First Look Friday: Eryn Allen Kane
Photo: Dustin Cohen
Nowadays, music is more than just the soundtrack to a person’s life, it is sometimes their lifeblood. For insiders, music snobs and melody lovers alike, Eryn Allen Kane has become the name to speak when regarding the next wave of talented singer-songwriters to hit the public’s consciousness. The Detroit-bred, Chicago-based performer has quickly become the go-to-person for soul-drenched lyrics that evoke pure emotion with every riff.
Most notably, the powerhouse vocalist and actress was called upon to showcase her dual skill sets for two legends within the entertainment business—Prince and Spike Lee. Her rich voice was worthy of its own spotlight as Ms. Kane sung out in protest alongside The Purple One on the Freddie Gray tribute cut, “Baltimore,” and even collaborated with Chance The Rapper and Donnie Trumpet for Surf.
Add to the mix that Eryn Allen Kane will make her big screen debut in Spike Lee’s controversial satire, Chi-Raq, and you’ll understand that this growing force will be delivered to the masses by any means necessary. Exhibiting great range, lyrical depth, fluid vocals and an honest-to-God, take-you-to-church bravado — Eryn Allen Kane is a colossal instrument driven by truth and change. With her debut EP, Aviary, out in the world, Kane’s presence on tracks such as “Have Mercy,” “Slipping” and “Piano Song” (which was featured on BET’s Being Mary Jane) should endear her to our First Look Friday readers.
It is our absolute pleasure to introduce you to Eryn Allen Kane, a voice full of unbridled energy and passion. Her skillset as an actress and a musician is worth the recognition and praise that she has received. We here at the Okayplayer HQ get a few moments of her time to discuss her appreciation for some slept-on musical legends, emote about recording “Her Pain” on GarageBand and why making music, for her, is all about making an impact.
Be sure to stream her EP Aviary on Pg. 2 well as read our exclusive interview!
Okayplayer: Music snobs the world over are calling your name on blogs, in other interviews and within the industry. What is it that they are seeing that the mainstream world has yet to discover?
Eryn Allen Kane: I’m hesitant to assume what they as individuals might see in my music, but I hope what they see is longevity and truth.
OKP: For those who have a passion for music, they hone their skills and practice their craft. Who are some of your most cherished influences in music and film? Why?
EAK: What I remember the most is my mother playing Aretha Franklin’s live gospel album before church. In general, the church culture that I grew up in on the East side of Detroit played a major role in my musical education. I joined the choir when I was about six-years-old alongside with my brother and cousins. The services were extremely long so being a part of the choir was really the main reason I enjoyed going to church. My mom’s entire family attended the same church so I felt pretty comfortable in that environment. That is what I felt I could relate to when I listened to Aretha’s music. Her father was a pastor of a church in Detroit and they had recorded one of her gospel albums there.
Karen Clark Sheard is also someone I latched on to at a young age. These women possessed real power. Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Earth, Wind & Fire were all a part of what inspired me to be a singer. They all were so detailed in their arrangements. I was very affected by them and I wanted to do what they were doing. As far as film goes, I would have to say that Meryl Streep and Viola Davis are two of the most brilliant actresses in our history. Their talent is undisputable. Their beauty is undeniable. They’re pure genius and I want to be like them when I grow up.
OKP: Songs like “Have Mercy” and “Baltimore” have placed you on the radar of heavy music connoisseurs. Can you talk about how life was for you while growing up as an artist from Chicago before the accolades?
EAK: I’m originally from Detroit and moved to Chicago to attend university. As you know, Detroit has an exceptional musical legacy. My mother wouldn’t listen to the radio and my dad wasn’t too fond of it either. They were much more into showing us music that they considered to be timeless which I’m extremely thankful for now. Growing up, we didn’t have cable at my moms so we’d get our MTV TRL or BET 106 and Park fix at my dad’s or grandma’s house to get up-to-date with all of the new music that was circulating around. That’s how I found out about fellow Detroiter Aaliyah Haughton. I bought all of her CD’s and was so into her that I went behind my mothers back to apply to the same performing arts high school that she attended.
I ended up enrolling in the Detroit School of the Arts and it was there that I became friends with Teairra Mari, who at the time, was getting praise for being the first female R&B talent signed to Roc-A-Fella records. I thought that was pretty cool. The musical community in Detroit was very small and there weren’t very many international artists with a bunch of spotlight from Detroit. It was surreal that I’d actually found another girl from Detroit who’d succeeded in music. I was just really hungry to learn more and do more to get my voice heard. I wanted to be a part of the Detroit musical legacy. I’m still figuring out a way to accomplish that.
OKP: Can you also talk about the importance of the Open Mic scene in Chicago and where you see it evolving in the next five years?
