Exclusive | Lylo Gold Talks the Release of Her Debut Album 'Heartbreak & Wray'

By: Omar Cook

This week's "Who's Hot?" Artist of the week is London based R&B songstress Lylo Gold! Lylo Gold recently released her debut album entitled ‘Heartache & Wray’, following a turbulent relationship which featured an array of melodic sounds that introduces you into her own world.  This artist is building an impressive resume with over 250,000 accrued plays on Spotify and has also been featured on The Fader, The MOBO's Ones to Watch and The AfroPunk Playlist, making her an artist to watch throughout the UK and beyond.  

Lylo Gold began singing at a young age of 11, and now at 25 years old, she has gone on to compose, write and co-produce an array of songs alongside a variety of artists. She is mostly known for some iconic releases including Starry Night & Over U, which were produced by frequent collaborator XVR BLCK. The UK has a number of talented artists, and Lylo Gold is another proven talent coming out of London. This artist has a voice that needs to be heard and don’t be surprised if you start hearing her name more in the near future!

We talked with Lylo Gold in an exclusive interview, check it out below!

QUESTION: How long have you been making music and how did you get started? 

A: I’ve been making music forever! I started writing poems and lyrics when I was around 7 and I started singing on stage at 11. I’ve always made music... I just lacked the confidence to front my own music. Until... (drum roll) NOW!! 

QUESTION: Musically, who has been your biggest influence in helping you along your journey and who are your favorite musicians?

Lylo Gold: My biggest influence is Mariah Carey. I love her! Her voice is like water! It’s so incredible. I love male singers usually so I’m shocked really but I love so many artists! From Donell Jones, Usher, The Whispers, Earth Wind and Fire, Jasmine Sullivan, Whitney, Nai Palm, Amy Winehouse, Lauryn Hill, Erykah, Xavier Omar!!! Boys II Men... I just love a beautiful vocal!  

Lylo Gold

Photo by: Gillian Murray

QUESTION: What artists would you like to collaborate with and why?

Lylo Gold: I really want to work with Anderson Paak - he has this freedom in his music and a personality with it that I think evokes ideas in me from listening... to imagine a session. With his creativity and mine.... ooh... I get really excited! I feel this way about Q Tip, Pharrell, Beyonce... the list is extensive!  

QUESTION: What do you feel is your best song/project ever released and why?

Lylo Gold: Heartache and Wray... I actually love the project now - which is weird because we have a weird relationship. I loved the fact that I got expressive and experimental and allowed my vocals to really shine on this project... I’m not like one of those people who just care about my voice... I love the whole dynamic of a song, which I feel was expressed on this project. 

QUESTION: What projects can we look forward to in the near future? 

Lylo Gold: Amazing music, stunning videos and a reality tv show.... honestly!

QUESTION: How do you generate new ideas for your music?

Lylo Gold: Music comes to me, I don’t look for it. Songs are already there... it’s just not everyone can hear them. I think I just channel what’s already there. Its the magic... it’s like you hear a language that no one else can hear - like Parsel tongue in Harry Potter - it’s wizardry! 

QUESTION: What motivates you and how do you define success?

Lylo Gold: Life is my motivation. Life is all about balance, progression, growth and love. I try to treat the world how I want to be treated. I try to be as loving as I can... I believe that we are all connected and all contribute to the state of the world. That makes me responsible. It means I know my place in the world and what I need to contribute to the world.

QUESTION: How do you describe your music to people?

Lylo Gold: I literally say. “You tell me”. My music to me sounds like different things dependent on my mood and where I am at emotionally when I listen. 

QUESTION: Do you believe there is a formula to being a successful artist?

Lylo Gold: Yes, by committing yourself to your craft, respecting and believing in your craft. I think people have to invest in their talents... they have to see the value in it before anyone else does.  

QUESTION: Who is your greatest inspiration?

Lylo Gold: My mum. She’s a Queen. She had two sets of twins and bossed at being a phenomenal mother!

QUESTION: In your opinion who is the most influential and successful artist in your genre today and why?

Lylo Gold: Beyonce…she works her arse off. There really isn’t anything more to say. Hard work pays off!

