NE:
is your real name Kaysha?
Kaysha:
Lorenzo
NE:
Oh so Kaysha is a stage name?
Kaysha:
yep
NE:
How did that come about?
Kaysha:
"K" - Kinshasa is my hometown "S" - Soul "HA"- Harmony.
It popped up at school when I was 12
NE:
Oh so you've been singing for that long?
Kaysha:
At first I was into producing only... from 8 to 12,
then I discovered "The message" by Grand Master flash,
and groups like Public Enemy... That set my destiny
to hip hop.
NE:
When you say producing, you make beats, music, what
exactly do you do?
Kaysha:
I've been making all my beats and music since the age
of 10. All my albums and even for others... I can produce
from Hip hop to Zouk, from Afro to Rnb, from Soca to
anything I listen.
NE:
Where do you live right now?
Kaysha:
Paris these days
NE:
These days? Where did you live before?
Kaysha:
I'm a traveler... I roll from Paris to Lisbon in Portugal,
Brussels in Belgium, New York, Atlanta, Africa where
I was born... I'm a Bohemian.
NE:
Haha, its very obvious in your music, they're so many
influences, so you just pick up sounds and incorporate
them into your music. Do you write most of your songs?
Kaysha:
Yes, I try to understand the music, dismantle it and
then recreate it in my own terms... For now, I wrote
100% of my song except "Fiona" that I had to get translated
by Elizio to Criolo.
NE:
Fiona. What album is that on? And what is Criolo?
Kaysha:
Criolo is the tongue in Caboverde. "Fiona" is in my
3rd LP, "It's all love"
NE:
If someone asked you to put your music into a genre,
where would we find you?
Kaysha:
good music
NE:
Haha. Good one. You're originally from the Congo right?
so when you say your Hometown Kinshasa, you're speaking
of a place in the Congo?
Kaysha:
yes, I'm a metisse being...Congo / Portugal
NE:
You gotta break down Metisse for me. And your dual Origin
Kaysha:
Metisse means, mixed...My mom's from Congo & Portugal,
and my dad's from Congo. So I'm 1/4 Portuguese &
3/4 Congolese... So basically, I got this way of mixing
things and genres in my DNA.
NE:
Haha..I like that, you're destined to mix things
Kaysha:
true dat
NE:
Good stuff.
Getting
Schooled on Languages
NE:
So I love hearing languages in music and I think that's
a good reason why your music is so appealing...now you
said something about a song in Criolo; what other languages
have you incorporated into your music and which of them
do you actually speak yourself?
Kaysha:
I've used Russian, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese,
Criolo, West Indian Créole, Lingala, etc... I speak:
Fluently: French, English, Spanish, Lingala. More or
less: Portuguese, Créole
NE:
Wow,
Lingala,
is spoken in the Rep of Congo right?
Kaysha:
yeah It's a beautiful language, I used it in my song
"Motema"
NE:
I’ll have to listen to it better again...is Lingala
from French or is it a more traditional language?
Kaysha:
I think it comes from Portuguese and traditional, but
it's not a Creole. The Lingala language is spoken mostly
in Zaire, but it is also heard in the Congo and other
countries that border it. It has been the vehicle for
sweet music and a rich, varies folk culture. Zairean
music in Lingala is the most popular in Africa. Lingala
belongs to the Bantu family of languages. It's tribe
language transformed by Europeans. Lingala is a mixture
of African tribal language of the Bantu tribes and French,
English, Spanish
NE:
thanks for that...I'm loving the education Kaysha...
Kaysha:
he he...
NE:
For real. I know I've heard of Lingala being spoken
in Uganda, but I wasn't too sure.
Kaysha:
Bobangi
which the Lingala was from was the trader's language
along the Congo river, so it goes from one side to the
other of Africa. Bobangi served as the language of communication
between traders, travelers, soldiers, civil servants
and missionaries.
Being
around the world
NE:
How often are you in the United States?
Kaysha:
at least twice a year but I'm going more and more...
I use to live in New York... Now I like ATL a lot.
NE:
Why do you like Atl?
Kaysha:
It's just the vibe that's out there... It's country
but still it just feels good... And there's a lot of
Africans out there and lots of black people...Which
make the music interesting.
NE:
Lol maybe you should try Houston then? You ever been?
Kaysha:
nah, never... There are so many places to try in the
US.
NE:
Oh yeah there is, and virtually every state has a whole
different culture and set of values.
Kaysha:
true
NE:
What kind of performances or shows, do you typically
do? Or what's a typical performance for you like?
Kaysha:
well...I went thru everything... from playbacks, to
live with deejay or band... I don't care, I just love
performing. It all depends what the promoter wants and
is willing to put.
NE:
Oh okay, so you've been in shows that involved other
artists?
Kaysha:
yeah for sure
NE:
What has been the general theme? Like what is your audience
like? And does your audience change from city to city,
country to country
Kaysha:
well most of the times women... But it changes from
a city to another. In Africa, lots of young people boys
and girls that scream like crazy. In Portugal they like
the love songs, in France they dig the groovy African
tunes that I do. I the West Indies, it just depends.
