Welcome to the latest in the series of weekly blog posts about songwriting, which includes interviews with composers and artists about their views and experiences in this field. This week’s interview is with singer-songwriter Suphena.
Matt:
What is your background in songwriting and performing?
Suphena:
I started performing very early on in the school choir from about the age of 9. I suppose a lot of kids do that sort of thing but then when I reached high school I continued to study music and perform in school concerts. At the age of 18 I bought my first guitar and started learning songs that I liked from YouTube and used the chords I learnt as a basis to write my own songs. I never really finished a lot of songs but the ones I did finish I would play at open mic nights and busk on the streets in Leeds, my hometown, until I realised I wanted to study music at University. This is where I really honed in on my craft and got to a place where my songwriting felt more mature, because I was forced to think more about what I was writing and why.
Matt:
Everyone has different reasons for writing songs, sometimes to express themselves, to tell a story etc. What drives you to write a song and where do you get your inspiration from?
Suphena:
A lot of the time what drives me to write is feeling negative about something, maybe regarding a relationship or a societal issue. In order to process those complex emotions I create music so as to not become destructive. Whatever music I am listening to at the time inspires what I write, but generally Reggae music and Jazz singers are influences which are engrained in me. Right now, I’m listening to lots of Techno and Hip-Hop, so the new EP I am working on will definitely have elements of that creeping in. Also, my Jamaican heritage drives and inspires me too. I’ve always felt somewhat disconnected from that part of myself and when I sing I am reminded of those roots and that plays a big part in my overall identity.
Matt:
It’s really interesting that you use music to express your feelings and emotions, as a lot of other musicians I have spoken to have said they also use it as an outlet. Most art forms seem to be able to be used for expression but music seems to be especially able to do this. I personally can also very much relate to you being influenced by different styles and genres, as I have my Folk side as my main basing but have also been influenced by Pop, EDM and cinematic music. There are often differing views about songs, both on what the most important aspect is and what the most difficult element of a song to compose is. What do you think is the most important part of a song and is there a particular stage of composing that you struggle with?
Suphena:
The most important part of a song to me is the meaning and making sure the music reflects that meaning. Having a clear understanding of what I’m trying to say is first and foremost. If you don’t have a clear message then listeners won’t be able to relate. The most difficult aspect of songwriting for me (at this point in my journey anyway) is structuring. Sometimes I like to stray away from standard Pop structures to make my music more interesting, but then if I stray too far it can become confused and not make sense, so finding a balance can be difficult. I suppose that also has something to do with not wanting to be confined to the genre of pop, too.
Matt:
You mentioned earlier that you are working on an EP, can you tell us more about that and any other projects you’re working on at the moment?
Suphena:
Yeah, I’m in the midst of reworking some older songs of mine and the EP will just showcase what I’ve done so far. It’s the first solo release of mine so I’m very excited! It’s just a stripped back version of my songs with me and my guitar. Another project I’m working on is an EP release and UK tour with my band, Horses on the Beach. And for part of my degree I am working on a techno track, which is really random but challenging!
You can learn more about Suphena and her music by visiting her Facebook, Instagram and SoundCloud pages