QUESTION: Which emotion more than any other, currently dominates your music? Joy, sadness, anger or passion etc. , and why?

Lylo Gold: Love. Because I am love. 

QUESTION: What sacrifices have you had to make, to make your dream a reality?

Lylo Gold: lol.... how much space do I have? I sacrificed time with my family, time with my friends, sleep, relationships, I’ve worked jobs I’ve hated, endured people I don’t like... allowed people to do things that I dislike for the sake of peace... I’ve made so many sacrifices! Especially financially!

QUESTION: What aspect of the music making process excites you most, and what aspect discourages you the most?

Lylo Gold: Writing the songs and adding the harmonies and ad libs! I love this stuff lol I like chords so I guess the creativity. I hate recording :(

QUESTION: Where do you see yourself and your music in 10 years?

Lylo Gold: Several awards. Several platinum plaques... I see myself happy with a family and a music school!

QUESTION: What advice would you give to other up and coming artists or people looking to break into the music industry? 

Lylo Gold: Work hard. Not just on your instrument, on yourself... work on your energy, your emotions, then your craft... your understanding of music.. learn as much as you can. Learn how people operate. Learn about the legalities...Learn to protect your talent.  

QUESTION: Is there anything else you would like people to know about you or your music?

Lylo Gold: I’m going to be releasing some of my best work in 2019. Follow me!!!

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Exclusive | Nayome Discusses Her Debut EP and Pursuing Her Music Career

Nayome is an up and coming singer out of Texas! The 21 year old sing artist was born and raised in Tyler, Texas, but spent her teenage years growing up in the Dallas Metroplex city of Irving, Tx in the Valley Ranch area where she graduated from Ranchview High School. Nayome currently attends Texas State University and is pursuing a degree in Marketing. She loves to sing and dance and owns her own dancing organization called Queen Empire Dance at Texas State where she teaches heel dancing!

Check out Nomi's first music video to her single See You ft Vonte!

Nayome - “Fair Warning” (Music Video)

We talked with Nayome in an exclusive interview, check it out below!

Question: How long have you been making music and how did you get started?

Nayome: Music has always been a part of my life and it’s in my DNA as I come from a family of aspiring musicians.  Growing up I always participated in school choirs from elementary to high school. It was in college where I discovered my love for writing song lyrics. Back in November 2017 I made a decision to step out of the shadows and write my first single “Missing You”. It was my first time going public with a song I wrote and I’m glad I made the move. I just wrote down how I felt in that moment in my notes on my phone and I didn’t actually record or finish up until 3 months later. Ever since I recorded that song, I’ve been so eager and motivated to write more and to share with the world!

Question: Musically, what are your biggest influences and who are your favorite musicians?

Nayome: Honestly, there are too many to even list out as I have so many musical influences! For creative inspiration I listen to Erykah Badu or Bryson Tiller.  Beyoncé has been one of my favorite artists since Destiny’s Child. Her drive to keep outdoing what’s expected of her is truly amazing. At the moment, some of my favorite artists in my daily playlist consist of H.E.R, Alina Baraz, Xavier Omar, DVSN, Jhene Aiko, Ella Mai, SZA, Kehlani and so many more.  

Question: What musician would you most like to collaborate with and why?

Nayome: I’d love to collaborate with Alina Baraz one day!!!!!  I’ve been listening to her since 2015 and I love the way she writes her songs and the structure of her songs are simply amazing. She has that R&B/Electric Vibe that you can really feel while listening to her lyrically. Her most recent project “The Color of You” has been on a repeat since the day it came out. She’s truly a distinctive artist with a distinctive sound and I would love to see how our two styles mix together. 

Question: What do you feel is your best song you've ever released and why?

Nayome: My best song so far in my opinion is my single “Fading.” This song is the second thing I’ve released and I pour a lot of emotion to the track. “Fading” is a relevant sequence of events that went on in my life that also played a part in my growth and it means a lot to me. I could say that it is the best yet most underrated song that I have released. I hold a lot of confidence in all my projects but when growth happens in my life it become a creative force to me and I think that’s a big motivator for me to keep going. 

