SEIGFRIED
‘Seigfried’ is a hybrid creative agency devoted to inspiring and uplifting underrepresented creatives through their work. We are here to connect the dots for artists, managers, brands and labels across music, arts, and live events in the UK. Our mission is simple and necessary: to showcase underrepresented talent and to provide a service to independent artiststo help them promote and sell their work. We reject the traditional confines of a label and ensure that artists still retain the authentic voice and creative license of their work, all whilst giving them the platform they deserve to show their talents to the world.
Contents 4
In Depth: Sans Soucis
16
In the Spotlight: Meron T
20
Futura Free: ELI
24
Mix Of The Month: Drea
28
Songs You Need To Know
32
Ata Rodo London
In Depth: San Soucis INTERVIEW BY PEDRIN EDU PHOTOS BY BALINT MARJAI
In this column we interview emerging creatives from all over the globe to have in-depth conversations about their past, their present and their future. This month we sat down with the London-based songwriter, artist and producer Sans Soucis and discussed her new EP as well as her heritage, influences and process.
“I’m really grateful to have been brought up in a multicultural family because it really helped me in understanding that the world has differences and these differences enrich us, and getting to know these differences in my family also helped me in getting to know who I am.”
How would you define yourself? Who is Julia?
as well as who am I? And that helped me through my career and my personal life to question the
I’m a non-binary woman, I’m an artist, I’m a singer
system as well as getting some authentic answers
songwriter and producer and I love life. I’m happy
for myself. I feel like there’s a lot of great people in
to be alive in this moment in history despite all
Italy. There’s so much beauty, the food is amazing
the things that have been happening because I’m
and my family is a really warm family. Although I
doing music and I’m loving it so far.
experienced in society racism and systemic racism is very much part of the way things work in Italy, I
Born and raised in Italy: Being a black woman
wasn’t always able to see it when I was growing up.
fruit of an interracial union, your mom being the
Moving to London and to the UK made me realise
first black Italian minister… how was being raised
that, in perspective, I went through things in Italy.
in there?
Making peace with what your story is was part of my quest as an artist and as a person. I still love my
I feel like I want to start from the positive notes.
country; I very much feel Italian and I feel like my
I’m really grateful to have been brought up in a
presence in the world could mean something for
multicultural family because it really helped me in
black Italians and black people across the world.
understanding that the world has differences and these differences enrich us, and getting to know
I think my mum is my biggest hero in life. I just really
these differences in my family also helped me in
respect her as a mum as well as what she represents
getting to know who I am. It really established
for so many Italians and people across the world.
a standard for myself, which is an identity that
The protests outside congress in Italy against my
challenges society at all times. I feel like one of my
mum were very traumatic because there’s a moment
biggest issues was where do I belong? That was a
in your life when you realize you’re black. Children
big question in my life. It’s always a question for me,
aren’t born with this awareness that we’re black -
we are just people and that’s what it is. But at some
know what I mean? You have just got to leave the
point, someone or something makes it really clear
place that is hurting you so much. Obviously Italy
to you that you’re black. I always kind of knew that
wasn’t offering me the resources that I needed as
I was different, but then when my mother became
an artist as well, so it was a combination of factors
the first black minister in Italy, that’s when people
that made me move to London. But I definitely feel
started being openly racist in Italy. It is important to
like because loads of second generation Italians are
say that it was a minority of white Italians that were
my age right now, I see a lot of people that are in
really loud, but people started feeling threatened
the country contributing to building this community
by black people, immigrants or second generation
and culture because we still need to create black
immigrants - anyone that wasn’t fitting the
culture in Italy; it’s not quite yet a reality. Witnessing
stereotype of the Italian person coming from the
that right now is really, really inspiring because it
fascist era. So at that stage, all of the insults and the
makes me feel like we’re not invisible anymore
comments were received and rejected because I
because my mother was some sort of martyr at some
feel like it was pretty much a dissociative process - at
point, and people started waking up. There was a
least for myself. I just really tried to not engage with
negative reaction, but there was also a positive
them. You’ve got to defend yourself in one way or
reaction - like everything in life. It just makes me
another, and that was definitely part of my decision
feel really honoured to share a family with my mum.
to move out of my country. I almost feel like I went
It was quite surreal for a while, but I think she’s just
on an exile. I don’t want to be too dramatic, but you
anamazing human being.
