Photo credit: Kayla Raquel Middleton
South London rising star Liam Mera Kai is making an impression with his fresh single wishbone, a nostalgic fusion of pop and rap that showcases the star’s distinctive sound.
Liam found early success with his 2023 single ‘The View’ and looks set to replicate this with his upcoming debut EP, set to be released next year. The musician dives deep into his new single wishbone, the themes and inspirations that run through, and shares more about the genre-bending sound we can expect from his upcoming EP.
Read our chat with Liam below. Connect with the musician below:
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Hi Liam, thanks so much for taking the time to chat! We’re very excited about your upcoming single and debut EP. ‘wishbone’ has such a nostalgic yet unique vibe. How did you land on this sound?
I wanted to write a hook that felt and sounded familiar… somewhat addictive. I thought how cool if we went from this melodic chorus to these punchy, un-polished, and almost uncomfortable rap verses. My thoughts were scattered and overwhelmed. I wanted to show that with the jagged delivery of the rap verses. The drums do their thing too. I remember sitting in a mixing session with Hugh Fothergill and us deciding to let the drums really cut through the mix. We felt that combining the nostalgic sound with these abrasive drum cuts definitely brought the sort of uniqueness we were after.
You’ve mentioned that a relationship’s success shouldn’t depend on things like birthday wishes or shooting stars. Have you ever caught yourself relying on those kinds of signs, and how did that influence the song?
Maybe not to that extent, but it certainly feels like I’ve done my fair share of wishing and hoping for a relationship to succeed. It’s crazy how blind we can be to certain things. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a love-hard-and-then-love-harder kind of person… but there’s a fine line between loving hard and being walked all over.
That feeling inspired the song. I had this healthy realization that I was overlooking certain things that I wouldn’t overlook. We shouldn’t be hoping this is going to work… we should be trying to make it happen. So, the song is based on the idea of two people slipping apart knowing that the right thing to do is go separate ways… yet they still cling on to whatever they can.
There is a bit of a sonic shift from ‘The View’ to ‘wishbone.’ Was this change a conscious decision, or did it naturally evolve with where you are in life?
I think it was a natural evolution. I’d been stuck in my head a while at the time when ‘The View’ came about. Then, there was this switch in my brain. ‘wishbone’ reflects a gentle push from a ‘thinking’ state to a ‘doing’ state. Like an “okay you’re stuck in your head, but now let’s do something about it.” It’s more up-tempo with more moving parts, which was a nice reflection of the way I felt.
Your music blends introspective themes with laid-back beats. How do you strike the balance between heavy emotions and a chill sound?
I think there’s something so beautiful about contradictions in music, you know? I feel like we’ve become so used to hearing polished, almost faultless music. Sometimes the music misses out on the feelings that the artist wants to induce, which to me feels like a shame. I enjoy the rawness that can be felt when combining heavy emotions with a chill sound. To me, it’s way more relatable. Especially when the theme is a little uncomfortable. It’s almost like saying, “something is bothering me, but I’ll do what I can to control my emotions and think about how I feel.” That process is important to me.
You’ve mentioned influences like Loyle Carner and Paolo Nutini. What about their artistry inspires you, and how do you make those inspirations your own?
Loyle’s artistry is undeniably unique. Not only in the way he sounds and delivers but also in what he is talking about. It’s this whole different approach to UK rap that wasn’t afraid to talk about particular emotions the genre was previously less outspoken about. Growing up listening to someone like that was eye-opening.
When I listen to Paolo, it’s both the songwriting and the soulfulness. To be honest, his music has made me “feel” more than anyone else’s. It packs this soulful, emotive punch. It’s beautiful.
Genre-blending is a big part of your identity. What’s the most surprising genre or sound you’ve drawn inspiration from recently?
Indie rock. There is a track called ‘skin’ in my upcoming debut EP that takes a lot of inspiration from the rawness and authenticity of alternative artists, particularly the likes of Dijon and Mk.gee. Those guys blend and move between genres and are at the top of the pile when it comes to experimental sounds. It’s the delicate side of rock that I’ve been drawing inspiration from recently.
Your lyrics are often vulnerable and reflective. When you write, are you working through personal thoughts, or are you trying to connect with others’ experiences?
Mostly, it’s working through personal thoughts. However, they’re not necessarily current thoughts. Even though feelings are at their most intense in the moment, waiting a few months to write about them gives this layer of clarity you may not have had before. It’s almost as if revisiting those feelings and emotions a little later means the lyrics feel more mature and collected.
Although individual, as humans, we share so many emotions. That includes emotions and experiences less spoken of. So I guess by talking vulnerably and reflecting on those feelings, I’m hoping the music connects with others, especially those who need to know that it’s okay to feel certain ways.
You’ve described yourself as an overthinker. Do you find that this tendency helps you creatively, or do you sometimes feel it complicates the process?
It helps for sure, but that’s not to say that it doesn’t complicate the process sometimes. I think the most important thing is to be aware. Aware that you’re overthinking. That’s kind of the sweet spot. Use the thoughts as an awesome pathway to create and think in different ways, but be aware of when it’s becoming too much and treat it as no more than a hiccup.
Your upcoming debut EP is one of our most eagerly anticipated. What’s the main message or feeling you hope listeners will take away from it? Can you give us an insight into the sound and vibe?
It’s an EP that talks about all sorts of subjects. I wanted to challenge myself and write about things we aren’t so comfortable talking about. Sonically, it’s a lovely little blend of alternative UK rap alongside some jazz and alternative RnB elements. The project draws musical inspiration from a variety of very different artists. So across the EP, you get this mixture of melodic hooks, delicate sounds but also that rawness that I mentioned early.
There’s a song about falling in love. One about relationship uncertainty and feeling like a villain. A track about wanting to feel every emotion that life has to offer… as without sad, how would we know happy? One about feeling lost but wanting to continue wandering. Then there’s the most intimate song I’ve ever written. Somehow it manages to fit together nicely, and that’s awesome.
South London clearly plays a role in your sound and storytelling. How does the city shape your perspective as an artist?
To be honest, less the place and more the people in it. The stories I have. We’re living in the best city in the world, and it’s easy to take that for granted sometimes.
In your time working in music so far, what lessons have you learned?
That things take time. Everything works as a process, and it’s really important to see it like that. To remember that with every good song comes several bad ones… but you have to sift through all that creative output until you land on something you love. That’s the process, so trust it and enjoy it.
What’s a piece of advice or feedback about your music that’s stuck with you, and how has it influenced your work?
That people love listening to others. People love listening to stories and openness. It’s no more complicated than that. So keep being as honest as possible. That’s the stuff that we relate to most, and music is an awesome opportunity for us to feel each other better.