Sunday at Wanderlust Wine Company, rising R&B, hip-hop and Caribbean artist Ifeanyi Elswith performed a set for SXSW, presented by CareFreeBlack Girl, a lifestyle brand that promotes Black women artists and entrepreneurs.
The Daily Texan sat down with Elswith to discuss her set, sound and Caribbean culture.
The Daily Texan: You just performed at Wanderlust (Wine Co. for SXSW). How would you say it went?
Ifeanyi Elswith: There were some things that were a little unplanned, but I roll with the punches. That’s what you have to do as a performer. I think it was still great. The order wasn’t (what) I planned. When “B.B.B” came on, I was like, “Whoa. That’s not how I wanted to start.” But it’s a fun song. All of my songs are fun, and I enjoy performing them. So I was just like, “Okay, I guess this is what we’re doing. Let me just roll with it. Make it work. Turn up,” and I did, I had fun.
DT: Your sound blends Chicago hip-hop and R&B with Belizean rhythms. How did growing up between those influences shape your music?
IE: One thing about my music is that vulnerability is a core pillar … because my music is where I go to express myself and help process what I’m going through, what I’m observing, maybe things I didn’t even know I was feeling. It comes out when I’m writing. Blending my style of R&B, hip-hop, my Caribbean culture and the music I grew up on allows me to create songs that are vulnerable, but still with some rhythm, still with some bounce, still with some confidence. … At the end of the day, all of my experiences make me … the woman I am, and now I don’t tolerate anything less than my standards. When you come out on the other side of what you’re going through, it’s a blessing to be able to put that into music.
DT: You recently won the 312 award for Afro Artist of the Year. What did that recognition mean to you?
IE: Oh my God, that was very gratifying because I was the only Caribbean fusion artist in the category. The reason I push my culture … so hard is because there’s really not much of a space for Caribbean music in Chicago. When it comes to Caribbean culture, … (we) are somewhat of a minority. There’s not many of us out there. … In New York, LA, Miami, Atlanta, Caribbean culture is so prevalent, and it’s out there for everybody to come enjoy. It’s not really like that in Chicago, and I want to change that. The fact that the city is responding to my sound, even though it’s not very popular, is a sign that it’s working. I made the right decision.
DT: What can fans expect from you next? Any projects, collaborations?
IE: “Come Closer” was the lead single to my next project. We can expect a couple more singles coming before the project. I’m hoping to drop the project towards the end of the year, so look out for that. I’ll let you guys know when it’s coming, but, in the meantime, enjoy “Come Closer,” (it) just dropped.
DT: (Can you) describe that new project in just (four) words?
IE: Grown-woman, duality, sexy and real.