“Language is not who I am, it is simply a vehicle for me to translate who I am but it doesn’t mean that you always have those thoughts with you.”
Going back to my experience coming to London, I moved to London in 2015 and the year before I
it was an interesting experience because I knew
lived for a short span of time in Boston as well, so I
English. I wasn’t extremely proficient, but I knew
left my hometown seven years ago. It was a really,
how to communicate with people. The first obstacle
unexpectedly
because
that I met was actually trying to make sure I could
obviously I was raised in a society that still conceived
be the person that I was in Italy through the English
the European union as a community, so travelling to
language and that was literally lost in translation. It
London to me didn’t feel like a big deal.
was so sad because I just felt like I really want people
…
to get to know me for the person I am. I’m also
interesting
experience
changing and evolving and I can not express this My hometown is a place called Modena - it’s in the
with words, and some of my earliest stuff in music
north and my grandparents are in the south of Italy.
are revolving around this concept that language is
So I feel like my family is a family of immigrants
not my truth. Language is not who I am, it is simply
and I love it because the concept of immigrants has
a vehicle for me to translate who I am but it doesn’t
some elements of belonging and not belonging. We
mean that you always have those thoughts with
should all embrace this sort of culture of never quite
you. So that was interesting and I feel like music
feeling one or the other because the conditions
rescued me in that situation because I could put
that make us feel home are always in constantly
all of my self-expression into music and it helped
changing. So I’m really happy that I was exposed
me develop a lot of skills that I still have today and
to this familiarity with the term immigration and
that have helped me be authentic with my music
moving from one place to another.
beyond words. Then on the positive side, I really, really love the culture of independent organisations supporting independent artists via finance; and
that any sort of support that I received in the first
non-judgemental and I feel like there was a great
years of my career is coming from a foundation or
example of humanity in me. I think every child has
organisation development programs - I’ve literally
that and I believe it was great for my grandmother
been applying to every possible opportunity
to seize that and I think it was also something
available because I think that’s what you gotta do
aligning with my outgoing personality as a kid. It
when you want to put your music out there and you
was great that she framed that for me so that every
don’t necessarily have all the funds to do it. So I
time I need to, I can just look back and think “look
really, really loved that because it allowed me to
at that - that was me, that was what I had”. When
develop my sound, my visuals and my project at my
you grow up, you start to become more and more
own pace and with my own rules and with the right
aware of what is going on around you and start to
team of people.
feel disheartened. When you’re really hopeful and then don’t get what you expect, there’s a lot of
…
negative emotions that you also absorb as a kid not just the positives. Then you get to the point
Even the fact that there are funds for minorities, I
that when you become an adult, you start to think
feel like this is really sensitive and that’s something
“I just need to live a quiet life and be contrived
that I still haven’t seen in Italy. There’s not a clear
because I’m afraid of everything”. Then at some
record of who are the ethnic minorities in Italy and
point, I felt brave enough to become an artist. It
who are the vulnerable people - it’s still slightly
was a specific point of my life when my mum was
behind. I think it’s going to catch up eventually and
elected at parliament and I felt that there was a
if I do my job well, I might as well bring some of this
silver lining offered by the universe saying “look at
information back to the country because I feel like
your mum - you need to believe in yourself”. My
we all have this responsibility, it’s not just politicians
mum always tells me this story about when she
and institutions. So because of the internet and
moved to Italy at 18, she did all of her studies - top
social media, that’s pretty much something that
grades and everything - she became a doctor first
people can catch up with fairly easily. But I really
and she couldn’t find a job for two years because
appreciate the fact that I was acknowledged in my
people without an Italian citizenship couldn’t find a
life experience in a way that I unfortunately wasn’t
job in Italy. At that stage of her life, she told herself
when I was in Italy and that funding could open
“I want to get to the place that people make laws”
doors for me too.
and then she actually did! She worked for 30 years of her life after that to get to where she wants to
Sans Soucis means “Carefree/No Worries”. Can
be and I find that so inspiring. I just felt, wow this is
you tell us how that childhood nickname was
consistency. She’s got children, she’s going for her
made?
