“Everything surrounding Under 25 has led me to this, but now I need to draw from new experiences,” – In Talks With ENNY At The AIM AWARDS

A breath of fresh air, whose calming presence on the scene has sparked interest among many; the rise of ENNY Integrity has been brilliant to witness. Her debut single He’s Not Into You gave us a taste of the sweet, soul-based sounds that are blended seamlessly with Hip-Hop, and established an individual sound true to her artistry, which is also seen in the original Peng Black Girls – featuring Amia  Brave – and further developed with the remix that featured Jorja Smith. A year on, and this South-East London starlet has gone on to unveil her unapologetic Under 25 EP that received substantial reception from the listeners who have engaged and resonated with this impressive body of work. As an award winner at the 2021 AIM awards, it was finally time for ENNY to sit down with Mixtape Madness for an In Talks.

How do you feel about the reception of your latest project? – Amanda | A

I’m gassed, I’ve been using that word a lot but just to watch people really connect with the project and the content, little me has just been really gassy.

It’s as though your younger self has been done proud by this moment? –  | A

Yeah. It just feels full circle, and it’s very rare that people actively go after something, and it just happens.

How long were you doing music before you received recognition? – Casey | C

I dropped my first single last year in April, then the next one was the original Peng Black Girls. Externally it’s happened quickly, but I’ve been doing music a lot since I was a kid.

How have you dealt with the fame? – | C

I’m not there yet. It’s just a bit of buzz, nothing too crazy.

What do you think your next steps are after dropping your recent project? –  | C

Just making better music and getting into the artistry now. Not like this is a job, but I just feel understanding what it actually means to be an artist and how many boundaries you can break; what you learn about yourself and what you learn from other people. I’m excited to get to know more about myself as an artist.

Would that relate to you solidifying your signature sound, and making it clear that you have an Enny Sound? –  | A

Yeah, and one thing I never want to do, is be put inside a box. That’s the one thing I’m against. Under 25 is a moment; a sound that I enjoyed, but the next project will probably not sound like that because I won’t be the same person. We evolve.

You originally started out in film, but then pursued music. Is that an avenue you see yourself going back to as there are a lot of artists who interchange between the two? – | A

A hundred percent. Even with my music videos, a lot of the ideas are my own concepts that I work on with other producers. I’m a visual person so I hate when the music video doesn’t match the song. But yeah, it’s something I’d definitely like to do. 

In your lyricism, there’s a big connection between you growing up here and being of a Nigerian background. When creating do you identify as a first-generation black Brit, as the girl from back home, or do you hone is both? – | A

I think you have to hone in both because growing up as a child, people would ask what I was and I’d say Nigerian – which I am! But as you get older, you understand the cultural differences between those who have grown up here and those that are raised in Nigeria, but even here there’s still that strong Nigerian essence in the homes, with how you’re raised and what you know – but you’re still out here in London! I just call it this hybrid of culture that gives off a different energy and a new perspective of being a black Nigerian girl.

With Peng Black Girls, for you to make that song and for it to have the impact it did, was that what you wanted it to do? – | C

I honestly thought people would be like “ahh she’s a sick rapper,” but I didn’t realise that the content would resonate with so many women and create a perspective for people outside of the black race, and be insightful. Just watching the message travel the way it travelled wasn’t anything I expected.

You mentioned that the current music you make right now, won’t sound the same as what you make next. ivermectina causa hepatite Do you have an idea of where you’re trying to branch into with sounds? – A

I’ll go where the wind blows, I think that’s the beauty of being a musician. Just exploration and appreciation. That’s what’s sick about artists like Doja Cat, she can make a pop song, but she can also do RnB or Punk Rock. ivermectin us fda You just have to have an air for it; that’s what distinguishes people that make music, from artists because you have to be open to evolution.

Collaboration wise do you have any idea of artists you’d want to work with in the future? – | A

I’m open to anything. I feel like Doja Cat is definitely on the top of my list because I think she’s sick. ivermectin for collies

When you enter the studio is there a specific mindset you put yourself into before going in, or do you just freestyle? – | A 

When I go into a session, I have the lyrics written so that they match the beat, because if the integration is not in the room, you don’t want to waste the whole session. I try and build up a lot of raps and a couple of verses, so there’s something to work off, but I’m trying to find a new way to work now. A lot of the lyrics that are on Under 25 are things I wrote by myself, except for Same Old so I’m just trying to figure out where to gain inspiration from this time around, and it’s probably not going to be from the same space as it was for that. 

Do you ever go through a mental block where you need to step back from making music, and then re-immerse yourself into doing it again? – | A

I feel like I’m going through that right now. I just need to take a break, and let the project live. Everything surrounding Under 25 has led me to this, but now I need to draw from new experiences.

Are there any life lessons or things you learned throughout the time you were making the EP, that you’ve carried with you to this point now where you’re hitting these milestones? – | A

I think the main thing was just not feeling pressured to be at a certain place by the time I’m twenty-five. That was the reoccurring message for me, and I think it is for a lot of young people; so, it’s just knowing you have one life and letting people dictate where you should be at certain points, what you should be doing, and how you should live – it’s not going to be the existence you want. Now I guess I’m just figuring it out. I’m twenty-five and didn’t have everything together, but I didn’t die you know? The world didn’t end, you just carry on going and doing what you’re doing. Life is just a long journey, and you keep learning. You have 90-year-olds still learning!

What advice would you give to other creatives, that are now seeing you as an inspiration? – | A

Keep authentic to you, it’s so easy to get swayed into working with what seems popping or what you feel like you need to look like, or what you feel like you need to do. As corny as it sounds being your own individual is what sets you apart from everyone else. Find like-minded people that believe in what you’re doing. Find a team and build with them. Your network is your net worth. Even just being a good person gets you a long way. I’ve met so many good people on this journey and you can be quite sceptical – especially with this industry – but so far, everyone I’ve met has been genuine.