INTERVIEW: Tkay Maidza

Adelaide’s rising champion TKAY MAIDZA has truly made 2014 her year. Not only has she penned huge single releases into her expanding resume, she’s also found herself on multiple festival bills – her first ever being for Groovin The Moo, followed by a big, welcoming Splendour In The Grass cuddle.

Warming September up with a Bigsound appearance this week, before circling the country with the likes of Flume, Four Tet, Totally Enormous Exinct Dinosaurs and Bodax for this year’s Listen Out Festival, we thought we’d check in with the young artist to gain insight on what’s coming up in the world of Tkay Maidza. 

How long have you been writing music for?

I’ve been writing music for probably three years now. Started writing in high school.. Yeah three years.

What musicians did you listen to growing up? Who inspired you?

When I was younger, I listened to mainly just pop music and what was basically put in front of us; like on radio and TV. Then when I got into high school I started looking more into hip hop and stuff like Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, Drake and Lil Wayne. When I heard of Azealia Banks, that’s when I started actually looking at all these female rappers and that’s just been my inspiration. And just some DJs and stuff now too.

You released your latest single 'Uh-Huh' roughly a month ago now. What is the song about?

‘Uh-Huh’ is basically just about getting rid of people that you don’t need in your life. People who pretend to be your friend or they pretend to care, but you know, they just don’t like you kind of thing? So metaphorically shooting them – which is a bit violent, but, yeah [laughs].

Will ‘Uh-Huh’ be part of an EP release?

Yep, so I’ve completed a part of an EP release, yes.

Is that going to be released soon or are we looking at next year for that one?

Hopefully this year, I think it’s going to be a part of a mixtape compilation kind of thing as well which will be out like Octoberish I think.

You went around the country earlier this year as part of the Nina Las Vegas shows. What is your favourite memory from that tour?

I think my favourite memory was the very first show at the Corner Hotel because I just didn’t expect anyone to know who I was or like what I was going to do? But everyone just got into it and that was unreal to realise that people can [laughs] actually like your music.

Was that or the Brontosaurus launch your first proper tour?

The Brontosaurus Tour was my first proper tour, but these were like the first shows where there was actually a lot of people there. And you were with the same people the whole tour, so yeah it was my first for all that kind of stuff.

You’ve worked with Badcop and Swick & Lewis Cancut in the past. Can we expect any collaborations in the not too distant future?

Yeah definitely, I’ve been working with so many people and writing with so many producers in the last few months. So most people are going to be releasing their stuff in the next few months, which is exciting! Cause there’s so many people so yeah, I’m excited to have them out.

Can we hope to expect a Tkay Maidza album eventually?

Yeah! The plan is to release one next year, hopefully. It’s just depending on how I go, if I like what I write really, but yeah, the plan is to have one done by next year.

You’re set to appear at Listen Out this year. Who are you most excited to be seeing perform out of your line-up mates?

I’m so excited to watch Golden Features cause I haven’t seen him, and Schoolboy Q. I’m also excited to watch Chet Faker’s new set, cause I’ve watched him a couple of times so I’m excited to watch his new music which is really amazing. And Zhu as well, I’m excited to watch him. And Flume of course, everyone’s going to love Flume. I can’t think of anyone else, but I’m just excited to watch everyone. We have a couple of shows so I can literally just see everyone, which is cool.

Will there be any other shows or festivals coming up for you over the last few months of 2014?

Ummm, I don’t think there’s anything that I can say [laughs], sorry!

Words by Hannah Galvin

Photo by Aleksandar Jason Photography

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SWICK & LEWIS CANCUT 'WISHES' FT. TKAY MAIDZA

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