thing and she’s still got a life. That’s what inspired me to do the same thing and I feel like my morals
I just remember that everyone called me San Soucis
and my ethics had to reside in that kid because I
because of my grandmother, and I was the kind of
just want to be an authentic, non-judgemental and
kid that would eat all the time, dance with everyone;
giving artist. I feel like that’s my nature and that’s
you place me somewhere and I have a conversation
how it all came together.
with the oldest person in the room and the youngest one too. I wasn’t afraid of anything, I was
How did your musical journey start? Is it
be an architect or psychiatrist. I also wanted to be
something that you always wanted to do?
a maître parfumeur. I wanted to do perfumes and go to the South of France as there’s a company that
Well, music has been around ever since I was a
does that there. I just love scents and I wanted to
kid. I started singing before I could say a single
do that but it changed because basically I started
word. I think it was at 8 months old so I was really
really enjoying performing and I started seeing
impressed with that story. Nobody ever forced me
people see something special in me. I never saw
to do music but I was given the opportunity to
anything like that with all of the things I was doing
engage with music. I used to be a classical music
academically so the end of that journey in school.
singer because I sang in a classical choir. When I was
I was top at all my subjects and I thought that I
a toddler, music classes were playing everything
can do pretty much anything but what made me
regardless and we weren’t really a wealthy family
feel special was music. It was pretty scary because I
so we couldn’t really afford to do that consistently
never studied music theory at that stage so I had to
so there were a few factors coming in as well. Then
make some important decisions around my studies
when I was a teenager, I was in this band and I was
but I felt it was the best decision I’ve made in my life.
approached by these people that were looking for
It’s really difficult to follow your heart in a time like
a singer for their band when I was like 17, and I
this when you have the opportunity to be quicker
just said yes why not - I’ll do it. I wasn’t really
at getting money when society is always telling you
interested in music at that precise date. I wanted to
you’re not worth it if you’re not making this much
money. So I knew it was a risky decision and it might
would you define yourself as an artist? Would
have required some rethinking about how I manage
you consider yourself a genre-less artist?
my time and my life ambitions. But at the end of the day, it makes me happy and makes me feel present
I think so. Every pop artist that I look up to is free.
with myself so that’s the best feeling.
I love the fact that you can be free with music. You don’t need to put yourself in a box and I don’t want to put myself in a box. I really like the approach of
So you moved to London, you made the decision
looking at every song as an experience and that’s
to make music and you started your career as
not just considering a song as a single - it can be
an artist with a seven piece band called The San
part of a bigger project - but it depends what kind
Soucis Experience. How was the experience of
of direction the bigger project has for you. One
working with a band and starting to perform live
thing that really inspires me to work on songs and
in London?
the experience that a song provides is, first of all the feeling that you’re trying to channel, the life
It was a really formative experience. I just look
experience you’re trying to channel but also, in the
back and think “oh gosh, I learnt so much through
context of an album or EP, I love visuals and that
disappointment!”. That was a time I understood
aspect of making something a bit more cinematic;
I didn’t want to be part of a band - I wanted to
or even like a book. The common thread is not
be my own producer and writer. I wasn’t ready to
always the soundscape, the common thread could
share my creativity with other people and I wasn’t
be the story.
really ready to share what I had to offer as well as compromise what I had to offer with other people.
Two of those songs “Amami” & “Confini”
People in my band were lovely but it wasn’t the
explore your relationship with Italy. Both felt
right time for me to compromise on creative
like written in different stages of love and anger
decisions because at that time of my life, creativity
you felt towards it. Do you think music is part
was everything I had to express myself. When the
of your healing process when it comes to your
language wasn’t serving me very well, music was
complicated relationship with your country and
my only way to communicate who I was. I couldn’t
do you think it could make an impact for other
compromise on deciding who I am musically, but it
black Italians?
was really, really great because you don’t need to learn everything positively - negative experiences
Yeah, I definitely feel like every song is a resolution
are learning experiences and we normalise that
because I used music as a therapy for myself really.
great contributions require disappointment, anxiety
I like to put every possible feeling that related to
and fears - it’s all part of the same journey.
