Some artists seem to have figured out that there is absolutely no point in rushing things. Nyota Parker is one of them. She came into my world earlier this year, and I was in absolute awe of the sound of the Congolese-Irish rapper, singer, and songwriter who grew up in Cape Town, spent time in New York, and is now based in Montréal. Yeah, now that's what I call a journey.
Her new album, WHAT IS A TIMELINE ?, feels like a reminder that life rarely follows the plan we have in mind. It’s about letting go, finding your people, and trusting the journey, even when you have no idea where it’s taking you. We caught up with Nyota to talk about finding confidence in her sound, how moving between cities has shaped her as an artist, and why Common would be the first person she’d look for if she could travel back to Electric Lady Studios in 1999. We also got into creative freedom, the beauty of human connection, and a few artists you might want to add to your playlist.
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Hi Nyota! A real honour and pleasure to have you as a guest on Stereofox on this special day. First of all, congrats on the album! What’s the one word that describes how you feel today?
Thank you for having me, truly. One word that describes how I feel is BLESSED!
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Two years after your last album, INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS, what’s the main difference between Nyota who made that record and Nyota who created WHAT IS A TIMELINE ?. What feels most different about her?
I feel way more sure of myself. There’s not a single part of this project that I feel less connected to than the other. I feel that I’ve delved deeper into my sound.
The album is about accepting that there is no timeline. What helped you reach that realization?
So many instances over the past three years made me realize that I do not have control over many things in my life... and that’s usually for my own good. The places I’ve travelled to and lived in were never in any plan of mine. The people I’ve met and the music I’ve created came from that. I found my tribe and my sound and that’s enough proof to me that I need to worry about a timeline.
If you had to describe WHAT IS A TIMELINE ? in a sentence, what would that be?
A non-linear journey through my mind.
What’s the story of ALL CAPS on the singles and album? Any significant meaning behind it?
Interestingly, there isn’t anything of significance there, but it lined up beautifully when I arranged the album. Turns out, the songs that I placed on the A-side all already were in all caps and then the B-side was all lower case beforehand. Funny how that worked out.
If you could build the perfect scenario, location, or setup for fans to experience the album for the first time, where or what would that be?
I would say that any place that is precious to you is always an ideal spot to listen. For me, it’s always when I’m on a journey, skateboarding, on the subway, or just a walk.
Your music has always sat somewhere between jazz, hip-hop, soul, and more experimental territory. Are you still thinking about genres when you make music, or are those boundaries becoming less and less relevant to you?
I think I will always have the foundation of Hip Hop and Neo-Soul in everything that I do, it will always be super evident and that will never leave. However, I am all about boundary pushing whilst staying true to me. I want to experiment more because I am a genuine music lover at my core, from my playlist making to my own music. I listen to a lot of everything, GOOD stuff.
You’ve lived in Cape Town, New York, and now Montréal. How much has physically moving through different places changed the way you understand yourself as an artist?
I now understand that I don’t need an environment to limit my expression. I’ve been in many places that tried to define me and my reach, but each time I was able to break out of that expectation.
I just finished reading Dilla Time. A bit late to the party, but hey... So, let's imagine a different timeline for a second: it is 1999, you’re standing at the door of Electric Lady Studios in New York. Who’s the first person you’re looking for inside, and why?
If Common is there, he’d be the first person. He is so wise, I learn something new from him every time I listen. He has a specific energy about him that invites questions. I’ve actually had the honour of meeting him when I was in New York, and he took the time to just chill and talk to me when he was on the way to his book signing event. We have had a couple of social media interactions too. I view him as an uncle even though he doesn’t know it, haha.
Outside of music, what inspires you to create?
Nature inspires me to create. From the wilderness to human nature. I live for human connection, so people around me really inspire me.
Any advice for artists who are just starting their journey right now?
Honestly, please just do it now and do it scared. We have no control over many things, but one thing you can do is create and put it out there. Just follow through!
If this interview is a time capsule, what’s one message you want to leave for Nyota from 2030?
We made it.
What’s on your playlist these days? Any artists we’re sleeping on right now?
As mentioned, I listen to everything, so I’ll be mentioning artists in many genres. I’ve been listening to a lot of The Garden (their Bootleg album), who I managed to see live recently, and Title Fight (my favourite album of theirs is Floral Green). That’s from my Punk and Shoegaze playlist. I’ve also been listening to a lot of Phony Ppl (the no genre band). I love them and got to see them live in New York a few years back. I always have A Tribe Called Quest on my playlist, of course, haha.
