Tora-i wants young female artists to know: ‘It’s hard not to live on defence but you have to ensure you’re protected’

This is A HOT MINUTE WITH, a quick-fire interview series championing all the rising talent catapulting into fashion, art and music’s fickle stratosphere. From pinch-me moments to bad dates and even worse chat-up lines, think of it as an overindulgent conversation – like the ones you have in sticky club toilets at 4.A.M. Except these guests don’t regret the overshare…

Breaking out during the UK’s first bout of lockdown, Tora-i is the young, female artist making music to feel understood.

NAME TORA-I
AGE 21
LOCATION London, England

Jeffrey Thomson: How would you describe your sound?

Tora-i: An experimental soulful experience.

JT: What’s your first memory of music?

Ti: Listening to the radio with my parents.

JT: Just over a year has passed since you dropped your debut single, Vein. How has your life changed since then?

Ti: Crazy to think it’s been a year, in pandemic time that’s like six weeks so technically it wasn’t really thaaat long ago. I don’t feel any major changes though, people know that my music exists, that's about it. 

JT: What do you hope people will take away from your songs?

Ti: I want them to feel understood. 

JT: What does music mean to you?

Ti: It’s a transient force.

Credit: @rashidinoah

JT: What role do you think fashion plays in music? Is it important to you?

Ti: I think they’re interconnected as they both influence the other & art (regardless of form) reflects the sign of the times. Fashion is definitely important to me, it’s the easiest or first example of self expression. 

JT: Favourite designers of the moment?

Ti: KEPLER LONDON, AHLUWALIA, CHARLOTTE KNOWLES, OTTOLINGER.

JT: What’s the best thing about being you?

Ti: I’m really persistent in whatever I do, however long it takes me to do something I’ll always complete it and to the best of my ability.

JT: North, South, East or West London?

Ti Depends on what I’m doing but generally I don’t really stay in one place. 

JT: You’re planning a night out (pretending that Covid doesn’t exist). Do you choose Soho, Peckham, Dalston or Shoreditch?

Ti: Soho, as there’s way better food options when it’s time to go home.

Credit: @rashidinoah

JT: What music do you have coming up for release this year. What can you tell us about it?

Ti: The most I can tell you right now is that I just released a song called Serial which is really fab and you should have a gander.  

JT: You’re on the first Covid-free flight out of London. Where is it going?

Ti: Jamaica without a doubt.

JT: City breaks or country escapes?

Ti: Country escapes.

JT: If you were a Spice Girl, which one would you be?

Ti: Posh probably. 

JT: What advice would you give to other young female artists trying to make it in music?

Ti: Don’t mek anyone tek yu fi eediat! Bring family or someone you trust along to help and also so you don’t give the impression of being alone, that way people can’t try and take advantage of you. It’s hard not to live on defence but you have to ensure you’re protected. Learn an instrument and/or produce. And don’t worry about proving yourself to anyone, if your intention is pure it’ll happen naturally. 

JT: Any last words?

Ti: Stream Serial for clear skin.

---