Sió Interview
Sió’s voice is one that many of us have enjoyed far longer than we perhaps knew her name or story. Born and raised in the heart of Ennerdale, Sió (Siobhan Lulama King) found music as an expression outlet and one that she could lose herself within. A poet, soulful vocalist, former goal keeper and model make Sió a fascinating force in music right now, so I’m delighted to be able to ask her a little more about her story.
You began writing poetry, then played guitar, was your voice just a chance discovery or had you always sung before then?
I’ve sang through out my childhood, but didn’t think much of my voice as I grew up around people who valued power! So people who had big voices and who could sing like Adele, Beyonce and Mariah Carey were often praised and given leads over me. I have a small, unique, distinct voice, that I’ve grown to love.
Who were your early musical influences?
I don’t really have. I listen to what was playing in the house, or the taxi, or car on long distance journeys, but I can’t say that I am a devotee of any specific art. There’s no one I studied. I get a compared to Erykah Badu a lot and thats a massive compliment, but i can’t say i can sing one of her songs from start to finish. Mom played Sade, Luther Vandros, The BeeGees, Roberta Flak, Kenny Gee, Phuzekhemisi, Lady Smith Black Mambazo, Juluka, Brenda Fassie, Andreas Vollenweider. My Uncle Played, Keith Sweat, Mariah Carey, Boys to men, Kcee and Jojo, Toni Braxton, Brandy, Aaliah. When my father was around he played Dolly Parton and Kenny Roger. I discovered, Lincoln Park, Jamiroquai, Blue Six, Tkzee, Cold Play, 340ml, Simphiwe Dana and a lot of house music.
It all began on my good friend Andy Compton’s Peng Records - how did you get to that point with Andy?
A friend of mine who can sing knew that I wrote songs and a couple of guys she had worked with wanted to make music and were looking for a songwriter and vocals. One, had a beat, the other and a mic and I had the words. Two more members were added to create Project5. Peng Africa got wind of our debut ep, called “Short Encounters,” and he liked it and signed.
Charles Webster is where things really took off in 2015 - can you tell us about how things progressed from Peng to Charles Webster?
Charles heard a song I did with my good friend Luka called ‘Next to You,’ and a stunning remix of it. We still have a song or two to share.
Originally you went under the name Sio Black Widow - tell us about the meaning of that and the decision to shorten your name to just Sió?
I like Spiders and the Black widow is beautiful and respected, which I feel human women generally are not. I let go of the black widow because i got tired of people asking me if i am a man eater.
You’re often classed as a ‘house’ vocalist. Is house your first love or do you enjoy other music styles to sing/songwriter for?
I am a storyteller, my song say so. I’m not really a house vocalist, I just happed to have sung a lot of house songs because it happened to be the most accessible to me. I’ve done HipHop and rnb/soul and I would love to explore many more.
You also work as a model, and have a very distinctive style - is that something you feel important to your personal brand?
I’m lucky that I have the right kind of genes to model and I can do it. I have to exercise intensely to keep in shape, which I don’t mind as I was athletic throughout school. My look is a fusion of choices. I am African and I’ve chosen my aesthetic to represent where I am, where I am from and where I’d like to go. I’m grateful that my work gained traction before my face was known because as a female and one who models theres an expectation and desire for me to be be Sexy and Glamorous which is something I don’t want to do at this time. I want focus on my work and not my body.
What factors influence who you decide to collaborate with?
If I consider you a good and fair person and I like the kind of music you make I’ll work with you.
When you’re working with someone, do you draw on your poetry for lyrics or does the producer have something they want already?
I’ll write something for the beat, depending on what the beat inspires.
I read that ‘1000 Memories’ went huge you got little recognition for your incredible vocals and wanted to focus more on you from that experience. Do you see that lack of credit for vocalists or collaborators changing in the business more so now?
Jullian Gomes and my music family all credited and fought for my name to be placed on an award the song had received, but that wasn’t done. we did make a lot of noise about and its changing slowly. Vocalists are starting to get credited more. It defiantly made me think more about putting myself first and I’m fortunate that my music family was 100% behind me and helped me do so.
I read you once said songwriting was “a good beat meets the mood of the beat, your mood, the mood in the room” - what do you find is your best creative process for you?
I don’t have a writing process. if a melody comes when i’m listening to a beat, I’ll look for a story to give it shape. If the melody comes with words, I’ll run with them.
What’s your home studio set up like?
Laptop, Logic X, Monitors, Mic, mic stand with shield and head phones on a table in my room.
What’s the favourite track you’ve recorded - your own and a collaboration?
Theres too many!!!
Your solo album is very intimate an emotive - can you tell us about how ‘sbtxts’ came together and what it means as an expressive medium to you?
‘sbtxts,’ is a capsule of a girl in love, where I decided to draw inspiration from myself and what I was feeling at the time. It’s the place where I shared my poetry and song and created a journey for the listener. I explored, the shades of romantic love from my experience and asked a couple of producers to jump on board. It’s been a blessing.
It’s a more electronic vibe than the music most people will be familiar with you doing - what was the concept in the different direction?
I didn’t want it to be house and I’m happy it isn’t. I want to do as much music as I can.
What’s the story behind the ‘sbtxts’ title?
‘sbtxts,’ is a 17 track story about the things that go unsaid, the inner workings, the thoughts, and worries and feelings. It’s about the subtexts, which I find more interesting and meaningful, of encounters and I removed the vowels as clue about what its it about.
You’re on Kid Fonque’s label Stay True Sounds - what was it about that label over all the others you’ve been on to be the home of your music?
My music is licensed to STY TRU BTS, the sister label of STAY TRUE SOUNDS. Kid Fonque and Jullian Gomes pushed me to do my own work for me. A lot of people liked the idea of me doing an album, but didn’t know what to do with an album that was not house. I knew that he loves all kinds of music and represents them all the time, so i trusted him with that and he has done a life changing job for my music.
South Africa has an incredible passion for house music - almost spiritual - what do you feel creates such a feeling that allows it to be so mainstream?
No other genre has the rhythm and mood as house music. Those who love it come from all walks of life and those people make room for it. House music is enjoyed at elite events in upper class venues and the remote villages and townships all over the country. It’s accessible to everyone and not every genre of music is.
There’s a growing wave of female South African vocalists, DJ’s, Producers coming through - who has captured your attention?
Most of these ladies have been Producing, Singing, Djying for almost a decade if not more - Thandi Draai, Jackie Queens, Bonj, Gina Jeanz, dj Desiree, Lady Sake, Dj Buhle, Abby Nurock and Tenocens.
Do you prefer live performances or studio work?
Both. I am learning and growing in both.
I recently saw you Live stream on Facebook, playing some beats - is a DJ career beckoning?
Definitely. There are so many songs I love and want to share and Djying is a nice place to do that.
What goals do you have for the year ahead, once the chaos is behind us?
Continue as I have been, do what I love and share.
Where can people follow you?