that experience into one song; really trying to tell the whole story when it comes joy, appreciation,
Your music influences goes from Pino Danielle,
disappointment or hurt. It’s also because sometimes
Joni Mitchell, Laura Mvula, James Blake to Tame
I felt conflicted about talking about set things in
Impala, Nick Drake, Liana La Havas, Fatoumata
music because some people are like “you can’t
Diawara & Frank Ocean + your sound has a wide
just write about set things” or “you can’t just be
range from jazz to Congolese Rumba, Rock, Folk,
a happy artist”. Sometimes I get overwhelmed
Indie-pop, Electronic, Neosoul, Afrofusion…how
about what people think about whatever you want
to talk about, but I found my key in the sense that whatever you try and talk about, the fact that you
“I’m On” is one of my favourite songs of 2021,
translate that feeling into music, you’re already
can you tell us what was the recording process?
making it so beautiful that it can’t be anything else
How long it took you to make that amazing song?
but resolution. Its like an archivist - transforming something into music is such a beautiful thing that
I was really inspired and I really loved doing vocal
it makes me feel good, it makes me feel complete
arrangements so I don’t have to think too much to
and that I’m writing the last words from this specific
put things together. Then later on, I could produce
chapter so that I can talk about something else
the track because I did the vocal production on my
afterwards. So I like that aspect of it and definitely
own and sang the whole beat. Then I got together
my experience of Italy from here has been digested
with this producer called Cid Rim - an amazing
through music - both in English and Italian.
person and artist that works on electronic music so we’re polar opposites in a way and I love hearing
You’re gonna release a new EP in September and
different things. We had a couple sessions in the
going on tour with Anna B Savage which sounds
studio and he added some synths, layered some
exciting! Please can you tell us what we gonna
more drums on the track so at the end of the day
hear from the EP & what’s next for you after
after the session with him, I just had to go home
release it?
and record even more vocals. And that’s how the sandwich was packed and ready to be delivered. It
I’m really proud of the EP! I’m really excited
was really great fun.
because finally we’re wrapping up the work and we’ve been releasing a few tracks. There’s a few
Just to wrap up this interview, just last year you
more you’ll get soon but pretty much, the meat of
came out as queer. How your queerness has been
it is almost everything out there. I feel like this EP
able to bring you a new freedom into your life?
sonically represents me at this moment in my life. I wanted to be this hybrid in-between electronic and
It’s been a very inspiring and privileged journey to
songwriting, as well as for it to be a palatable EP
be doing music authentically because that was the
for a pop audience. At the end of the day, I like pop
key for me. I’ve always wanted to say something
songwriting in the sense that there’s a structure and
real, true and authentic so in order to do so, you
you can get out of the structure, but I like this sense
need to spend time with yourself and get to know
of being complete and being able to be heard on
yourself; analyse your own life experience, unlock
the radio as well - I like being part of someone’s
trauma and I feel like the experience of queer
daily life.
people in society is quite traumatic because, what happened to me for a long time was that I really
I’m really excited - it was written on a day where
didn’t have a clue about who I was. I felt really
I felt like I had to channel my Beyoncé energy - it
invisible and that I wasn’t enough. I remember it
was really interesting. I love vocals, I love having
was a specific time that I set up so many goals for
fun with vocals and I think she’s one of the greatest
myself and I remember saying “I want to be this
producers we have and with vocals she really nails
kind of woman and in order to be a woman, I want
it all the time. If you take a Beyoncé song and you
to get to this stage”. Being a woman was pretty
take off the vocals, nothing is left.
much part of the full picture because I thought I
Listen to Sans Soucis’ new EP ‘On Time For Her’ on all streaming platforms (Photo by @shenellkennedy)
was a woman and I thought that I’m born like this
everything that I am is actually enough. I actually
so in order to be confident I need to be this kind
feel confident if I take that off. I feel competent, I
of woman. Then later on, I realised that there were
feel like I’m growing, I feel a lot of beautiful things
moments of my life I was ticking the boxes and
that don’t need to belong to labels that I was
there were other days I was a complete mess. I felt
given before. It’s important for people to have that
like I couldn’t achieve those kind of standards. Then
terminology accessible to them because it might be
I started to understand that actually, society was
one less problem that you have on your shoulders.
failing me and everything that people had imposed
So I feel like that was my journey and music helped
over me wasn’t actually it. I started understanding
me to be authentic in the way I express myself and
that gender is a social construct so I don’t feel like I
see myself.
was seen by my society and I don’t feel like I belong to this time if these are the labels that people put on me without me having a chance to understand who I am. If you take the word ‘woman’ out - and I understood that I am a non-binary woman -
FOLLOW @SANSSOUCISMUSIC FOR MORE!
