EQUATE meets Qhairo

Meet Qhairo - an East London-based rising singer-songwriter who so effortlessly blends R&B, electronic music and spoken word with his very own signature sound. Today, he premieres his brand new single ‘Goodnight&Goodbyes’ with EQUATE - taken from his highly anticipated upcoming debut EP ’60FOOTNOIR’ - out August 6th. Ahead of its release, we spoke to the talented singer on his musical upbringing and what his EP is all about.

First of all, who is Qhairo?

Good question. I guess I’m a creative from the East end of London. I write songs, I paint and I chat bares. That’s me in a nutshell.

How did you get started with your music career and who did you grow up listening to?

I started out in choirs and doing backing vocals and that eventually led to me joining a band and writing my own music. I grew up listening to a variety of stuff but mostly influenced by old school R&B like 112, Usher and Jagged Edge.

You have an EP dropping soon, which is exciting as it’s your debut EP! How did the recording process go? Did COVID19 hinder you in any way and how did you know that now is the best time to release your debut?

The recording process for the EP was fairly simple to be honest. I’d recorded them a while ago and it was more a case of ordering them. In terms of COVID it completely changed my plans in the way I was planning to drop the EP but it all worked out for the best in my opinion. I’m real happy with what I’m putting out and look forward to the response.

What’s the background behind the title of the EP, is there a special meaning attached to it?

I named the EP 60FOOTNOIR which feels like the exaggerated version of being 6ft and Black for me. It’s kind of like a reimagined affirmation of that actually. I’m bigger and prouder than I ever have been standing in my blackness in its entirety. Encompassing every part of my queerness and knowing that contributes to being the proud black man I am today. Im 60 foot tall in that sense and 60FOOTNOIR.

Ahead of its release, you are premiering your new track - Goodnights+ Goodbyes, alongside a video. What is your creative process when planning your visuals?

I sort of have strong ideas for visuals from the moment I start writing a song, it’s sort of a measure for how I feel about a song actually. Typically I start writing down in my notes alongside the lyrics different scene ideas and visual ideas. That helps me fully materialise the meaning of the song and also becomes the springboard for the concept.

You’re still unsigned yet already quite successful with your music - do you plan on staying unsigned or is it a goal of yours to sign to a major label at some point?

I guess success is quite a subjective notion but i am glad for the nod. I’m neither for or against signing to a major, I think targets and objectives can be achieved both ways. I know I have ambitious ideas that major labels could easily help facilitate, but I also love having complete creative control and building a team full of friends. I think whatever I do sign, when and if I do would have to be an amalgamation of the two. And I guess I’m excited to see what that could look like.

What have you got planned music-wise once things go back to more ‘normal’ – any tours or performances planned?

Not really sure when things are going back to normal tbh, so for the moment I’m chilling and practicing guitar and reading, painting and sewing …. And maybe I’ll incorporate all of that in to my live shows when they start to come back.

The visualiser for Goodnights&Goodbyes is meant to capture the multiple feelings and perspectives felt within sub/dom relationships. Fear, power and confinement married with desire, hunger and curiosity. We wanted it to be simple frames so as to capture all of the emotions on one’s face when fully giving themselves to another’

- Qhairo

Follow Qhairo on Instagram

Instagram: @qhairo

Words : Antonia Quenzel