Mother Tongues Connections
Meet Ines Khai
Ines Khai is a Guadeloupean singer/songwriter whose music will seduce your senses. She has developed her own distinctive sound which has a magical collaboration of styles. An absorbing mix of Guadeloupean traditional music (Gwoka), soul, nu-jazz, blues and world music. Ines’s beautiful creole words, melodies and rhythms are organic and have an indie vibe that produces lush dreamlike sonic landscapes.
How would you describe your last year in a nutshell?
Last year was a great year for me artistically. At the beginning of 2019, I was inspired to write new songs about the ocean and the ancestors. I then met up with old friends-musicians in Guadeloupe and recorded my new album with them. I finished recording the voices in Ireland. At the same time, I was shooting my first ever music video. We finished the mix of the album and the editing of the video at the end of the year. I have been very busy and happy.
What is the role of art in your life right now?
Art has always been my way of sharing my culture and my inside world. I have all these melodies and words inside. It brings me joy to share them.
What projects are you working on right now?
I have also started changing the way I perform. In addition to the guitar, I am now also using a kalimba, a chacha (small Caribbean percussion) and a Voicelive Touch 2 (looper). I am working on mastering these new instruments to present a varied solo set.
How did Covid-19 affect your work and your lifestyle?
My concerts have been canceled or postponed until further notice. I have started doing home recording to be streamed online and getting ready for live online events.
Do you think the current pandemic has changed you? If so, in what way?
Yes, I think it forced me to learn how to adapt to a different world. I feel I need to improve my skills to film at home and stay motivated to work on new projects.
what is the biggest challenge for the creative sector right now?
Re-invent the live performance and keep a connection with the audience without receiving their energy in direct.
What do you look forward to the most right now?
I look forward to sharing my new songs with my new musical set up online, but even more back on a real stage.
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