In conversation with:
Meron T
How are you feeling right now? How did you start your musical journey? Good - I played my first festival on Saturday so I’m a happy girl!
I’ve always sung since I was a kid but I went to uni and didn’t really think music was an
What’s the meaning behind your artistic
option. I started playing guitar at 16 and did
name: Meron T?
loads of cover songs but I didn’t actually write my own songs until I was 19. Then I recorded
My full name is Meron Tilahun - it’s an Ethiopian
it, put it on Soundcloud and that was the
name. I’m half Ethiopian, half Eritrean so I
beginning I’d say. I properly started recording
decided to make my artist name Meron T
and releasing music on Spotify at the age of
because I wanted my name to be in there so
23, so 2017. Since then, it’s been picking up
people know my heritage.
because I realised when I started properly in 2017, I knew it would take a few years; the
Tell us about your musical style?
foundation years would be 2-3 years of me finding my sound.
I’d say it’s rooted in R&B but my music takes influences from worlds parallel to it: the jazz
How was your experience doing backing
world, trap, even drill, hip hop, then more
vocals for Masego?
indie influences on the more guitar based instrumentals. Even house and techno I love,
It was amazing! I learnt so much because
afro fusion and stuff. But I’d say the main
they’re really hard working musicians. Masego
genres it takes from are R&B, hip hop, Jazz
is really talented but he puts a lot of time and
and I’d also say my sound is getting a bit more
effort into his sound, plays a lot of instruments.
trappier. Alternative R&B as I feel like this
Same with the musicians in the band. They’re
encompasses a variety of genres.
very disciplined and taught me that discipline
- having talent is one thing but you have to be disciplined and be constantly growing and learning because there are so many other amazingly talented people, that you have to constantly be on your toes. Who is your biggest music inspiration? To work with, I’d really love to collab with Rosalía as I find her very talented musically. I really want to collab with Timbaland and the Neptunes which is possible because right now, they did a collab with SZA, with Snoh Aalegra - they’re around. Right now in the UK, I would really love to work with Dave, that would be really cool - I love his energy and his flow. In the grand scheme, people like Robert Glasper would be amazing, YEBBA, Smino… Drum Machine are quite cool I think they worked with ASAP Ferg. Tell us about your creative process? My process is a lot more freestyle based because I sometimes when I try and sit down and write words, nothing comes. I always do melody first, then once I have a melody and some words, I’ll piece it together. Normally what I’ll do is jump onto the mic, freestyle something and then afterwards listen back to it and take lyrics from that. If you has a theme song and it played every time you entered a room, what would it be? Nightmode by UnoTheActivist And at your wedding? Zingaro by Joao Gilberto
What about your funeral? Sing About Me by Kendrick Lamar Do you have any new projects coming up? Yes, I’ve got an EP that is nearly ready for your ears. Just final bits to sort out but it’s coming out this year. No release date yet but in the next 6 months it’ll definitely be out. Where can people keep an eye out for news about you, next gigs and upcoming projects? Follow me on instagram and twitter @mezthehun, and if you follow me on Spotify, you get notifications whenever I release anything new or if I have any gigs. You can find me as Meron T on Spotify and Apple Music. Spotfiy and instagram are the best places to get my updates.
FUTURA FREE:
ELI
What is your name? My name is ELI. What do you do? I’m a musician and songwriter. What’s your first memory? Being in my parents flat as a kid. What’s the most amazing thing you’ve ever witnessed? I went to Australia as a child, and the beach is incredible. Got any secret talents? I have really big hands, abnormally big. Good for guitar as I can reach chords easily. What is the year 3000 is going to look like? Fying cars are a given, probably teleportation. Scarily advanced technology. What three superpowers do you wish you had? Superspeed, invisibility and flying. I’d love to fly. @eli.ldn
You can listen to the Drea’s mix and find the full tracklist on www.seigfried.co
This interview was recorded in January 2021
SONGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
AMARIA BB - Slow Motion
Amber Simone - Black, No Sugar
Hackney native AMARIA BB is back to claim the spotlight she
‘Black, No Sugar’ is the stunning new release from London
deserves with her new single ‘Slow Motion’. A real breath of
based one-to-watch Amber-Simone. Divine visuals from
fresh air, her smooth, swaying fusion of R&B and Dancehall is
Sophie Jones are the perfect introduction to the multi-
one to draw in all audiences.
talented songwriter’s nostalgic, funk-laden world.
