7 Takeaways From Lila Iké’s ‘876 Questions’ Interview
2020 brought ‘the experience’ of a lifetime to Jamaican songbird Lila Iké who was signed to the RCA roster after dropping her debut EP. Maintaining her presence and a positive outlook despite the ongoing pandemic, Lila spoke candidly on the latest episode of CVM TV’s 876 Questions. From her pet peeves, playlists and what she’s been up to, here’s seven nuggets from the curly-haired reggae crooner.
1. What has she been up to during quarantine?
Shelving major tour dates and promotional plans for 2020, Lila has been quarantined in Jamaica since March. In spite of the slowdown, she released her debut EP, The ExPerience, to rave reviews, and has shot a few music videos in the interim including Forget Me and I Spy.
So what does Lila do when not making music? “Chill. Maybe watching some Netflix, playing games, reading a book,” she told host Karl Larmond Jr. at The Habitat Camp in St. Andrew. She later admitted to another guilty pleasure, playing Fortnite, which she says happens “almost every night these days”.
2. What is she currently listening to?
Like all great vocalists, Iké is an avid fan of all types of music. Shouting out Shenseea for her “beautiful song” Lighter, she spoke briefly on the reggae and dancehall acts she’d most like to collaborate with. “For reggae, Skip Marley, I listened to his last project and I think it’s really cool. Dancehall, mi woulda definitely love do a song wid Skillibeng”, she said, adding that her favourite track from the E-Syde deejay is the gritty Coco Tea from 2019’s Prodigy mixtape.
3. What does she look for in a man?
Lila let on that at least five hopefuls slide into her DM’s on a daily basis, though she doesn’t give it much attention. Larmond asked if she’s ever actually found any of them attractive to which she said yes, and she shared the main thing that attracts her to a man.”His mind, you know, it’s conversation. I have to hear what exactly it is that you’re talking about. It can’t be basic. It haffi be something weh mi find so interesting that I waan sit and talk to you for the whole day.” The first thing she notices on a man however, is his legs.
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4. Does she consider herself a feminist?
Raised with three sisters in a matriarchal home, Iké is now among the host of female talent dominating the In.Digg.Nation roster.
When asked if she was a feminist, the artist quipped, “I don’t think so. I think personally as a woman I want to make music that other women can gravitate to and learn from me based on my experiences. I feel like the talent I’ve been blessed with is fi use it in a particular way and I find it a go be easier as a woman to reach other women, but I wouldn’t say I’m a “feminist” like that, you know.”
5. What’s the chemistry like with her labelmates?
Lila Iké had nothing but high praise for her RCA/In.Digg.Nation Collective cohorts. She told the host that the freshly signed songstress Jaz Elise “has mastered a great level of her craft for where she’s at right now, especially vocal ability. She’s an extremely dope singer, and fi have all of that, she haffi blossom.”
Lauding her mentor, reggae luminary Protoje, for creating an open and encouraging work environment, Iké said his best advice to her has been “always work at your craft, no matter how good you are you can always be better.” Iké is featured on In Bloom from Protoje’s latest LP, and aside from the duet, her other favourite from the album is Strange Happenings.
6. Her views on the toxic music industry.
Commenting on how the music business is oftentimes taxing on creatives, Lila said, “I feel like as musicians we’re making a product of our element and so for me personally, it can get a bit toxic when I’m trying to strike that balance and remember I started singing because I love singing. It’s not just about getting a big song and how much streams on YouTube. Don’t allow that to really affect you. Don’t try to compare yourself or compete.”
“Trying to stay level headed and and enjoy your success in the same breath, that can get toxic sometimes for sure,” she concluded. As a singer who’s quickly found favour in her short career however, Lila spoke as passionately about the payoff. “The most beautiful thing is that we get to go out in the world and inspire people,” she added excitedly. “Old people, young people, it gives me life.”
7. What does spirituality mean to Lila Iké?
“Connecting with everything, all of this,” she said, pointing to the property’s lush scenery. “Understanding that you know, everything here so, you, me, the tree dem, all ah dis a give energy and you know keeping that energy and utilizing it.”
In the half-hour chat, Lila also describes her perfect date night, the craziest thing she’s ever heard about herself and reveals that her pet peeve is persons casually touching her signature afro.
Check out the full interview below.