Let’s
Take It Personal…
NE:
Okay so you were saying that One Love is your favorite
song?
Kaysha:
yeah... And it just grows on everybody around the world,
that's crazy.
NE:
that's a hot song...So is there a real one love?
Kaysha:
Every age comes with their own true love
NE:
What inspired the song? Who did?
Kaysha:
A girl and a dream..; hope
NE:
A girl or Woman?
Kaysha:
A woman and the hope to find the right one for that
right moment
NE:
So you don't have a woman right now that the song applies
to?
Kaysha:
nah, I'm single now, but it will always apply to my
baby momma and one particular ex... It also takes a
particular meaning when I think about my son/
NE:
Part of the lyrics go: "when I get stronger, I’ll walk
up to my ex tell her that iI’m history sooner or later,
I’ll and put a ring on your finger" so we're still waiting
for that?
Kaysha:
yes, we really mean it... but it's always more complicated
when it comes to real life... We all run after someone
who runs after someone else and then someone else suffers
for another
NE:
Dang!
Kaysha:
it's just some words of wisdom
NE:
I hear that. How old is your son?
Kaysha:
2 and a half
NE:
He's very cute by the way.
Kaysha:
thanx to his mom
NE:
Ha, how precious! You and his mother are together right?
I'm assuming. Just so I could make sure to tell the
sweating women to back off?
Kaysha:
No, we are the best friends in the world but my broken
heart is single.
NE:
awww…..So what's your phone number?
NE:
So officially, lets talk about how many albums and singles
you've released... What year they were released as well?
Kaysha:
98-
I'm ready lp.
99
- Worldwidechico lp.
99
- Black sea of love - single.
01
- CaribbeanSoul - compilation
03
- It's all love - lp
05
- African Bohemian - lp
coming
soon: 05 - CaribbeanSoul02, 06 - Forever Young - lp,
and many albums for other's on my label
NE:
You are one busy artist....so you're constantly making
music huh?
Kaysha:
lot's of things to say, yeah, I live off my music...
that's my little pride as an African artist. I'm making
a beat as we speak
NE:
oh wow...
Kaysha:
well it's the 3rd since we started chatting
NE:
get out of here!! Can i get a beat?
Kaysha:
sure
NE:
How do you make beats? because I hear a lot of different
instruments in your music. Talk to me about the process
of making music and how you work and who you work with..
Kaysha:
I work alone in my bed room... I just lay my fingers
on the keyboards and watch the magic... Sometimes I
got a melody in the head and the rest just pours out...
I just do it, it's a divine force that controls me when
I'm on it... There's no mathematic, it just happens
like that. Never learned music or read a book about
it.
NE:
Okay, so do you have an other musicians you work with
sometimes for a certain kind of music style? Do you
play any instruments yourself?
Kaysha:
I usually do all instruments myself...keyboards, beats,
and I keep what I want for guitars or anything I can't
play... do it with my mouth to guitarists and they perform
it for me.
Baby’s
Father
NE:
How old are you Kaysha?
Kaysha:
31 light years young until wisdom
NE:
Haha, how often do you go back to France?
Kaysha:
I am in France, I stay here right now... So I’m close
to my baby boy. And my record company is based here
too.
NE:
So you really can't move anywhere right now because
of your son?
Kaysha:
I do move... But he needs me... Life ain't a matter
of being unable... You can always do what u want...
but you have to make choices in your life... A great
career is great but I'd rather be my son's hero
NE:
has he ever been back home?
Kaysha:
Faaaashooooooo…..he's been around the world already,
Belgium, France, Portugal, Kinshasa, UK.
NE:
cool
Kaysha:
he still needs to see Guinee Bissau & Caboverde
to complete his roots
NE:
haha
Kaysha:
he's a hell of a mix
NE:
really?
Kaysha:
Portugal / Guinee Bissau / Congo / Cabo Verde
NE:
Wow, so his mother is Guinee Bissau and Cabo Verde?
Kaysha:
and Portugal
NE:
right
Kaysha:
he's just like my music: Representing metissage to the
fullest
NE:
Good stuff
Kaysha:
yah
Future
Aspirations
NE:
I like that you're repping Africa, but lets talk about
how much you think that plays into the music world,
in general.
Kaysha:
I'm not about the music world in general... I've been
evolving doing what I do without any compromise and
it feels good to be understood and give the people what
they want.
NE:
Do you want to be considered a mainstream artist? Like
how 'big' are you reaching for?
Kaysha:
I just wanna do what I do... If I make it big, I want
to make it with this thing that I'm doing or it's evolution...
But I don't fear the mainstream life... As long as it
doesn't change me and I can stay independent.
NE:
right...so what about Africa...and its music and people
where do you see it heading? And what part are you playing
or planning to play?
