9 minute read
YA LEVIS // Interview
If you like French Urban Pop, you must know Ya Levis. Famous for his hits such as "Katchua", "Mbangu Te" or "Aïcha", he succeeded to seduce his audience thanks to his incredible talent. Originally from Kinshasa, Ya Levis brought a tiny touch of his native Congo when he arrived in France as a young man and was able to sublimate it in his songs. The man who has decided to put Lingala in the spotlight in all his songs, is here with us today to talk about his musical journey and the importance he gives to his family.
If he's proud to share his family stories in his songs, he certainly doesn't forget his audience, to whom he commits his heart and soul when he performs on stage.
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For A Rap & A Cup Of Tea, Ya Levis unveils everything that makes him strong in his daily life and his musical inspirations. Affectionate, sincere and unabashed, this hit-maker is truly an artist to listen to in full measure!
How would you describe your music to an English-speaking audience interested in getting to know you?
I would say that my music would definitely be listed as love songs. I often produce love songs to soothe people's hearts.
I heard you come from a musical family too...
That's right! (laughs) My father was a singer; my mother sang in a Catholic church. I have brothers and sisters who are also singers. Others have dancing skills... You can say that we're a musical family.
Having been immersed in music all your life, did you always know that you were destined for this path?
When I was younger, I spent a lot of time with my father in recording studios, rehearsing for concerts, etc. My father also gave me the chance to pick up the microphone in my early years, he kind of shaped me. It was only natural that I would end up a musician too. I grew up with it all my life. I did everything there is to do with music, you know? I've always been around music. I fell in love with it.
We know you since 2015, but it's only in 2018 that your career took a great jump with the title "Katcha". How did you handle it, this milestone in your career?
Honestly, it was very impressive. It was a big surprise because I didn't expect it. In music, you never know when it is going to happen. This world is full of surprises. That's when I realized that in the music industry, you have to be patient. You need to persevere; you have to work hard because it can take off at any time. You must be ready. I really think that my career started at the right time.
Why this particular time?
When I look back on what happened in my life after that, I realize how lucky I was. I was able to do so much for my mom... She was someone who didn't necessarily want me to become a musician because she knows the music industry and its uncertainties. After the success of this track, I was able to show her that no matter what obstacles may come my way, I'll always strive to succeed. I was able to invite her to Kinshasa for the first time and prove many things to her. Today, knowing that she's no longer around, I say to myself that things happened for me at the right time. As I say every time, God does things well.
Actually, I wanted to talk about your track "Libala". Apparently, it's a very special song for you because it tells the story of your parents...
Yes, that's exactly it. I'm kind of going through the story of my parents. How they met, etc. In the lyrics, there are words that my father used to say to my mother. It was really important for me to do that. To show how important marriage is. Getting married before God is not something to be taken lightly. My parents didn't have the chance to get married because my father died two months before their wedding... I had a long discussion with my mother about this and their story. Like all mothers, she opened my eyes on marriage and on many things, so it was important for me to pay a tribute to them through this song.
Are there other songs in your discography that have a particular meaning for you like this one?
For the moment, no... Actually, there are some songs that were inspired by real life experiences and others that are simply based on a theme. For example, "5 ans après" is a real life experience as well as "Chocolat"... (laughs)
The first time you wrote songs like "Chocolat", "Nakati" or "Lokesha" where you talk about carnal desire, were you a bit prudish or did you simply dive in without thinking about it?
To be honest, I don't ask myself any questions. Once I have an idea in mind, I go for it. As a matter of fact, in music, you don't have to ask yourself 10,000 questions. I'm a pretty perfectionist but sometimes you don't have to think too much, you know? I don't care what people think because it's still music and nothing forbids us to talk about "it", "rough" songs if you have to name them. (laughs) Besides, I know that this kind of songs speak a lot to people. Usually, this kind of music can be found in the US but not in France.
How would you explain that?
I don't know, I feel like we're not open-minded enough... More and more, I notice that my music does much better elsewhere than in France. Then I think that with time, things can change.
And is it hard for you to write a love song?
No, not anymore. I know there was a time when I was more reserved, but that's in the past. On my last few songs, I also worked with my A.D [artistic director], Ralflow, who helped me a lot to reach a more mature, different songwriting. I'm always looking for the words that you don't usually hear. It's important to meet with writers or people with a gift for writing who can take you in new artistic directions. It makes your songs even more interesting.
You're always pushing yourself out of your comfort zone...
That's it, exactly. All the time. The album I'm working on right now, which will be released in 2022, you'll see anyway, you'll experience a different vibe, it's very sought after. Musically speaking, I ventured on many things. I've tried new things that I'm not used to do, you know? I brought a little touch of Ya Levis on every musical style actually.
I saw in an interview that you said it was important for you to speak Lingala in your music. Can you tell me about the importance of this for you?
Ever since I was young, I always thought "Why don't we put Lingala in different styles of music?" Because it's a beautiful language, you know? For me, it's the most beautiful African language. At the time, we didn't dare to put Lingala everywhere. Even I was afraid that people wouldn't like it. But my older brother, who is a rapper, pushed me in that direction and I managed to break through. Today, people are vibing with music. It's kind of a credit to my country.
Is there a feat that you always dreamed of doing?
I would say King Kester without hesitation. He's a major figure in Congolese music. I grew up with his music, my father also knew him, and I would have loved to do a song with him. I am not sure if you know but he is the one who brought the keyboard to Rumba. At the time, there were certain rules, we were not allowed to play the keyboard or many other instruments. Basically, Rumba was just vocals, a guitar and a quiet rhythm. And today things have changed thanks to artists like him. It comes back to what I said: it's good to take risks sometimes.Trying new things to develop the music of our country, the language etc.
Your featuring with Franglish "Pour Moi" was a real success for me. Did you expect this song to have such an outstanding success?
Not at all. I'm not the kind of person who says to himself "Let's do it like this so that it gets played on the radio". The truth is that Franglish and I met in the studio, he told me that he had an idea in mind, and he made me listen to a track that I was actually listening to at the time. That's the magic of music, we both had the same view of what we wanted to create together. This featuring stemmed from a real connection. Even on stage during his concert at the Trianon in Paris, when we played this song, there was a great chemistry between us. It was incredible, I was even surprised that the audience knew the lyrics by heart, it was crazy!
Do you like being on stage?
Absolutely crazy about that feeling! My favorite moment is when I am on stage and I interact with the audience, it's just insane. It's a dream. You really have to live it, to understand that feeling. To see that you have an audience knowing your songs by heart, it's just incredible, you know? It's like they're saying: "We're here for you, we support you". Sometimes people travel a long way just to see you sing for 30 minutes. You have to keep in mind that you are not entitled to make a mistake. That's why I give 100% whether it's a showcase or a concert.
I know you've already been to London in concert...
I was here 2 years ago and last time it was a huge success! We were sold out in 3 days, it's crazy! We're coming back in January too... Hope to see you there!
