Meet Glorynade: The rising star from East
“I've always loved to sing. My dad used to sing back in the day, so my house is quite musical. We love music just in general. We have my mum who bangs out Gospel all the time and then my dad is more jazz and rumba.”
Representing East London, meet upcoming singer and songwriter Glorynade. With the release of her new single “Tell Me”, the soulful songstress isn’t shy to make a name for herself and leave her mark in the music scene. Citing inspirations from the likes of Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse and Ella Fitzgerald to name a few, music has always been a part of Glorynade’s life growing up.
We sit down with Glorynade who opens up more about her journey so far and what’s next for her.
East is a massive creative hub with a lot of big names being from there. Did growing up in the area influence you musically?
Yes and no. Growing up, the things that contributed to me wanting to do music was probably Church or youth club. Sometimes you would do little singalongs and stuff like that. Most of the time the way you meet creatives is either studio or like Shoreditch. That's how I meet people. I see them performing or if I'm doing a show, I see these people in the line-up.
You mentioned Church, was that a big influence then?
Yeah, I was involved in anything. I used to dance. I used to sing, I think [the] Church teaches you the fundamentals of singing and how to use your voice. If you can sing in front of a Church then boy, you can do it anywhere, especially coming from a Congolese Church. Their faces are straight when you're singing, so when you get them to stand up and clap for you, it's a good thing.
Similar to singing, Glorynade’s passion for songwriting started at a young age with her writing her first song in her kitchen at the age of 15.
“It’s therapeutic. I like telling stories as well, so it might not have necessarily happened to me, but I pride myself in being able to put myself in people's shoes sometimes.”
Is there anything else music related that you want to branch into in the future?
During the lockdown, I taught myself how to use Logic. I know it takes a lot to be a producer, but it would be good because sometimes I make up little melodies in my head or I have an idea of how I want a beat to sound and sometimes you can't really explain it to the producer. And the way I explain is terrible as well. I think it would be good if I learnt how to make some beats. I definitely wouldn't mind going that route.
Your latest single “Tell Me” you worked with The HeavyTrackerz. How is it as a songwriter working with producers?
They were the first people that I worked with, so they're my comfort zone when it comes to working with producers and they're very honest. If I'm going to make good music, I want for there to be a good relationship with the producer in terms of having good energies around you. It's a collaboration so it's important to share ideas.
Yeah, it's definitely important. Is there anyone you’d like to collaborate with in the future?
I would love to work with Ghetts. I love the way he tells stories. That's what I like doing with music, storytelling. [Also] I’d love to work with Children of Zeus. They're really sick.
Is there anyone that you're listening to at the moment that you find inspiring?
I've got so many people right now that I'm listening to. You know Tems? Her vibe just in general is sick, I think she's amazing! There's a singer called J. Warner, he's sick [and] I've been listening to a lot of PJ Morton.
Glorynade’s latest single Tell me belowDo you have any upcoming projects we should keep a lookout for?
The next thing is a video for my single [Tell Me], and then throughout this year, I'm going to be releasing quite a few singles. Leading up to the beginning of next year I want to do an EP. I just want to build and release because I didn't release anything through 2020...I just don't feel I was in the right mental state.
Do you have a folder of unreleased songs just sitting in your laptop?
Unreleased and unfinished... [Tell Me] had been on my laptop for ages. I was actually about to release another song [before "Tell Me"] but my gut was just not working with me so I held back.
Like an anxious feeling?
Yeah. I procrastinate a lot, which is the worst thing to do because you’re literally killing your joy in life...I had to fix up. I did a lot of praying, fasting, talking to people...If I could be comfortable and not have that fear feeling, I would be so happy, but you don't grow like that. You're not going to go anywhere if you continue going to places that make you feel comfortable, you're never going to progress. I had to learn the hard way. I've definitely learned that if it scares me, it's a good thing.