Kaysha:
I do African music, our continent is so rich... I don't
plan on doing it politically, but I think we need infrastructures
in our own continent so our music can become powerful...
We influenced jazz to hip hop... My music plays on MTV
base Africa daily, so ima keep it coming.
NE:
Good, Like i said you should get out more to Nigerians.
Kaysha:
Yeah, I'd love to. Well... I need to find a great label
out there, or a small active one so we can get the job
done
NE:
Like work with a Naija artist?
Kaysha:
why not, I love collabs
NE:
I have a few in mind I could recommend by the way...
Kaysha:
yeah pleeez do
NE:
You should let us know when you plan to come out to
the United states or countries in Africa.
Kaysha:
Yeah I'm going to Kenya and Nigeria in September for
MTV base I think.
Current
Affairs
NE:
What about MTV Base in Africa? I've gotten reactions
that are both positive and negative? Since you're participating
as an artist in it...I'm assuming you have a positive
reaction to it? But humor me, what are your thoughts
on Mtv Base?
Kaysha:
I didn't see it in action yet... I don't have it here...
My simple question is why MTV base Africa and not MTV
Africa? and is it to promote our own blood or U2? But
I never saw it so I'll be on the lookout.
NE:
Es tu cansado?
Kaysha:
nah, estoy a fazer um beat operational called "Spider"
NE:
Ah okay cool…it was interesting talking to you...I was
working on different approaches...I wondered how you
talk to people in France
Kaysha:
The same in French, lol
NE:
lol!
NE:
Well I don't speak French and my Spanish is pretty random
Kaysha:
I see that, imperfections make the cuteness
NE:
Haha…What do you think about Live 8 and One.org?
Kaysha:
that's great... But what about African artists performing?
Can only The Blur save us? Brad Pitt is nice, but what
about Groover Washington or Keziah Jones or Lennay Kravitz?
I love the idea, don't get me wrong... But we don't
beg... We are poor because u made us poor. So stop looking
down on us and treat us as equal for a start.
NE:
So you like the idea behind 'saving' us? But you just
think that it should have a better representation with
African artists?
Kaysha:
We don't need to be saved... They brought AIDS, poverty,
the supported dictatorship in our countries, and now
they wanna save us? aww common', be a grown up and say
I'm sorry and erase the debt motherfucker.
NE:
!!!
Let’s
talk about sex baby… lets talk about…
Kaysha:
Orgasm?
NE:
You have no idea, lets do this..
Kaysha:
I'm not just a pretty singer
NE:
oooh sheeee, so lets talk about your other talents then...
Kaysha:
sex?
NE:
sure that's a good one
Kaysha:
lol
NE:
Haha….so what's your favorite position?
Kaysha:
A woman happy is my favorite position... As long as
I don't have to break one of my bones, I love to improvise
but u wont see me with my legs touching my chin
NE:
that's what I’m talking about….como tu tiene gusto de
mujeres?
Kaysha:
nunca feyas, bellas mmulatas con grandes cabellos y
bellas a dentro
NE:
Lol, that's what ultimately counts huh
Kaysha:
I'm not a hypocrite... I like 'em beautiful inside and
outside... I don't want a very smart girl that makes
me afraid when I wake up... Nor a beautiful model that
I have to say "shut up" every time she opens her mouth.
NE:
You have such a way with words!
Kaysha:
If u say so, I'm an urban poet
NE:
its all about saying what you gotta say...
Kaysha:
true dat
NE:
Sex sells right?
Kaysha:
well... Sex will always sell... but you'll have to answer
when u grow older... "Mom? what's this movie with u
in it called - Anal nurses- ?"
NE:
Lol…Your CD cover is dripping with sex...Kaysha
Kaysha:
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Naw…..body poetry
NE:
hahaha...well sex is poetry... poetry is sex...I guess..
Kaysha:
it depends how dirty u go
NE:
what's dirty?
Kaysha:
unclean
NE:
Ha!
Signing
Out…
NE:
Describe, for example...maybe its an American thing...but
what about rap videos?
Kaysha:
Rap videos are just what every one in the industry wanna
see... Black people with cars and chicks...We got doctors
and entrepreneurs, but I want a black president...
NE:
For which country?
Kaysha:
USA and then racist France.
NE:
Lol why is it important to have a Black President in
these countries?
Kaysha:
USA it will come... But France is supposed to be the
country of Human rights and bla bla bla, fraternity,
equality, etc... Still no black or Asians on TV, on
ads, in the government, etc... So what is a country
that doesn't reflect 1/3 of it's population on mainstream
media? A country of hypocrites.
NE:
wow
Kaysha:
I know, I should do politics, like my father
NE:
your Father is a politician? where?
Kaysha:
Congo
NE:
How about you just stick to music and say what you have
to say with it.
Kaysha:
That's what I do
NE:
What time is it there?
Kaysha:
6 am, about to go sleep
NE:
alright...cool
Kaysha:
lots of kisses and see u soon
NE:
fa sho, sleep good...keep me updated
Kaysha:
ok
