Nyota Parker
Interview conducted on September 13, 2022
by Dan Locke
Nyota is a rapper, vocalist and songwriter with Congolese and Irish heritage, based in Cape Town, South Africa, with the charisma and skill of artists 10 years her senior. With Congolese-Irish heritage, her unique, eclectic and rebellious style of music draws influences from Rap/Hip Hop, Jazz, Soul and more into a fusion she calls “Trazz”. At 22 years old, Nyota’s mature lyrics and voice have caught the ears and hearts of many by speaking about breaking society’s boundaries, tackling & healing through emotional issues, as well as proudly not conforming to what restrictive systems have to offer. Meet Nyota, the non-conformist.
You are a rapper, vocalist and Lyricist. What was your up bring like?
Since I was a kid, my social circles have always been so diverse, I’ve been exposed to all types of creativity and cultures. I was raised by my mom and her side of the family in Cape Town, South Africa. I’m half Congolese and half Irish but growing up in South Africa and being immersed in my family’s culture, I’ve always felt more connected there. I’m an only child and my mom is my number 1 supporter and my manager! My upbringing was really relaxed but also all over. We moved all over Cape Town but one place that stayed stable was (and still is) my grandparents’ house.
How did you discover music?
Music has always been a part of my life but it really became prominent when my uncles started picking me up from school and played all types of Hip Hop. Since then, I’ve been obsessed with music and lyricism, not just the vibe. I was about 7 years old or so.
How did you start to write music?
There isn’t a specific age that I can recall but I do remember always coming home from school and memorizing verses from Lil Wayne or Nicki Minaj but then writing my own lyrics over their beats. Of course, I’ve developed as an artist but I had to start somewhere when it came to inspiration and guidance. I finally understood the path I wanted to take, in terms of my message, when I was 16 and someone in an interview asked me what inspires me…and I didn’t have an answer. That really sent me down a rabbit hole and ever since then, I’ve had a solid vision.
I‘m also thankful for my day 1 engineer/producer Jay Loopz
What is your instrument of choice?
My instrument of choice is the voice! I have been teaching myself the bass too but I haven’t been as consistent.
What was your first performance at like?
My first ever performance was surprisingly good, haha. It was with my cousin, Crazy J Suave, back in Cape Town at what used to be called “The Bank”. We were opening for Nasty C and A-Reece because I won a Facebook competition. I was nervous at first but stepping on stage gave me a strange confidence, especially since my cousin was there with me.
Describe your music.
My music is a mixture of Hip Hop and Neo-Soul, I love capturing elements of every genre I enjoy listening to. From classic jazzy things to new school beats, I would say that I draw inspiration from instrumentals alone. I love writing catchy hooks and conscious verses.
Royalties never appear like magic. Royalties are only sent to you through work undertaken by a PRO to ensure that their members are getting paid. If you’re not yet signed up to a Performing Right Organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you may not be receiving all the royalties you deserve.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the international singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP ?
I used to be with a singer-songwriter organization but am currently looking for other ones.. I think it’s really important to have something like that backing you up, I’d never realized how having your music circulating within the sync world can really help sustain you as an artist. Also, back in 2017, I was a part of BMI’s songwriting camp in Cape Town and was the youngest.
What makes a good songwriter?
A good songwriter allows things to flow organically whilst not letting any little thing slip your mind, your subconscious. Every mumble, melody or lyric could end up being life changing. A good songwriter doesn’t force a message, people can tell when it’s forced but most importantly, YOU can tell?
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
My first song was called “You Already Know It” with an old friend called OG Quanga. We recorded it in his shoe closet lol. It’s no longer a public song though.
What is the process of writing your music?
Honestly, I don’t have a standard writing process. Sometimes I would receive a beat first and I’d immediately have a hook or a flow and I’d fill in the blanks by feeling the music, or sometimes I’d write a poem and change the cadences around to make a track. It’s really random for me. I also have synesthesia, so sometimes when a beat gives me a colour, I’m able to create a mood based on that.
How was it working with Zmny on “In My Head”
Working with Zmny was so much fun. I had a concept and a couple beats from the amazing Jazz Groupiez, who also came along with my mom and I to the Los Angeles recording session we had. Zmny is crazy talented and I’m so happy that we had great synergy in the studio. It’s amazing that we’re both young and African with so many ideas.
Tell me about Spectrum?
Spectrum as a whole is just me expressing the struggles and pressures of an artist in an industry that doesn’t always care about what I care about. I just go through the different stages and waves of emotions whilst emerging – whether it’s doubt or claiming what’s mine.
How was it to film the video for it?
The video was easy flowing and true to how I go through everyday life. Nothing about it was complicated or overly edited.
Why did you pick Pink Lemonade Skate to shoot the video?
Pink Lemonade is not only my homie but she understands working with me creatively. It wasn’t even like we were working, haha, it just worked.
Spectrum Deluxe. Tell me about the album?
Spectrum Deluxe is still along the same lines as Spectrum but I added some live performance tracks and a new collaboration with Zmny, titled “Right Thru”, which brought something fresh to the project.
You have over 241K streams. What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
Actually, to date I have over 500k streams on Spotify alone and I’m super grateful for every streaming platform and independent distribution company 🙂 Streaming is an important way to keep your income flowing as an emerging artist. That’s why I also like to focus on getting my music on playlists, if it’s always on rotation then that contributes to streams without always trying to find individual listeners – they’ll find you.
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, pound sign and a sharp sign in music. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag.
Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?
Definitely, people are forgetting but that’s only because a lot of my generation lives online, they’re born online, haha. However, one thing that every generation understands is the power of the #. It controls so much from systems to music to algorithms.
