Self-proclaimed music baby, 22 year old Allana Verde wants to redefine the British R&B music scene. A recently released 4 track EP demonstrates Allana’s recently found identity and strength, following a tumultuous relationship. We sat down with the trans-Atlantic artist to discover what inspires her, how she adapted to the industry she is now taking by storm, and how others can draw strength from pursuing their passions.
SC: Did you have any reservations with using your tumultuous relationship as your muse/inspiration? How did you overcome this if you weren’t at all fully comfortable?
Allana: I knew that I owed it to myself to make this EP and if I didn’t make this EP, I would have regretted it and I found it was the only thing that really allowed me to escape that dark place that I was in - and without putting this out there, I probably would still be in the same place.
SC: What made you believe that your 4 track collection differs enough from others to become noticed? Is it your sound? Your vocals are something special but everybody knows that that sometimes isn’t enough.
Allana: What I liked about the EP is that the production doesn’t stay completely the same - it changes on every track. I’d say “Broken Record”, the first track has a sort of trap-y element to it. “Bad Side” is a little bit more pop - so yeah, there’s a difference with the production.
SC: You’ve sampled Biggie, reworked Janet Jackson and similar artists, what draws you to these individuals?
Allana: I guess they’re huge artists and I love their music. I wanted to recreate something and I hoped that people would love it and I guess they did and I thought I’d get the recognition that I wanted. Doing “Warning” created a little buzz and I’m really proud of the track. No one really saw it coming I guess because everyone hears that I’ve got sweet sounding vocals (so they say) so it was very different - I loved to surprise everyone.
SC: Who else do you gain inspiration from?
Allana: I’m a big 90s R&B lover so I love artists like Khalia, Mariah Carey, Brandy, TLC but I try not to listen to too many artists - I don’t want it to really cloud my creativity. My playlist is really small. You know like once you’ve heard a track over and over again, then you’ll look for new artists I really like finding artists that no one has really heard of yet. There’s this artist called Summerella, I think her music is insane.
SC: What attracted you to music at first?
Allana: I wouldn’t even say I was a musical child, I was a musical baby. I’ve actually got a photo of my dad playing the guitar and hes put a mic in my hands and I think I’m about two years old! I’ve always just been interested in music. In my grandmother’s house she had this really huge mirror and I’d always be dancing in front of it. As you know, I went to Sylvia Young, I guess I’ve always been in some kind of performing arts school.
SC: As a dancer I know the confidence you can gain from performing on stage but I also know the anxiety it can set off, would you say your experience as a child helped you to learn the industry and to be prepared for certain knock backs?
Allana: I would say it helped me grow as an artist to know what kind of artist I wanted to be, especially when it comes to fashion. For me fashion and music go hand in hand like a marriage, but I guess the industry, being in it? Nothing could prepare me for it the whole business side of it, I’m still learning as I go.
SC: Travelling between London and the states, how did this affect you culturally and how does this tie into your music?
Allana: I’ve spent more time in the UK, even though people think I sound totally American so they find that hard to believe. But I guess it’s kind of similar I guess, but trap and hip hop is really big over there, so I’m kind of merging the two together.
SC: How do you style your music videos? The visuals for ‘Warning’ remind me of a scene in a uni house, with young guys jamming and chilling. Based on your age and the vibe of your music would you say it’s fair to label you as chilled out and mellow?
Allana: I’d say as a person I’m chilled out, mellow, a little bit reserved. As a person I am honestly a bit of everything. I love to act, so I love to do music because it allows me to be any character I want. As an artist I’m a chameleon.
SC: What’s your favourite track from your 4 track EP?
Allana: I’ve gone back and forth so much, for me a favourite is between 'Broken Record' and one that’s very personal to me is 'I Know Better Now.'
SC: What can we expect from you in the future?
Allana: There’s so much more to come, I’m still radio touring, there are videos to be released. There are collaborations, which I can’t say too much about but I’m really looking forward to working with other artists. Because I love to try new sounds, that’s going to be really exciting.
SC: If you could collaborate with anyone alive or dead who would it be?
Allana: DJ Khaled is my person right now I say that to everyone. Michael Jackson, and probably Aaliyah just because I’m so inspired by her.
SC: Who are you listening to right now? You said your playlist is pretty small, but who would we find on your playlist?
Allana: Right now I’m in the middle of finding new people, so I’ve got Summerella, Justine Skye, Kehlani. I love Kehlani, there’s a track of hers, ‘Advice’, that track actually really helped me in my relationship. It really inspired me and gave me some strength.
SC: How would you describe the London R&B scene at the moment?
Allana: I would say it’s not really a clear sound of R&B, everyone is kind of doing a little bit of everything, there are elements of everything but I think we need to have an artist that is pushing R&B more, which is what I’d love to do. But like I’ve said I can’t stick to one genre, I love doing a bit of everything.
SC: Any plans to conquer the US? Considering your success and coverage over the past few years across platforms like GRMDaily and Complex, what are your next steps?
Allana:I would love to work with artists in the states, and just everywhere. I’d love to record in the best studios in the world that would be the dream.
SC: What would you say are your main setbacks as an artist? Did you face any struggles when breaking out? How did you overcome these?
Allana: The process of doing music, I get writers block like everyone does. Sometimes me stressing about it makes it worse so I’m learning to let go. You may be inspired when you’re not even thinking about it. The industry can scare you, I’m trying to just take a day at a time and learn as I go really.
SC: How would you encourage others in your position?
Allana: I would say, I know everyone says “not to give up and it will happen” I think you really do need to have a raw authentic passion, if it feels like work then it won’t happen, you really have to push for it. I guess there are good nerves and bad nerves. You have to learn how to channel that and use your nerves to push you.
SC: For others in a tumultuous relationship how would you advise them?
Allana: Whether its music, or working a 9-5 or a simple hobby anything that will distract you. I’d say that distractions and time is probably what’s going to help you through it. It really is a process, for me family friends, nobody could pull me out of the rut that I was in. It really is something that happens on its own and it really does take time.
SC: How would you say you’ve progressed over the years?
Allana: Personally speaking I learnt a lot about myself coming out of a long term relationship and I can only imagine that you felt the same through the vibes depicted in this project?
**Interview prepped and written up by Ell Shroff, conducted by Martina Gordeen.
