Ebhoni: Relentless, Original And Gifted, She's The New Flame From The 6ix [Interview]

There are very few musicians of our time that have managed to become icons during their career, I’m sure we can name a select few that have shaped our lives some way or another, whether that be through setting trends, being completely unapologetic through and through or simply creating a sound and genre that is way ahead of its time. The music world has been yearning for a new timeless icon to shake up the industry and to keep them and their musical peers on their toes.

Effortlessly striving her way into the industry to fill that void with a fresh new sound and instantly recognisable look, to match up to the unique vocals, is Toronto based singer-song writer Ebhoni. The new flame we’ve all been waiting for.

The talented songstress has been leading her own creative path for a while now, having recently released her mixtape Good D*** & Weed which dropped on the 23rd July, the 10-track mixtape is raw yet real, telling an intricate story of the singer’s journey as she bares her all leading up to the new phase in her life, whilst showcasing her passion and motivation to succeed in her craft. Whilst speaking to Ebhoni, she revealed the importance and gratitude she felt being able to work with 12 of the most in demand producers in the making of her tape, which rightfully helped her solidify her place within the global R&B landscape. Her growing back catalogue of animated, confident dancehall influenced R&B singles have won her critical success and a rapidly growing international audience. The songstress exuded a level of calm, cool and maturity way beyond her years when speaking with her, Ebhoni is a wise soul without a doubt and has a clear vision on how she intends to change the industry for the better, to allow for all women to feel comfortable being their authentic selves. Ebhoni has been on the scene since 2016 steadily ‘reclaiming the Toronto R&B crown for women’ as many other publications have named her, and I too would have to strongly agree with that statement.

The 21-year-old has already achieved major milestones that other musicians dream of obtaining once they become a seasoned veteran in the game. One of those was being asked to model for Rihanna’s Savage x FENTY line back in 2018, a lingerie line that we all know truly redefined women and men’s lingerie by showcasing all types of diversity. With that being said, Ebhoni is definitely a woman who always aims to break out of the mould that society expects women to adhere to, especially in the music industry, and although R&B is her first love, she is branching out into a more genre-less territory with feminine power as the driving force behind everything she does. She feels that Toronto females are often overlooked and she is here to change that with her individualistic vibe, and has no intentions of holding back in the process.

I can clearly see the growth and time Ebhoni has put into her new mixtape Good D&W if I was to compare it to her previous EP ‘X’ that had the hit single ‘All To Myself’ amongst others, there’s been a true transition since then. The proof to back this up is with the new visual to her song 'IYKYK', an abbreviation for “if you know, you know,” Directed by BBY Chris. The video showcases Ebhoni in rare form, powerfully delivering a flurry of edgy, fashion-forward performance shots, commanding her audience and boldly baring her soul, a refreshing departure from the current landscape of female R&B at the moment. Being heavily influenced by her Caribbean upbringing, she stays true to her heritage and always incorporates her culture within her music, this is one of the many reasons she has a growing true connection with her supporters. Putting up walls for her own self-protection, she’s only now beginning to draw from the power that comes from her own vulnerability. 'IYKYK' takes viewers on a 3 minute and 12 second journey through Ebhoni’s world, boldly sharing her pain, her vulnerability and ultimately her gift.

“I really have been through so much, and it’s important to show that to help others who might not have that platform.”

Ebhoni has been one artist to keep an eye out for in the 6ix and each year is being praised for her powerhouse talent and is often classed as ‘one to watch’ whilst on the fast track to worldwide recognition. Tracks like 'Rotation' only bolster the rep she’s built as one of R&B’s most magnetic young stars, and with the release of Good D*** & Weed, Ebhoni’s growing fandom will surely only continue to expand.

New Wave: So let’s rewind to about a month ago when you dropped your new mixtape Good D and Weed, which came out on the 23rd July. I’m sure that was a very important moment for you in your career and life overall. The title is pretty self-explanatory and bold. - Can you talk me through how this body of work came to fruition, and what type of headspace you were in leading up to the making of the mixtape and its release?

Ebhoni: It was a very important moment for myself. I feel like this project was the beginning of me learning who I am as a young woman as well as who I am as an artist. I am still growing but this project was almost like a diary for me. The first time I made music about myself in almost a healing type of way. These songs came from me really experiencing real life shit. Having my heart broken, like really having my heart broken and feeling the humility that came with that, losing my Grandma to cancer, not trusting or believing in myself, even wondering why I am not good enough. I am a quiet person who doesn’t really express how I feel. I am learning to do that through music.

It’s interesting when we speak about the title everyone really thinks of it in the literal sense, some good dick and weed. But this is really how I sum up who I am as a person. I have only two sides to myself. There is the side that everyone loves to be around, the side you probably see on social media. The fun, turn up, life of the party/funny side. It’s that good dick. But the side that is me most days is the calm, deep thinker, quiet not really speaking much at all and mostly alone. That is the weed. So that’s me in a nutshell. Good Dick & Weed!!!

