Born in Nairobi but now based in the UK capital, rapper and producer Komanii has just dropped his third track of the year, ‘Back To You’. With infectious grooves, silky melodies and a danceable undertone, it’s a unique track amongst Komanii’s discography but remains rooted in authenticity. Alongside music, the artist expands his creative ventures into fashion design and has big plans for 2025.
The brand new ‘Back To You’ is some of the most danceable and pop-blended rap you’ve released, but it also explores emotional themes, can you talk us through the track, its message and its production style?
Back To You was an exciting track to make. I actually made it almost two years ago but only decided on releasing it now. It was a fun experiment in genre-bending whilst still staying true to my emotive/storytelling style. The message is one of self-love and celebration following hardship and or heartbreak. Back To You is a self-affirming/loving anthem for the summer. To really amp up the dance vibes, I tried to fuse a dance-funk kick drum with a pumping/growling bass line and lush 7th chords to accompany the soulful sample.
As well as a rapper, you’re also a producer, and you’re able to take full creative control of your music. How does this influence your creative process?
I love being able to have a hand/role in the production of my songs. When I first started making and releasing music, I had taught myself how to produce. That self-sufficiency, like not having to rely on others to make what I wanted to make, really helped me grow. I had and still have the keys to the castle. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE collaborating with other creatives, but when that’s not possible, or maybe it’s more of a personal song, I love being able to get my ideas down and bring them to sonic fruition.
You’ve lived all over the world, born in Kenya, moving to the USA, then to the UK. How does such a diverse cultural experience change the music you make and the stories you tell?
By the age of 27, I’ve been lucky enough to experience many different cultures. Living in 7 countries has exposed me to so many different people and backgrounds and in turn experiences—good, bad, and all in between—because of this I’ve been able to fuse many different sounds into my music. It has also definitely influenced my flow, cadence, and lingo/language I used in my lyrics which has helped make my own unique sound and sonic footprint.
Alongside music, you’re also a fashion designer. How does this other layer of expression intersect with music for you, does one inspire the other?
I feel like music and fashion go hand in hand, it’s easy because it’s just another way of expressing myself for me. I’ve always been expressive through my style since a very young age. I like vibrant, colourful, slick clothing that is also comfortable. I actually studied at a fashion institute in LA for a year which help learn a lot more about the industry as well as garment construction and apparel industry management. I now design my own contemporary African collections which I hope to one day release/debut at a fashion week. I also currently design and make my own merchandise for my music. www.kynokomanii.com
‘Back To You’ is the third single you’ve dropped this year, following ‘HURRA’ and ‘254’. Are these tracks building to a larger project or story, how do they complement and contrast each other?
These three tracks are building the foundation for something bigger. I think of them as a welcome/introduction, a kind of “get to know me” and learn who Komanii is, where he’s from, and what he cares about. A nice little insight let’s say. Each track has a different style or genre even, with different textures, rhythms and sonics used but there is also a consistent thread through all of them that lets you know this is the same person, this is still Komanii. In terms of a larger project, I can’t say too much right now hahaha just know I’m building a big-picture story through my music and it will be VERY exciting but for now… Stay tuned!