NIM

Words By Joey Rochert.

Hello, Cathy, Let’s talk about your new single, ‘Distorted Heart’, what is the meaning? 

Hi, yes so DH is basically about heartbreak/about a bad breakup. The pain of a relationship ending that you put so much time, emotion & effort in is truly heart wrenching especially when your efforts fall flat & unappreciated. It’s really about the pain of feeling like you have tried everything & yet it wasn’t enough & that hurts especially when all you want is undying & everlasting love.

Which artists in the current industry inspire you the most?

To be quite honest, nobody. 

What is the best thing about being a musician in 2023?

1. Social Media. I have to say that Social Media is truly a great thing. I can promote myself & create my promotional content myself. I can control how my roll out is going to be & what I wanna share first & last. Social Media truly is good for promotional purposes & for your fans to connect with you on a more personal level.

2. You don’t necessarily have to wait to be discovered. You can just post a cover on youtube or scrap a couple 100$ together for a demo & release it yourself with a distribution website, it’s very easy, though a bit confusing in the beginning. A lot of things that were quite out of reach a few years ago are so accessible now a days which is amazing. You’re basically in control of what you do & not somebody else.

Is there a certain place you often go to write? E.g a certain room, or environment?

Well, I’d say I just go to my bedroom to write songs but I have also written some songs in the living room. I’d also say that I need some kind of quietness but sometimes some background music makes me feel more creative. There’s truly not that much that I need in order to write a song.

What is your first memory of music? 

My first music memory. I’m not quite sure or I am, I don’t know how to say it. I can say that the first probably was Michael Jackson because my parents had some DVD of his music videos & we would put it in the DVD player so that we could watch it & it had a bunch of old towards new-ish music/videos on it. But then again it feels like at the same time or as far as I can remember I was also very mesmerized by Hannah Montana & the High School Musical series.

---

Photo Credit: Cathy Mpaka.

Words By Sam Wetherby.

Francesca Luker’s latest single, ‘Promise Land,’ is now available to stream online. Luker outperforms all expectations here; we were anticipating a respectable performance, but she excels admirably. Moreover, her ability is readily comparable to that of Remi Wolf and Rapsody.

For me, ‘Promise Land’ is more than just a groovy pop song; it has a powerful narrative about finding yourself in a perilous circumstance and knowing that you have someone there to provide a helping hand. It has a powerful impact on me, and I love it! Check it out below.

---

Words By Joey Rochert.

Hello, Francesca, Let’s talk about your new single, ‘Promise Land’, what is the meaning? 

I wrote Promise Land in 2020, after a very dark time in my life transitioned into one of the happiest summers of my life. I had just met an amazing new band who helped this song blossom into the lively track it is today. They have since grown to be some of my best friends, so this song represents the beginning of an important era for me.

Promise Land encapsulates the very true cliche that hard times do always come to an end. I wrote the lyrics about adopting a half-glass-full attitude to life, embracing change and making positive steps towards my future- The idea that every small challenge you throw yourself into can lead you in the right direction.

Which artists in the current industry inspire you the most?

I’m inspired by many artists, but my all time favourite is Lana Del Rey. Album after album I continue to adore everything she releases, even though her music has evolved drastically from some of her earlier stuff. For me I love that her albums tell a story- her songs are raw, personal and true reflections of how she’s feeling at the time. She doesn’t write to please her audience or to have a chart topper, she writes whatever the hell she wants, which can vary from nine minute long songs to new melodic and lyrical material that sounds nothing like any other artist. But whatever she writes, I always enjoy her mellow, enchanting sound as a refreshing contrast from the other mostly upbeat music I listen to.

What is the best thing about being a musician in 2023?

The best thing about being a musician in 2023 is how easy it is to access advanced music technology. Being able to use programs such as logic, takes my songwriting to a whole new level. Instead of just having piano and vocals to write with, I have a whole library of drum loops, midi instruments and synths to work with. For example, without even playing bass, a lot of the songs I’ve written started off with bass-lines- Promise Land included. Using Logic, my guitarist and I were able to record the whole song from home without even going to a recording studio.

Is there a certain place you often go to write? E.g a certain room, or environment?

I usually write music in my room, because this is where my keyboard and recording equipment is. But song ideas can come to me absolutely anytime, anywhere- I could be walking around in public, at uni or in the shower- So I just have to record a voice memo to save for later so I can create a song from it next time I’m writing in my room!

What is your first memory of music? 

My earliest memories of music are of my dad playing artists like Lauryn Hill, Ella Fitzgerald, Joni Mitchell and Sia around the house. Growing up I was exposed to an eclectic range of genres, especially Neo-soul, jazz and funk- all of which had a massive impact on how I learned to sing, because I developed a love for these genres and began mimicking their style of vocals. As a kid I was basically just singing all the time- so music has always been a big part of my life.

Francesca Luker on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/francescaluker

https://www.facebook.com/francescalukermusic

---

Photo Credit: Francesca Luker.

Words By Sam Wetherby.

Music fan? Have you heard Cathy Mpaka’s hot new release, ‘Distorted Heart’? It’s the freshest thing to hit the music scene this last week! Also, with those European dance vibes, it’s impossible not to vibe with it.

And let’s talk about Cathy’s vocals – they are on point, no doubt! ‘Distorted Heart’ is an absolute bop, perfect for your party playlist and you will be eager to listen to more the second it concludes.

You can check it out below.

---