ZVK is an up-and-coming Brighton artist, drawing influences from hip-hop, soul and R&B. Having just released his latest album 'Sabuni' we discussed the album, identity, heritage and his creative processes.
How would you describe your music?
My music is mainly faith-infused. It's not gospel but it's not secular. I won't necessarily be Bible-bashing all the time but a lot of my music is influenced by my faith - what I believe and what I don't believe. Sonically, it's hip-hop and R'n'B. I love soul though so there are hints of soul.
I also like to get aggressive sometimes. I'm introverted in person, but music allows me to say what I wouldn't usually if it's just me. When it's a track, I can kind of be unapologetic.
With this album was there a specific message you wanted to portray?
Not one specific message. This album isn't conceptual but there's a clear vision flowing through it. For example, there are some songs that are really introspective. Focusing on the spiritual struggle, looking at myself from the outside and being like 'well, where am I at in each area of life.'
I have a song called 'Root of Evil' about how people are so motivated by money and will do anything for the money. In that song, it also ties in with people's infatuation with trying to look good. If it's not you then don't pretend.
There's another song about how we compare ourselves to others. We could look on social media and be scrolling like 'I wish I had this. I wish I had that.' It could be motivational but at the same time, it can cause a lot of insecurity.
There's also one about appreciating black women. It was originally written for my sister but developed into something more holistic. I decided to just say everyone rather than have a song dedicated to a particular person.
The album is like a documentation of where I've come since my first project.
Why did you choose the name Sabuni?
It's my ancestral name. But I didn't know anything about my heritage.
I'm from Jamaica and Tanzania. I knew about my Jamaican side but I didn't really know about my Tanzanian heritage until I released my first project and went on holiday to Tanzania.
Whilst this album isn't about my heritage, I feel like when I went on holiday I learnt so much about where I've come from, what my name means, and how many people have my name. It was really cool, and it took me 19 years to find all of this.
In a way, I rediscovered this whole other side to me and where I'm from. It kind of reflects what the album's about. I learnt so much about my heritage and the album is like me learning about myself.
That's why I called it that because everything I've written on this album came from learning about my heritage. So I was like 'Ok, now I know where I'm from. I can start to learn about myself, go through life and think how do I react to certain situations, what I want to talk about, what I want to tell people.'
What was your favourite thing about the process of making it?
Ohhhh. I'd say my process is I'll write a song and have everything ready before I record it. I know a lot of artists they like to do everything in the creative process like they'll record and see what happens. But time is money. So, for me, I like to come prepared; knock everything out and do it like that. My favourite part was when I realised, 'ah, I have this song - this is really cool - I want to go and record it.' Then seeing what the finished product was like, seeing what my mind envisioned for it, what was different and anything that happened in between.
Other than that, I'd say just having it finished and being able to listen through it. It took a lot of work so it's kind of paid off.
"Music allows me to say what I wouldn't usually if it's just me...I can kind of be unapologetic."
How do you know that it's a finished piece?
I'm a perfectionist so it's never finished. I don't ever know when it's finished mainly because I don't think anything is ever finished.
Really and truly, I do like to listen to it. It’s a reward listening to it but all I hear are mistakes although I know other people won't. I have a couple of friends around me who I'm like 'I recorded this, listen to it, what do you think?'
I don't mind constructive criticism, if people's opinions are completely truthful, it improves you. So I'm like be totally honest with me, roast me if you have to.
You've just got to see which ones feel right with you. OnOnese's that I'm unsure of, I'll get second opinions on. If I'm not dead sure, I won't put it out. I’ll just keep it for myself.
What inspires you to keep making music?
It sounds cliche but the only thing I really know how to do is music. Sometimes I get tired but I'm never not motivated. There's too much to inspire me.
My grandmother is one of those ladies who will just drop wisdom on you for no reason. She'll be like ‘sit down, we are going to chat.’ What I find with her is that she inspires a lot of what I say. I try to make music with a message by trying to drop bits of wisdom from my family which always has something to do with my faith.
Collaboration is also quite an inspiration because if I have nothing in my head, I might chat to a friend of mine who does music and be like 'send me something you want me to be on'.
Also just listening to music helps.
I know you said music is the only thing that you do but are there any other ways in which you explore creativity?
If I wasn't doing music and I wanted to express myself creatively...I'd be a chef because I love to cook. I'm the chef in our flat, so if it wasn't musical art it'd be culinary art.
Oh my days! My brain just jogged. I love candles and face masks so I’ll light candles, put on a face mask and read. That is the ultimate chill thing and that enhances my creative expression because I can’t be as creative as possible if I’m not relaxed.
Have a listen to the full album below. (Also available on other streaming services).
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