A QUICK CHAT WITH CHISEKO
Hi! My name is CHISEKO. I’m a multi-hyphenate artist from Perth WA. My main mode of expression is hip hop, house & dance music. I grew up in London, before moving to Perth and I studied architecture in university. Some of my influences include Kaytranada, Tom Misch, Anderson Paak, Mac Miller & Kendrick Lamar.
Can you tell me a bit about your inspiration for your single ‘Outside’?
Honestly, I normally think heavily about my lyrics and the content I put into songs, but this track was the result of a few too many drinks in the studio one night and me trying to paint what a drunk night out might sound like on a song. The resulting piece of art was OUTSIDE!
What are your influences and how do they affect your songwriting?
I’m heavily influenced by rap music and lately house music. Lately I've been listening to less hip hop, I think my taste has just evolved into something more open and all consuming. My biggest influences in hip hop are old school rappers like biggie smalls, Q-Tip, MF DOOM, Kendrick Lamar, Lauryn Hill and Neo Soul artists like Erykah Badu & D’Angelo. Outside of rap my biggest influences are Kaytranada, Anderson Paak, Tom Misch, Sam Gellaitry, Berlioz, Young Franco and a few others.
What’s the creative process like for you?
It changes depending on my circumstances, but I tend to create in phases. In phase one I spend a lot of time throwing a whole bunch of ideas at the wall, mood boarding, listening, watching, collecting beats, collaborating, and taking notes on a variety of different art forms and figuring out what I want to communicate and how.
After that I’ll pick the most potent ideas, the ones which speak the most truth to me. This is usually dependent on how strongly they make me feel whatever emotion or scene I’m trying to paint.
I’ll then have a couple of months of finishing everything, picking the best tracks to take over the line and refining/reiterating my ideas.
The final phase involves creating all of the visuals/content and making sure the music gets to the right people.
If you could change something about the Australian music industry what would it be?
I think that there needs to be industry standards, rules and regulations enforced by law about how artist/venue and artist/media relationships occur. Music is one of the only industries in the world where the point person (the artist) suffers intensely whilst providing a whole industry with the resource that keeps it flourishing, music. This is true for 95% of artists who don’t have a mega hit single. I think there needs to be a top to bottom revision of how the pyramid is structured where more value is placed on the creators. The long term effect of not paying artists correctly or treating them with respect is an industry rife with toxicity and maltreatment. The arts could provide a larger contribution to the economy if rules were put into place. We deserve to be paid and acknowledged just like anyone else who works their entire life to become an educated professional at something.
What do you think life would be like for you if you didn’t have music as an outlet?
Dull.
Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with? Why?
I’d like to collaborate with Tkay Maidza, we’re both Zimbabwean and I feel like we could kill it on a dancey 4/4 track. Arno Faraji because we make a similar style of music, he’s super talented and we’re actually family friends. Young Franco because he played the best set I've ever seen at Listen Out Perth, I’m obsessed with his music. He’s like the final infinity stone for me and Djanaba because she makes insane music and our styles could blend so well.
What’s your advice to young people who want to make a career for themselves in the industry?
Be relentless in your approach, don’t slow down for anyone. Trust your vision. Take note of key indicators (i.e songs of yours that do really well) and hone in on why those songs are so popular. Be unique. Build a team around you of like minded motivated people, you can’t do it alone.
Who’s the most interesting person you’ve worked with/met?
Hmm I’d say Tentendo. The guy is just an absolute genius and I really like how stoic he is. He never wastes a word but he’s such a lovely guy. As soon as he touches that keyboard it’s magical. He has such an incredible feel for music, always delivering beats that are perfectly in the pocket. I don’t think I've heard a bad song from him yet. I also love Cabu Beats! Another really genuine down to earth dude.
Any plans for a tour on the cards?
Maybe…