NW: I know throughout the tape you worked with 12 of the most in demand producers, which has really helped you solidify your place within the global R&B landscape. -Was there a particular sound you were trying to achieve with the EP?

EB: I was definitely blessed to work with the people I did on what is really my first project. Being so new and still developing I was so grateful that these people wanted to work with me. I had a whole project completed before GD&W dropped. Songs I had worked on for a year and a half. But I was really sad, I had never dealt with the things I was experiencing in that moment and time. I am more known to make music that is more upbeat and islandy. That naturally results in feel good songs/lyrics. But this period in my life I wasn’t happy and quite honestly didn’t feel good. I have been a huge fan of some of these producers, given that a lot of the songs were producers from Toronto. I reached out to them personally because I knew they could help me express what I was feeling.

NW: I found for myself listening to it, the songs varied, for example ‘Rep It’ sounds very different to ‘Rotation’. - Did you do this consciously as a lot of musicians usually have a certain style throughout a project?

EB: Interestingly enough, this is why from the beginning I’ve called this project a mixtape. All of these songs derived from the same relationship and the emotional rollercoaster I was experiencing. However, I wasn’t thinking about the project more about how I was feeling.

NW: Over the past year you’ve gained a lot of support from the UK with support from the likes of BBC 1Xtra’s DJ Target, Kiss Fresh, Rinse FM. - How does it feel to be internationally recognised and do you feel a connection with your UK supporters?

EB: TBH being so far away from the UK it’s hard to really feel the impact but I know that I have been super blessed to have the support for sure. I will say that this support has introduced me to some really great people in the UK, I’ve had clothes shipped from some really great designers, nails sent to me, etc. UK is an amazing place and I can’t wait to go one day. Hopefully soon!!

NW: I noticed a lot of your songs are dancehall influenced. The Toronto slang is quite similar to UK slang due to the Caribbean/Jamaican influence. - Are you from a Caribbean background or did growing up in Toronto shape your style of music?

EB: I have a Caribbean background, Jamaican and Antiguan. Adding that to growing up in Toronto all of that definitely shaped my style of music.

NW: For those who don’t know, you’ve actually been on the scene since 2016 and you’re still very young. Pitchfork actually said you’re ‘reclaiming the Toronto R&B crown for women’. - Do you think there is less of a push on the Toronto music scene for women as there is men?

EB: I think over the past few years Toronto feels to me like a boys club lol. But there are so many talented women in Toronto coming up right now that we are going to shift that narrative.

NW: So we have Drake, TheWeekend, PND, Tory Lanez, MajidJordan which are all from Canada. - Why do you think there is little support for female musicians like yourself and what do you think you’re doing to change that?

EB: I am learning to not worry about not getting the same support that a male is getting, or not getting the same opportunities that a male is getting. I have to keep my head down and focus on what I can control. Focus on making the best music I can and allow the music to speak for itself. And in that process as women from Toronto we need to continue to stick together, push and pull each other up.

NW: We have to talk about one of your career highlights, when Rhianna asked you to model for her FENTY line. Tell me the background story on that as I know it was quite early on in your career!

EB: I literally got an email about this shoot which I ignored twice. Crazy the first email was about the shoot that happened in the UK. I actually ignored it because I thought that there was no way this could’ve been real. But it was an amazing experience!!

NW: I feel like you embody a lot of her unapologetic attitude through your music and your distinctive look. - What do you think makes you stand out in the industry as I know it’s very easy, especially for women musicians to be swayed by labels to look a certain way to appeal to a wider demographic?

EB: I struggle with this because I am a person that will wake up one morning and want to cut all my hair off or bleach my eyebrows just to try it and without giving it much thought. The reason I say I struggle with this is because sometimes I do need to be reeled in a bit.

NW: Although R&B is your first love, I feel as if you’re an artist that is very versatile and able to take risks. - What do you think about artists branching out into a more genre-less territory? Will it be more difficult for them to succeed without a particular sound or can it open up more doors?

EB: That is a great question and to be honest I am still trying to figure that out myself. What I do know is that it is so important to make music that is true to you and that you love. I am just really understanding that now. So much of what I have done in the past is because someone suggested I make that type of music, or felt that was what I should be doing and then I trust them and go along with it and I realise now that wasn’t me or who I am.

NW: I’ve seen that your Mum actually manages you, I love that! I think this definitely coincides with your message of feminine power being the driving force behind everything you do. – What life lessons has she taught you that you cherish?

EB: My mom has taught me so much, like SO much!! I think the newest trending topic though is to trust myself, to always focus on what I can control and to always have faith.