So how did you first get started in music?
H: It was just me growing up to certain types of media. My auntie would buy me lots of Barbie and Disney princess films. Like you know Ariel, the little Mermaid? I loved her. And also Mulan. I would love the visuals. And back then Barbie was very fairytale-based so I think you can see that in my aesthetic even now. I’ve also been inspired because music has always been an emotional outlook for me. I think it’s very therapeutic for me.
EQ: So you were brought up around Sandhurst by the army barracks. What was it like growing up there, do you feel like it limited your creativity at first?
H: Yeah, it’s quite conservative over here, but I wouldn’t say it’s because of the army barracks. I think it made the area more diverse than usual because there’s lots of Scottish, Irish and Fijian people and obviously the Nepali community where I’m from so it was like mix of cultures. I do think because the area I grew up in isn’t really a hotspot for musicians you know, people don’t expect you to be a musician. They just expect you to go to University, get a degree and get a normal job.
EQ: How did your family react when you told them that this was the career path you wanted to get through?
H: They were very worried about me because they didn’t see it as a secure job and as I got older, I just felt like I had to do music because it was the thing that made me happiest and they were like ‘no you can do both, music and a degree’. And I was like ‘no, I wanna do music’. And then once they saw how passionate and hard-working I was they supported me more. And obviously when I got signed to Locomotive they believed in it more.
EQ: It must have been so exciting to get signed to a label then…
H: Yes definitely. In school I was able to keep up with grades and in colleges it just became harder. I was actually having a hard time, even with personal relationships with friends. So getting this dream job of becoming a legitimate singer was amazing for me. I’ve been dreaming about that and always wanted to be a singer and songwriter. But a part of me thought it couldn’t happen because of my background and my upbringing and the lack of support. But last year I got noticed by an agent and it all happened.
EQ: It’s almost like the perfect Disney storyline…
H: Yeah, in Disney films you always see them wish on stars and I think I did the same thing. I do think it did come true because I was wishing for it. I think it’s called manifesting. If you talk about it and work towards it it happens. I think that worked with me. I am still working towards more though and I’m so excited to see how my fanbase develops and who I attract.
EQ: So let’s talk about your most recent single Yellowface, I read that you wanted to initially kept it for yourself in the beginning? What sparked you to put it out there eventually?
H: You know when Covid arrived and Donald Trump was saying it was the Chinese virus, there was a lot of prejudice that people had. They wouldn’t even know people were Chinese but they would still attack them. It’s just evil because why would you waste your energy spreading violence instead of focusing to help each other. A couple of my friends are Nepali too, and obviously we have an East Asian looking face and someone could confuse me for being Chinese. And someone confused my friend for being Chinese and burnt his Dad’s car, and it was terrible because on top of that, his father has an army pension and that doesn’t provide as much money as a white British soldier. So losing an asset like a car is a pretty big deal for them, especially when his mother was handicapped too. So I felt the song was needed. As music comforts me and I use it as an emotional, creative outlet, I just felt it was a good opportunity to comfort those who listened to the song.
“I made friends with female producers, directors and so on. I’m trying to assemble a team, and also have a close friend who I made my photographer. I’m trying to have an all-female band. I’m trying to bring more women in front of the camera and behind the camera too. That’s the secret goal.”
EQ: You’re also very outspoken about feminism which I love. I feel like especially in the music industry there’s still such a long way to go. Have you experienced sexism within the industry yourself?
H: I actually have unfortunately. I just came fresh out of a small town college and never travelled on my own to London because my parents were conservative. So it was the first time I went on my own and equally the first time I went to a session in London so I was new to everything. I arrived at the studio and stepped out of the Uber and met the producer. I asked him what we are gonna work on today, and he was like ‘We are gonna have sex today’. And he is like the same age as my Dad. And throughout the session he continuously made references and everything seemed to be promiscuously related, and he was laughing about it. I didn’t. He also made weird comments on women’s bodies, and was looking through my instagram pictures – and he could have said anything, and he chose to say that my Bikini pictures would make him feel guilty. And it’s disgusting. And they get away with it. Nobody said his behaviour was wrong. I think those kind of men have other men protecting them. I’m an emotional person and have a moral high ground in terms of when I see injustice happening I need to speak up about it. I tried to be diplomatic about this situation, I tried not to get offended but it still hurt. And there are a lot of younger, more vulnerable girls out there. I have been through misogynistic men and been through all that, and many girls would be so traumatised by that. I was too, but I can shake things off. But some girls would require more after being in that situation. It was just a bad experience that I hated. It’s just crazy how much this shit happens. I’m definitely gonna write a song about it one day.
I made friends with female producers, directors and so on. I’m trying to assemble a team, and also have a close friend who I made my photographer. I’m trying to have an all-female band. I’m trying to bring more women in front of the camera and behind the camera too. That’s the secret goal. Do you know some men get offended when you say you only work with women?
EQ: It’s actually ridiculous.
So let’s talk about your upcoming EP. What is your creative process when you’re writing a new song?
H: 95 % of the time I’m writing of the things I’ve been through personally. 5% it can be inspired of off other people, usually real life things. I like writing about that because my songs are an insight to my life and life lessons. I do want personal things. If I’m gonna attract people who are like-minded then I’m gonna have to put out things that like-minded people like me would be attracted to. Music has served a therapeutic purpose for me and I wish for other people to feel a sense of healing when they listen to my songs.
Watch the most recent visuals for single ‘Fake Friends’ below!