Beccasmelodies brings a nostalgic slice of childhood to life in her sophomore single, Playground. The smooth funk piano piece is a cruising sound drenched in blues and moody tones. The banner was founded by Milan-born Italian-Ghanaian pianist and producer, Rebekah Obeng as a means to explore her sense of self by tracing the contours of her life and worldviews. Her versatility extends to multiple genres like rap, jazz, indie, neo-soul, and even pop.
The track is a delicate drizzle. Its gentle rhythm flows like thoughts on a ruminative day. Dollops of dainty piano melodies trickle along edging the lifting sounds of children lost in play; ushering in a tender fondness that is nostalgic and wishful. It connects us to an indivisible past, to simpler times and small joys. Redolent of FKJ, the artist’s subtle style and mellow portrayals of the human condition creates beautiful imprints on the mind.
A sophomore single! Congratulations! Playground is such an uncommon theme for a song. What about it compelled you to base your song on it?
The theme of a playground evokes a sense of nostalgia and innocence for me. It’s a place where people of all ages come together to play and have fun, and I wanted to capture that feeling in my music. The playground also symbolizes the idea of embracing childhood and letting go of adult responsibilities, which I find to be a refreshing and powerful message.
You put on a smooth ambient jazz-funk show with this single. And it just fits delightfully! Given that you are musical savvy, swinging from rap to blues, indie and even soul, tell us why you chose this style to portray this theme?
I chose to incorporate elements of ambient jazz-funk into this single because I felt that it would perfectly complement the theme of a playground. The smooth, laid-back feel of jazz-funk gives the track a sense of nostalgia; a nostalgia, much like a playground would evoke. At the same time, the ambient elements add a dreamy, otherworldly quality that I felt fit the theme of a playground being a place where one can let their imagination run wild. Additionally, I find that the lo-fi genre is great to create a chill and relaxing atmosphere and that’s why I think it was a perfect match for the theme.
You have a great musical presence, in that, you make your emotions and experiences felt through your releases. What is your artistic process like?
As a lo-fi artist, my artistic process involves a lot of experimentation and exploration. I begin by gathering inspiration from my own emotions and experiences, as well as from the world around me. I then spend time experimenting with different sounds and chord progressions, often using lo-fi production techniques such as sampling and re-sampling, and layering different elements to create a dreamy, nostalgic atmosphere.
Once I have a rough idea of the direction I want to take the track in, I start to build the structure of the song, focusing on creating a relaxed, chill and smooth flow. I like to keep the production minimalistic, but with a lot of attention to details, using different effects to add depth and texture to the sound. Finally, I will listen to the track repeatedly, making adjustments and fine-tuning until I am completely satisfied with the final result.
Have you received any formal training for music? Please tell us a little about your journey with music.
I initially learned to play by ear, picking up various instruments and teaching myself how to play. I later had a couple of years of private lessons to further develop my skills and gain a deeper understanding of music theory. This gave me a strong foundation to continue learning and growing as a musician on my own. I spent a lot of time listening to different genres of music and experimenting with different sounds and styles. I would say that my journey with music has been a never-ending process of learning, growing and experimenting.
Who are some of the artists that you look up to and get inspired by?
There are many artists that have influenced and inspired me throughout my journey as a musician. Some of the artists that I look up to include Omar Apollo, John Mayer, Strawberry Guy, ALex G, Kali Uchis and Brent Faiyaz.
We’re so excited to see what you have lined up for us in the near future! What can your listeners look forward to with respect to releases and projects?
I am constantly working on new music and have several exciting releases and projects lined up for my listeners in the near future. I am currently in the process of recording new material that I believe will take my sound to the next level. I have been experimenting with different instruments, samples and production techniques to create a unique and immersive listening experience.
My fans can look forward to more chill, relaxing, and dreamy tracks, with a touch of nostalgia and a lot of attention to details. In addition to new music, I am also planning on releasing some live-streamed performances and sessions, where I will be able to interact with my listeners and give them a behind-the-scenes look at my creative process. I am also planning on collaborating with other artists and musicians to create new and interesting sounds and I hope to have some surprise collaborations in the near future.
The artist released her debut single, Make It, in early 2022 and received a lot of praise for her pensive and unimposing brand of instrumentals. With this release, we see finer elements of lo-fi magic that sets the mood for relaxation.
Available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music!
You can listen to Playground by Beccasmelodies here –
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