Question: What motivates you and how do you define success?

Nayome: Knowing that I can do everything through Christ gives me a faith that constantly motivates me to keep pushing towards my passion. My mom is also someone who told me from the beginning to pursue my passion for singing.  I also want her to have everything she wants so if it takes me there that would be such a blessing to have the opportunity to bless her and others. Also, I still find it very surprising that people look up to me. I’ve had people tell me that I’m very inspiring by the way I go so aggressively towards my passions. If what I do with music motivates someone else to pursue their dreams then I think that’s all the success I need. Success is doing something that makes a person genuinely happy in life and everything that comes from that is just a benefit. 

Question: How do you generate new ideas?

Nayome: When it comes to my music I get inspired at the most random moments. One way of generating creativity is reflecting on my growth from life lessons and from there I will shut myself up in my room and focus on writing about my experiences. Another way is  I’ll be in my bed thinking about my day and I’ll turn on YouTube,  my TV and type in “R&B Type Beats” and just write down my feelings. I’ll generate new songs/ideas in the most random moments. It’s almost like my instincts tells me to stop what I’m doing and write about a feeling I have. 

Question: How do you describe your music to people?  

Nayome: I think my music is defined as “Vibey.” I would even go as far to say it will put you in the mood and make one feel like they have experienced the emotion I’m portraying in the song. 

Question: Do you believe there is a formula to being a successful artist?

Nayome: I don’t think there is a formula to success other than you HAVE to believe in yourself, stay consistent, and most of all to have FUN. 

Question: Who is your greatest inspiration?

Nayome: I would most definitely have to say Beyonce. She’s a hard worker and she goes above and beyond in everything she does, and not to mention how incredibly talented she is!!! She literally masters singing and dancing like its nothing major to do! 

Question: In your opinion who is the most influential and successful artist in your genre today and why?

Nayome: Once again, I think Beyonce is the most influential artist in the game right now because of how she simply changes the game every time she does something musically. Her live performances are unmatched!!! I’ve had the pleasure of attending her Formation tour and the experience was unreal and being there actually pushed me a step closer to pursuing my passion because one day I would love to sell out arenas and bring happiness to every single person that comes out.  

Question: Which emotion more than any other, currently dominates your music? Joy, sadness, anger or passion etc. , and why?

Nayome: Currently, I am writing music that reflects happiness, but it always changes. It depends on what I’m feeling when I’m writing but every time I’m writing the goal is for my listeners to feel like they are in my shoes experiencing the emotion that is reflected in my songs. 

Question: What sacrifices have you had to make, to make your dream a reality?

Nayome: Sleepless nights taking a toll on my academic studies as well as taking a hit on my social life as I’ve lost some friends as I began to focus more on pursuing my music.

Question: What aspect of the music making process excites you most, and what aspect discourages you the most?

Nayome: I think the most exciting thing of making music is overcoming challenges. There are so many obstacles I face when writing my music/ recording my music. It’s the greatest feeling to overcome the obstacles that I face. I have become very quick to take on challenges as well such as making a song on a beat I’m not used to or just stepping out of my comfort zone in general, it’s a very fun process. Feeling discouraged is a type of mindset that I try to avoid having. I have to remind myself constantly that I can do anything I put my mind to. 

Question: Where do you see yourself and your music in 10 years?

Nayome: In ten years, I see myself inspiring my generation and the generation behind me through my music. It’s a huge goal but with consistent growth in this industry I have no doubt that it can be achieved. 

Question: What advice would you give to other up and coming artists or people looking to break into the music industry?

Nayome: Don’t quit, stay consistent, and to stay true to themselves. The music industry is tough and it’s so easy to get discouraged and to remember to have fun with the process. Grow from the obstacles and keep pushing through.  

Question: Is there anything else you would like people to know about you or your music?

Nayome: I would like people to know that it’s very important to go for their passions. We only live once and it’s a better life when you are in control of your own life. I will try my absolute hardest to make sure my passion in singing/ writing is a part of my day to day life. I am working on my first EP. R E C O V E R Y+ that releases this Summer! I’m so excited to show the world what I’ve been working on and I hope that they catch the vibe!

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