Ahead of her performance at Cork Jazz Festival this weekend, we caught up with Cuban-Irish singer-songwriter Qbanaa to talk sonic inspiration, the songwriting process, and poetry as the perfect jumping off point.frequently described as a jazzy neo-soul artist, mixes her inspirations from Erykah Badu, Hiatus Kaiyote, Kali Uchis, Khruangbin, Amy Winehouse and Greentea Peng.
Blending her heritage with soul, jazz, and Latin rhythms, her music also takes on hip-hop, pop and folk qualities here and there, culminating in a sound that’s uniquely her. Since the release of her debut track, ‘Truth and Desire’, in 2022, Qbanaa has been captivating audiences with her versatile live performances, whether playing an intimate two-piece acoustic set or a powerful eight-piece session.
Tell me about your start in the industry. Was a career in the music business always something you aspired to?. I even auditioned when I was 10. When I got older I forgot my dream and wanted to be a yoga teacher and have my own studio, then I completed my degree in psychology and when the big C hit, and I was trapped within my four walls finishing my thesis, that’s when I rediscovered my love for music, and naturally just found myself in the business.It depends if it’s for me or for someone else.
I love Khruangbin, Hiatus Kaiyote, Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse, Hans Zimmer, Sabrina Claudio, Lianne La Havas, Masego, Kali Uchis, The Marías, Chappell Roan, Clairo’s new stuff.Great – cliquey when it wants to be but that’s everywhere, there’ll always be hierarchies. I’ve been lucky with my support. Going on songwriting retreats has deepened my view on the togetherness and community that is within the music scene. I’ve found a lot of love in those circles.
Yes, my new single ‘Demons in the Liffey’ was released on 18 October. It’s a love song for my mam and I have a music video for it too, featuring my mam on the Liffey in 1998.The creative process, being in the studio, when something just clicks. When you make a demo that you listen to 1,000 times a day. When someone messages you or comes up to you after a gig crying that my music has elevated them. That’s surreal.on Friday 25 October.
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