“Yes, we are queer.
But that’s not all we are.
We’re so much more than that.
“Yes, we are queer. But that’s not all we are. We’re so much more than that. We’re multifaceted."
We’re multifaceted.”
Mystical, transcendent, intuitive.
Inspired by Nicki Minaj’s “Do We Have a Problem?”
Sony /youtube.com
Scroll down to see our full chat.
Note:This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
BuzzFeed: Who were your musical influences growing up?
INIKO:A lot came from my dad.
He was in and still is the lead singer of a reggae band called Soldiers.
I enjoyed cartoons, too.
I listened to a lot ofDisneymusic [like that of]Demi Lovato,Miley Cyrus, andSelena Gomez.
I went from that to rock to indie to hip-hop.
The constant inspiration was Michael Jackson.
That was actually the first CD I ever owned.
Who’s your dream collaboration?
That would be an interesting sound.
Also Paramore, or even just Hayley Williams.
It wouldn’t even have to be both of us on the track.
I would be happy writing and doing vocal production.
Is there anyone you’ve been surprised to learn is a fan of your work?
I’m always like, “Oh my God.
It reached you.”
Not only did you hear it, but you felt a personal connection to it.
That’s all I’m ever trying to do.
Your song “Jericho” went viral last year on TikTok.
What was it like seeing such a strong response to the song?
It was a bag of mixed emotions.
It was a double-edged sword, but a learning experience, too.
How has music helped you express yourself, specifically as a Black queer person?
Without music, I don’t know where I would be.
It’s therapeutic and healing for me.
It’s not an agenda.
Were you ever afraid of being an openly queer artist?
Who was your first queer crush?
I’m thinking of Nala fromThe Lion King she was so pretty!
Also, Janelle Monae.
Before that, Corbin Bleu.
His face was so soft.
He had the big curls.
It was giving what it needed to give.
Who was your first Black queer icon?
It’s a three-way tie between Janelle Monae, Lil Nas X, and Tracy Chapman.
What are your hopes for Black queer representation?
I hope it becomes the norm.
I just want it to be a thing.
I also hope recognition goes beyond identity, because yes, we are queer.
But that’s not all we are.
We’re so much more than that.
What do you want your contributions to Black history to be?
I want my music to be the music that starts a revolution.
One that makes a change that people will be talking about 20 years from now.
Even after I’m long gone, I’ll still be communicating with the world.
Thanks for chatting with us, INIKO!
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