MEFeater got to catch up with a few of our favorite artists we’ve be following since the beginning of their career. We chatted with Ravyn Lanae, Kari Faux, Kaiit, and Raveena about the current status of the music industry, advice, and what’s to come.
Ravyn Lenae
Photo by Tiffany Bullock
As an artist what’s the most important thing to you?
“To make sure I’m staying honest with myself through music . It’s important but hard to maintain that integrity when you have pressure and things are asked of you. “
What do you think the music industry needs more of?
“The music industry needs more song writers, and that’s not even being shady. The art of song writing is so difficult. People aren’t always thinking did she write this? I pride myself on that and super protective over that. When I find out that an artist write’s their music it just adds in a whole ‘nother level of respect, for me.”
What’s the best advice you’ve given/ recieved?
“The best advice I’ve been given?! I say this to my little sister all the time, ‘always be yourself’. I know that’s cliché, but it really goes a long way. It’s easy to fall into what people want you to be or what others think of you. But, maintaining that sense of self, knowing who you are, and being proud of that, can really change the way people grow up. “
“The best advice I’ve received is from someone who produced majority of my music, Monte Booker. I remember a car ride from the studio he told me,
“Always put the music first no matter what because there can be a lot of noise and you forget why you do this in the first place.”
I had that feeling today on stage today. I don’t know sometimes as a woman in the industry there could be that pressure and those beauty standards which gives you a feeling of being exposed-in a way, and not protected. It can be a very intense feeling. Getting on stage, its serves as a reminder of why it’s important to feel those things, and why I do it in the first place it just grounds me a little bit more. “
What’s your staple product/ item you can’t travel without?
“Whenever I travel I cannot leave without my blanket. It’s a specific Spotify blanket and I got it for free. It’s serves as extra comfort away from home, it smells like my apartment.”
What song do you currently have on repeat right now?
“It has to be Solange, Sound of Rain it’s so fire!!”
Photo by Tiffany Bullock
What’s Next?
“I’m working a full-length. I’m super excited about it but it’s scary because I’ve only made small EP’s. So, I’m coming into it with a beginning, middle, and end which is so much harder. I’m looking forward to working with Kaytranada. I just need one house record , just for the culture.”
Kari Faux
Photo by Tiffany Bullock
As an artist what is the most important thing to you?
“The art it self, the music. It’s my favorite thing. Some people like the recognition, which is great but I just thoroughly enjoy making things”.
What do you think the music culture still needs to work on, or what’s missing?
“Something genuine, it’s really hard to find someone that genuinely supports you and likes you from a place that feels genuine. I’m from the south so, being a part of the music industry was like a culture shock. Not just LA, but the industry all together.
“Where I’m from I don’t fuck with people I don’t like. I don’t know that life! Just people genuinely fucking with each other cause you know. There’s space for everybody. No matter what is , or what you do. No matter how similar people think you are to somebody else, there’s space for you. There’s a reason why you’re even popping, people liked something about you. Regardless if it reminds you of someone else. “
What’s the best advice you’ve given/received?
“The best advice I’ve given is staying true to who you are, it’s the only advice I can give. That’s how I live and how things unraveled for me! Just always staying true to who I am. There’s times where I’ve definitely doubted myself because maybe I felt like maybe I’m just not doing it right. Maybe I’m not as talented as I think I am. I stuck to my guns and people were like, what does she got going on over here. Genuinely enjoying yourself and genuinely thinking you have something to offer. No one would want to fuck with you if you don’t fuck with yourself.”
The best advice I’ve received is don’t do anything out of desperation.
Photo by Tiffany Bullock
What’s Next?
“I’m about to go to London to try and make an album. Hopefully that experience inspires me to make the next project. I’m just excited to be here, and be able to be present, and to participate in things like this and be around artist that I respect and admire. My friend Steve Lacy, that’s one of my closes friends, and we talk all the time about making music but every time we get to together we just hang out and get food. That’s one of my favorite people in music.”
What’s your staple product/ item you can’t travel without?
“My wallet. I can leave my phone but my wallet, I can’t.”
What song do you currently have on repeat right now?
“Definitely, Love T.K.O. by Teddy Pendergrass. That bass line- I feel it in my soul.”
Kaiit
Photo by Tiffany Bullock
As an artist what is the most important thing to you?
“Representation. When I was growing up I definitely wish I had someone to look up to that looked like me. I hope I can do that for other people and they can see themselves in me.”
What do you think the music culture is missing out on right now or needs more of?
“I think it needs more love and also consciously listening to lyrics. The beats would be fire, but sometimes the content can be degrading. People should be more conscious to listening to the words because they can be toxic. “
What’s the best advice you’ve received/ given?
“I’m from Papua, New Guinea, I went back and got to see family that I haven’t seen in years and my dad who still lives in the house i was raised said ” Sing to the spirits the people will follow” . It inspired me to create from my heart and my spirit.”
My actions and physically doing something is more impactful to me than words.
Photo by Tiffany Bullock
What’s Next?
“I’m just creating as I go, and I would love to have a project out. I just really want that project to be my everything.”
What’s your staple product/ item you can’t travel without?
“Rose-hip and avocado face oil especially on planes. Also I love face mist, the Mario Bedescu is the best.”
What song do you currently have on repeat right now?
“The Smith’s, Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now. It’s my looking out the window song. “
Raveena
As an artist what is the most important thing to you?
“Maintaining my peace. As an artist you can be easily swayed by the ups and downs of the music industry. It takes a lot of balance when it comes to being an artist. It’s maintaining my inner sanity and my good spirits.”
What do you think the music culture is missing out on right now or needs more of?
I think it’s pretty exuberant and there’s beautiful pockets of it. I just want to make more space for South Asian women, there’s not many of us yet. I love that I can help carve out a path.
What’s the best advice you’ve given/recieved?
Given: “Staying true to your intentions and what you want out of life . When you listen to other people or outside forces sometimes you’re not making the best decisions that are best for you. I think we should honor that intention and what makes us happy. “
Received: “Gratitude. Be mindful of everything we have and be gracious for the hard moments and challenges. Shine light on the parts you didn’t know.”
What’s Next?
“I have a tour coming in the fall and I want to just keep putting out music!”
What’s your staple product/ item you can’t travel without?
“I have this glossier jelly cleanser. I have it in all the sizes, it’s so soft. “
What song do you currently have on repeat right now?
“Bitty Mclean, Walk Away from Home. It’s sooo good!”
Through talking with all of theses four women, they all touched on the importance of staying true to who you are. Their reliance on integrity is admirable and one of the biggest take aways from all four conversations. They all brought so much good energy, conversational gems, and love! It was truly a pleasure!