AMARIA BB truly shines with her latest single, featuring
Singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Amber-Simone
a sweet R&B vocal sung in Jamaican Patois to conjure up
proves she’s the whole package as she delivers once again on
imagery of balmy summer loves. Here she showcases her
the soulful ‘Black, No Sugar’, showcasing her inimitable vocal
raw talent and innocently provocative lyricism set to a gently
and impressive lyricism. This track is a lush journey of self-
rolling, seductive beat.
discovery and a celebration of black heritage in one - a song she would have needed to hear when she was younger, and
Her steady rise in recent years has been no accident, with
one for anyone questioning themselves.
AMARIA BB featuring in prominent Spotify playlists This Is How We Do and R&B UK among others, and she’s only just
With a rich and diverse range of influences, from The Police to
getting started. A woman of the new generation, AMARIA BB
Sade, from Tyler, The Creator to classic 80s film scores, Amber-
is just riding this wave and seeing where it takes her.
Simone imbues her music with inspiration, grace and soul, and it’s this which has earned her praise from Wonderland, The Line Of Best Fit, Notion and many more.
For fans of: Alicai Harley, Kiana Ledé, Popcaan Speaking on the track, the songstress stands up for her @ amaria_bb
authenticity, saying: “It’s a reminder for whoever needs to hear it. You are enough just as you are and your blackness is a gift.”
For fans of: JMSN, Celeste, Shay Lia
@ theambersimone
Lost Girl ft. Backroad Gee - Rockabye
Summer Banton - Don’t Make Me Feel
At just 21, Reading-based Lost Girl has found her calling with
R&B songstress Summer Banton is back with her stunningly
the Garage-influenced ‘Rockabye’ just in time for summer, out
soulful new single ‘Don’t Make Me Feel’, a track which,
now on Island Records. Joining forces with fast-rising London
unsurprisingly, gets us deep in our feelings. Her first offering
rapper Backroad Gee, this track bursts with energy and a fresh
of the year, Banton delivers impressive songwriting style and
dynamic.
talent in equal measure.
Praising her mother’s Garage inspiration throughout her
After serving listeners throwback 90s feels on last year’s
childhood, Lost Girl is here to pay homage to the sound.
‘Pretty Face’ and living up to her name with sunshine vibes
Despite being a nostalgic track, her signature vocals are not
on ‘Go Away’, rising songstress Summer Banton shows us
lost. Reminiscing on a past relationship she rises out of a bad
her sensitive side on her latest offering. With ‘Don’t Make Me
situation on top. Filled with attitude, ‘Rockabye’ orchestrates a
Feel’, the singer-songwriter has a love interest in her sights as
perfect summer 2-stepper.
she takes control of her situation and remains candid on the compelling release.
Overlooking the Canary Wharf skyline, the pair provide fun and feel-good visuals to ‘Rockabye’, featuring Rolls Royces
Growing up in South-East London with a strong presence of
and roller skates, sun and summer vibes. We are witnessing
Reggae influences played in the household on a regular basis,
Lost Girl in her element - a go-getter journeying towards even
it was this musical environment that would go on to fuel a
higher triumphs. Stay tuned.
passion in Banton to become an artist herself. exciting time for the star whose name will undoubtedly be on everyone’s
For fans of: Miraa May, Conducta, Kamille
lips for a long time yet.
@ lostgirl.official
For fans of: Mnelia, Sampha, Jaz Karis
@ summerbanton_
A campaign to end the verbal & physical abuse suffered by retail workers, enacting real & sustainable change. ‘Essential Worker’ tells the hard-hitting story of supermarket employee Ruby and follows her as she prepares for an early morning shift. Leaving behind the comfort of her family home, she heads to work and an unknown day as the memories of previous abusive encounters fly around inside her head, showing the immense psychological strain these fleeting encounters can have. The film co-produced by Sophie Watson and Matteo Pontonutti and directed by Sam Parish-Rookes will be launching on the 3rd of December on Vimeo. Follow @essentialworkerfilm on Instagram for updates!