Q&A: meet Liyah Knight, she’s cool, casual and a little bit spicy
Photo by @kierachevell
Sydney musician Alliyah Cici Adejoke Fareo, Aka Liyah Knight, has dropped her debut EP Nesting and it is expressive and pure and boy do we love it. Nesting hits the ball out of the park, Liyah has provided us with so many moods and vibes in one EP, we have funk, pop, soul, fast, slow, ahhh it’s just an absolute moment. Try and pick just one song as your favourite, you’ll struggle.
Liyah is pretty fresh to the music world in terms of releasing music, 2020 has been the year of debuts for her. We were first gifted her debut single Mine earlier in the year and now we have the full EP to play on repeat. Liyah is killing it, she has 90k monthly listeners on Spotify at the moment in only her first year, absolute beast mode engaged. Her music reminds us of a modern more funky Lily Allen, it’s cool, casual and a little bit spicy.
From a young age Liyah took to writing as a means of expression, a safe haven, as she explored her sense of self and unpacked the wild world around her. This soundtrack is a reflection of her journey in the world so far.
We caught up with Liyah Knight to chat about her new EP Nesting, her go-to toasted sanga and an Easter Hymn that might be on the cards.
Check out all the feels below:
For those who may not know you, can you tell us a little about how you got into music?
I was always into writing poems since I was a kid, so music was kind of a natural progression. Sound was a fun way to add new dimension to the stories I always wanted to tell and it was just a matter of find the most fitting way to go about that.
Tell me everything there is to know about your new EP Nesting, the highs and the lows.
Nesting is essentially the first publicised period of growth. It’s a coming of age story; being open about those highs and lows and finding a place of solace in the midst of them. The high would have to be listening to it beginning to end for the first time. I can’t say there’s really been any lows, although it was very daunting sharing the journey.
How does it feel to have dropped your first EP?
Initially, I was so nervous. Who’s going to hear this? How is it going to be digested? But I guess I found comfort in knowing everything is outside my control past the point of making it. It served me in a therapeutic way and if it works the same for others, that’s a bonus.
Do you have a favourite track?
It varies depending on the day/mood, but more often than not I’m drawn back to Energy because I feel like it’s such a triumphant and feel-good song.
Who are 5 Aus or NZ artists you’re vibing right now?
Benee, Agung Mango, Triple One, Ms Thandi and The Radicals.
What would be in your go-to toasted sandwich, including the bread?
Chicken, cheese and tomato with a generous serving of avocado wedged between Sourdough
Other than music, what’s your favourite thing to pass the time?
I have a lot of fun editing videos and photos, and making clothes - pretty much anything remotely crafty.
What movie do you hate to love?
Sixteen candles; super corny and heavily drenched in 80s fashion, but a guaranteed good time.
What’s on the horizon for 2021, maybe a tour, an appearance at Coachella, a Christmas jingle perhaps?
More music and more good times. The world does not need more covers of Christmas classics in super markets, so perhaps an Easter hymn.
Oh my gawsh, an Easter hymn sounds lush haha, you’re so right though Christmas gets a whole lot of love, it’s time to spread it to other holidays. Liyah has HUGE amounts of talent and supplies literally all of the vibes, 10/10 would recommend.
Check out her new track below or head to our Sunday's R 4 the Soul 🎷 playlist to hear more spicy songs like this one.
By Samuel Seedsman.