Digital vs. vinyl?
As much as I love many things that are vintage and tangible, I just prefer digital. Digital media is always accessible and instant. I guess that’s the Gen Z in me.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Any song by Tribe called Quest, honestly. They always remind me of the roots of Hip Hop. Their overall classic flow, simplicity and loyalty to the beats and message always inspires me.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
Nothing will kill live music. Even during lockdown, live shows were happening regardless. Covid definitely has had an effect on music as a whole but I think it kind of fueled creativity, we found new ways to create and access art, as well as more ways to make money online.
Do you think that Covid-19 has been a plus to an artist career?
As bad as it may sound, I actually did get some positive things from the covid lockdown. I gaina much bigger social presence, I performed online so much, I created so many visuals and worked on re-branding myself as an artist. I was able to really sit in my feelings and create from a place that didn’t require me to rush, I didn’t have to force myself to sit down and finish a project.
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
I still always do these things. I drink moringa tea, turmeric/ginger tea and make sure I’m skating plenty so that I’m always active. I try to not overwhelm my body but I usually end up doing a lot, haha, including sleeping at 2am which isn’t the best.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
I was hoping my Tiny Desk submission was going to be chosen but I wasn’t upset at all. I was happy that I now have more live performance content to post and have as auditions and other submissions. It was also great to perform live again after a while with musicians who really care and come through for you.
Any word on your Tiny Desk Contest Submission?
I was hoping my Tiny Desk submission was going to be chosen but I wasn’t upset at all. I was happy that I now have more live performance content to post and have as auditions and other submissions. It was also great to perform live again after a while with musicians who really care and come through for you.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
Luckily we can play live again, but online is still a great option. There are so many platforms that allow you to sell merchandise and it makes for quicker sales too. Everyone is really looking forward to live shows more since things have been recently opened so we should take advantage of this time too. And to be safe, I guess you could make sure people show a negative covid test too.
Pay to play has been a thing since the 1950s. It was called Payola. It was the illegal practice of paying a commercial raido stations to play a song. This has been stopped. But in the during the same time music venues took it to the next level. Many venuse started to ask bands to pay for a spot on a bill and this is still going today with large tours having a unknown band paying money to open up for the tour in exchange for the band to get a bigger audience for their music. Is pay to play still a thing?
Pay to play is still a BIG thing, I know of plenty of venues and radios doing this…some of them are scams. I’ve paid to play and it wasn’t always worth it. It’s unfair because it just gives way to people who just want to pay their way to the stage and the top but they don’t want to put any creative work in or don’t have any passion.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
No. I don’t like the idea of holographic concerts at all. It’s creepy.
How was the All Star Converse Concert?
The Converse All Star series is an annual creative event where creatives from all over the world who are a part of the All Star community, get to come together to create and showcase their craft alongside established artists. For this one in Sydney, Australia, 30 of us were selected to go and be a part of many enlightening workshops, studio sessions, interviews as well as meeting Tyler, The Creator. I made so many amazing and talented friends as well. Converse has my whole heart.
In the past if a musician stop doing music they find a new career. For example David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants.. If you can’t do music, what would you like to be doing?
If I didn’t do music, I’d probably be involved in sports. I’d put more effort into skateboarding for sure. Or maybe acting. I don’t really know of anything else I would have a passion for. I can’t do routines in traditional jobs.
What is your happy place?
My happy place has to either be a place that I’m alone in, like the park, or the stage. Both are conducive for creating and are places I can be myself, that’s a rare combo
Red Hot Chili Peppers are about to sell their entire song catalog for $140 Million. In the past year a lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks ($100 Million) , Bob Dylan (over $400 Million), Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, K.T. Tunstall, and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Neil Young song 50 percent of his worldwide copyright and income interest in his 1,180-song catalogue to Hipnosis Songs Fund limited. Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative then the mechanical royalties paid to artist based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.
IT should be noted, that there is a huge differences between royalties for songwriting and performance. So if you made a deal to sell off your back catalog you can setup it so you can still perform your own songs. And that anything thing new you create you would still be yours.
The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning.
Do you think you would be willing to sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs?
I understand why people do such but that is not something I would do. This goes hand in hand with me wanting to stay independent in order to stay in control of my masters. a lump sum doesn’t move me, I’d rather wait until my music generates something stable for a lifetime.
What is your feeling about TikTok? With Sony Music and Warner Music strucking an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
Yes, I use TikTok a lot these days and I see its value. It’s a fast way to spread your music, it’s hard at first because posting is tedious but it’s worth it. I’m glad that I have access to independent distributing programs that allow me to claim royalties from many apps, not just TikTok.
Also, TikTok has launching TikTok Radio (ch. 4), a full-time SiriusXM music channel. The station will be available is vehicles and as a streaming channel on the SiriusXM App, desktop, and all connected devices.
The station will be part of a new TikTok collaboration with SiriusXM and its subsidiary, Pandora, to jointly promote emerging talent. Do you think this platform could became a force in the future of streaming music?
It could be powerful. The fact that the artists they’ll be playing and its target audience are both emerging artists says a lot. I wish I knew more about this collaboration though, it’s a lot to think about, especially when comparing it to regular radio.
They say create content content content. How does pre-save help with content?
The pre-save function builds excitement and when the project drops, it’s instantly in their playlists. It takes away complications.
How was it to created a duet on TikTok?
TikTok duets are a simple feature, I’ve only used it a couple times for fun and singing but also to raise awareness to global issues that other accounts may have posted.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Thanks for the very specific questions, it feels special to be seen as an artist and to see others really delve into my music 🙂
