Interview Time: Safronya

How many UK artists out there have worked with the likes of NYCE of G Unit, Young NOV from Nas’s camp, producers like L.E.S (Will Smith, Nas), Christian Rich (Outkast and Lil’ Kim) and Music Kidz? Safronya has. And all this by the tender age of 17. She’s about to blow up with her hot new single Sitting At My Window, so we caught up with her for her first ever online interview…

Tell us about yourself…

My name’s Safronya, I’m 17 and I’ve been singing since I was 11. I started out at church and have been doing this for 6 years now but have only been recording for a year. Nobody knew I could sing before, my mum never used to take me seriously! When I left school I wanted a career in music so I just went for it.

What made you decide to do this professionally?

It’s all fun to me, I don’t even see it as work. So whereas before I might have been in my room singing, now I’m still in my room singing but I’m also doing it in the studio. I could be doing other stuff but this is what I love to do.

Are you juggling music with anything else, like college?

Right now I haven’t got time for college, I’m trying to put in 100%, I’m just giving my all to this. After GCSEs I didn’t know what courses to take as all I wanted to do was music. I’m learning everyday doing this so it’s almost like I’m going to college anyway.

How does your life differ now that you’re doing music full time?

My hours are completely different now, I might finish working at 4 o’clock in the morning sometimes, you never know how long you’ll be in the studio. It’s also draining financially and I would like to get a 9-5 but I doubt I’d be able to keep it as my hours are so messed up, I never know when I’ll be available.

What are your plans for the future?

Just to be a successful artist and for everyone to know my name and to have a wide fan base. When I was at school I took drama and I’d really like to enhance my acting abilities ‘cos I do love to act, but singing and just being an artist, that’s acting as well.

Do you get nervous before going on stage?

Before I go on I’m nervous, that night I’m nervous, the night before I’m nervous! But once I reach there and I’m on stage, it just goes away. ‘cos I’m too focused on what I’m doing and it just goes away. I just get into it.

What’s it been like going the independent route?

I’ve seen a lot of the time with some artists, when they do get signed, what they set out to do, they don’t actually end up accomplishing. They might change their genre of music to suit the record company. I’m not saying I don’t wanna be signed, that would be a great thing, but right now I’m doing what I’m doing and when I do get signed I wanna be with a record label that’s gonna still want me to keep doing what I’m doing. At the moment my manager and I have full say in how we want things to go, and it’s been going well.

You’ve worked with an impressive list of artists and producers. How did that come about?

My A&R Suzy Zenouzi from Mojona hooked that up. When I found out that those kind of people were gonna be featuring on my tracks, I was like ‘oh my God’ as it’s such a privilege, it really is. I feel good to know that they like my songs enough to want to be a part of what I’m doing.

What have been your experiences of the industry so far?

It’s hard. Before I started out I knew I’d have to do some things, but I never knew it would be so hard. I have to work out every day, my appearance has to be a certain way, I have to watch what I eat, I can’t be eating too much. I have to do my warm ups, my singing lessons; all those kind of things you have to do to nurture your talent. I didn’t even realise that until I got into it but I enjoy it, and I’m just doing what it takes to be successful.

Safronya’s debut single Sitting At My Window is out on May 7th via all major download sites.

www.myspace.com/safronya