EAK: I’ve actually never done an open mic before. I haven’t been to too many either now that I’m thinking about it. From what I have experienced, I think that it is great to give people a platform to voice their own opinions and showcase their talent alongside other artists. I think it’s very important to give individuals the opportunity to speak freely and openly about anything without judgment and that is exactly the purpose of open mic. It nurtures creativity and I hope that it continues to grow over the years and that more youth get involved.
OKP: In music, you’ve had a front row seat in witnessing collectives such as the one growing out of Los Angeles with Terrace Martin and with Chance in Chicago. What has that experience been like for you as a developing artist?
EAK: It’s inspiring to watch people go after their dreams and actually succeed. It gives you the motivation to keep generating new ideas and concepts of your own. It’s a very refreshing feeling and it makes you challenge yourself even more.
OKP:
In another interview you brought up your appreciation for talent such as Rachelle Ferrell and Aretha Franklin. As an artist, can you talk about the connection you feel to their music and why?
EAK: They’re phenomenal singers and musicians, but more than that they are emotional and vulnerable human beings who are brave enough to put it in a song for the world to see. Those attributes shine through their music so delicately. They make you feel. I’ve always wanted to touch people the same way they have touched me. That’s how I feel about so many other black female soul and gospel singers. They sing from the heart and really make you feel.
OKP: Such voices like Rachelle Ferrell are regarded as “a singer’s singer” and are coveted for their knowledge and skill. What are some elements that you’ve learned from studying others that you’ve applied to your own work?
EAK: Trusting your gut. I’ve learned that you don’t always have to play it safe vocally. Rachelle Ferrell certainly didn’t. Sometimes it’s okay to be bold with emotion in your voice and other times it’s just as okay to sing soft and somber. As long as you’re not afraid to take risks and trust your emotions when you’re singing, it’ll be genuine. Trusting yourself is key.
OKP: Your “first little songy song,” admittedly, is a reworking of another song that is highly regarded in rap circles. Can you talk about recording “Her Pain” on GarageBand and the inspiration behind it?
EAK: I sadly record all of my songs on GarageBand before they become real songs [laughs]. “Her Pain” was sort of a freestyle that I turned into a song. It’s almost like exercising a train of thought. The inspiration came from my hometown Detroit, my worries and past experiences. It’s a song where I’m literally just talking to myself.
OKP: In another interview you said that, “It is our duty as artists to bring various conversations to the table,” after the video for “Baltimore” was released. How can music continue to speak truth to power in an age where things are so quickly digested and disposed of?
EAK: Ultimately, great art taps into the human experience on a global scale. Trends come and go, technology is constantly being upgraded — certain universal themes will always stand the test of time. Great artists incorporate influence from the greats who came first, while looking to the future for ways to expand into new territory. If you make music that transcends time or trends, you end up making an imprint and a lasting message.
OKP: Collaboration is uniquely a key to the success of creative individuals who wish to change the game. Can you speak to how your work with Prince and Spike Lee have inspired your own efforts?
EAK: They’ve pushed me to push the envelope. It’s not easy to take on bold opinions about controversial things. It’s way easier to sit and be complacent. I’ve always been passionate about certain things, but they just taught me to be uncompromising in whatever I’m passionate about. I’ve always cared a lot about fairness. Whenever someone or a group of people were treated unfairly, I was deeply offended. Coming from a household where I was taught to care about everyone and speak openly about my opinions, I’ve never had a problem sticking up for others and what I believe in. Spike [Lee] and Prince have validated my instincts soundly.
OKP: Speaking of these two legends, they both have resumes that express the lives being lived by people of color. What is the message in the effort that they present that the rest of the public seems to be missing out on?
EAK: Prince and Spike Lee both defy boundaries in a blatant, unapologetic way. They each have a bold sense of pride about who they are — and they value the truth. Our society stresses the importance of being politically correct and adhering to an unspoken set of rules about “the way things are,” yet these two artists aren’t here for that. They are both determined to create art on their own terms. They recognize their straight-forward (sometimes blunt) delivery can be their greatest strength, and sometimes it’s exactly what’s necessary to foster growth and progression.
OKP: With Aviary out and hitting the ears of people around the globe — can you break down why “clinging to a cloud ain’t as easy as it seems”?
EAK: Life is crazy. The things we encounter on a daily basis play such a large role in shaping who we are. Maintaining hope and feeling secure in a world that is so unpredictable can be extremely difficult and frightening. A lot of people can’t handle it. It is hard to stay positive, happy and motivated amidst it all. As an adult, it is much more apparent to me that happiness is something you really have to work towards.
OKP: Last question, Eryn. If the reader’s learned one thing from this First Look Friday chat with you — what would it be and in what octave would it be?
EAK: I’d hope that I exuded sincerity in my passion for art and my genuine love of music.
