Bajan singer Krisirie says love is the way, and our main solution. In her new single ‘Return To Love’, Krisirie sings heartfelt lyrics about the power of love after watching the news many years back. In our current climate, the message is still, and possibly more, impactful. Taking influences from jazz, reggae, and soul music, Krisirie has meticulously crafted her sound and her very personal lyrics to create her effortlessly authentic music.
CARIB VOXX: You were recently awarded Video Of The Year at the People’s Choice Awards in Barbados for your visual masterpiece ‘Long Time Love‘. Can you recall any challenges while working on this project that would have made that accolade feel particularly rewarding?
KRISIRIE: My team and I pulled together the video shoot very last minute… as in, the day before. It felt as though there were challenges because I was nervous and anxious prior to shoot day, unsure if things would come together as planned. Despite that, I really enjoyed myself so that outweighed any challenges that would have come and gone. The furthest thing from my mind was winning any kind of award for it; I was honored to receive it with my team.
CARIB VOXX: ‘All Of My Lovin’ (which has now accumulated over 500k streams on Spotify) exemplifies your commitment to fusion as an artist. What gave you the courage to blend so many styles and cadences into your music?
KRISIRIE: I just create what I’m feeling and stay true to that. I grew up listening to all styles of music: soul, reggae and jazz to name some. As I grew with music I started to really dive in and research sub genres and artists from all eras. Recently I’ve been heavy on the bossa nova playlists and the jazz standards from Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. I just love the unique feeling each style gives me, and inevitably, I internalize this. I’d say this definitely has an influence on how I go about creating my own music.
CARIB VOXX: Your soulful, island sound is complemented by very personal, heartfelt lyrics. Do you typically write from your personal experiences or from experiences you observe?
KRISIRIE: I write from both personal experiences and observing. I’ve written songs after having conversations, watching a movie, hearing a news story, reading a book, and sitting in silence by the ocean – I pull from everything. I believe the job of the writer is to not only tell their story but to be able tell stories on behalf of the people.
CARIB VOXX: Has quarantine/social distancing helped or hurt your creative process?
KRISIRIE: I wouldn’t want to look at it as hurt, I’d say even the lows aided in the creative process (actually, big time!). A lot of self-reflection took place and I experienced a lot of self-doubt and moments of high anxiety.
For the majority of the time, I truly did not feel creative in any way but I didn’t beat myself up for it, I just allowed myself to flow. Even though I was not recording, I was journaling and dumping my thoughts on paper so that they didn’t have to live in my head all day and night. Quarantine really amplified my appreciation for life and peace to be honest. My cell-phone was damaged the day before the full lockdown, so I was off the grid and it was bliss.
Towards the end of the lockdown, my friend Val sent me music to write to, it was about 2AM…and it was history from there – I’ve been on a roll since. I got this burst of creative energy that has been so inspiring. The song I wrote that night will be very important for people to hear and will probably be my next release after ‘Return to Love’.
CARIB VOXX: Tell us about your upcoming single and the writing process that facilitated its creation!
KRISIRIE: The song was inspired by the sadness I felt after watching the news one night a few years ago. Moments later a song was on my heart so I wrote down the first few lyrics of the song and closed the book. A few days later, Arturo Tappin called me and said there’s someone he would like me to meet and work with in Florida and it just so happened I already had a flight booked to Miami. Two weeks later I was in Miami, Florida in the studio with music legends Willie Stewart and Handle Tucker, and I expressed to them that I had a song we could work on. Once we began, the song wrote itself and it was a divine process when we surrendered to the music. I believe as creatives we are vessels for messages and sometimes the message writes itself, surfacing with a purpose for a specific time or even indefinitely. Writing this song made me ask myself some questions, like what does a world that returns to love really look and feel like? It must be absolutely beautiful.
CARIB VOXX: Share with us one lyric from the upcoming single that embodies the concept of the song.
KRISIRIE: The song is presenting a solution saying “What we have is Love, so Let’s Return to Love” Love is the beginning and the end.
CARIB VOXX: How difficult was it to create promotional material in the midst of a global pandemic?
KRISIRIE: I’m going to be dramatic and say my creative team risked their lives for the creation of the video! I love and appreciate them dearly. Everyone wore masks and curfew was still in full effect but we made it work. They all expressed to me that getting out, being creative again and being a part of this was what they needed. Everyone genuinely missed the hustle, work, human interaction and laughter; it was such a good time. Shane Eastmond did the Cinematography and I was styled by Tiyesha Martin. Tolga Akcayli brought his film making expertise to the team by directing and editing the video. Eden Gibson was on set, she balances my energy and always makes sure I’m good. I have the courage to do many things because of her affirmations in my life, big up ya self!
CARIB VOXX: How would you like people to feel when they hear this song?
KRISIRIE: The song causes me to reflect and reminds me that Love is the way. I pray it resonates with people and makes positive shifts. Once you release a song it’s like you give it spiritually to the people.
