We caught up with the brilliant and insightful LyricL Nkechi a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
LyricL , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
Being utilised as a creative resource effectively through performance poetry, DJ/Music crowd engagement MC’ing, Words & Wellness Art Therapy or Pastoral Support Mentoring, I have seen numerous outcomes through community kinship artistic awareness and empowerment in both an insightful and enriching way. No one situation outweighs another due to the importance of representation as well as being the vibrant voice for unheard or somewhat silenced marginalised groups. To be assigned to creatively make a difference leading by artistic example through lyricism from a poetic place, across the globe, closer to home within community spaces, or simply being selected to represent/share real life experiences & sincere stories is a privilege that I for one do not take for granted. Sharing a Spokenword piece at a conference for head teachers & education professionals about adultification bias to performing album tracks with live band at the Toronto Jazz Festival, both hold weight and are important substantially in an honourable and humbling manor.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Description: Multipotential Music Maker, Wellness Wordsmith & Ambivert African Artist.
The journey started in a somewhat organically organised Family faith-focused, creatively cultural yet traditional way, experientially, from being encouraged to stand in front of family/Nigerian Igbo social events, to singing & dance routines as a youth in an enriching household environment, absorbing High Life/other music plus Spokenword sound lead culture, all from an artistic angle. Choreographing ‘Igbo’ dance routines for our social community events with family, friends & our kinship circles, willingly entering poetry/rap writing competitions, submitting poems/short stories in the mail, sharing performance pieces in person in secondary school, to successfully winning showcases in college, university & community music events, to then becoming labelled as a potentially ‘up & coming’ familiar face in the then London music circuit, hip-hop poetry Slam/Battles through recording my first vinyl release, media TV/radio, newpaper interviews and such, all whilst embracing storytelling harmonic singing drumming & melodious Nigerian rhythms from my Father who would regularly sing Bass voice and play body-tapping chest percussion & was also a DJ, (who I later found out had formerly been a drummer plus worked at NBC (Nigerian Broadcasting Corp.) in Kaduna).
My attending Methodist Church as a prerequisite for school entry, then a more comfortable relatable change to Penticostal along with my Mother/siblings, lead me to singing up front, participate in midweek youth fellowship groups & helper teaching Sunday school. This lifestyle was parallel to my committed yet passionate addiction to competitive basketball, taking me on to play in the highest level Division 1, National League EBBA as a semi professional athlete. Clashing with some Sunday matches/tournaments & the realisation of being judged by ‘hypochristians’, with a former member of the church leader team stating that I seemingly “loved basketball more than Jesus…” was the catalyst for my return to spiritual focus, youth center community support mentorship, creative workshop facilitation for poetry/rap self expression, encouraging empowerment for young people & students who required additional support, academic assistance or marginalised groups who may have experienced prejudice and otherness. Using life experience in poetry/rap for selfcare from my own experiences of imposter syndrome (even after winning slams), judgemental conflict as an African, as a Black person as a Girl, being tall and standing out, (whilst trying not to), and understanding the reality of competitive self awareness, individuality and independence through training, music word art, community networking, creative preparation and practice.
Nkechi (‘Nkechinyere’) Igbo name: “Gift from God/God’s Gift” helped reinforce my work as an artistic orator, using words, poetry, melodic Spokenword songs and mentoring to be “the thing”, kind of like the continual voice of reason and encouragement that I myself needed as a young person.
The discipline was overcoming fears stepping onto stages & open mics to freestyle (head-top impromptu rapping sometimes theme lead), not knowing what would be said even by ‘me’ much less the outcome itself. I noticed a pattern where most of my best pieces were created when injured or outside of basketball season, so I would regularly take conscious breaks to write. To reinforce and make sure that I didn’t break this routine I would intentionally put on nails and wear shoes as opposed to sneakers, because even walking past outdoor basketball courts was too much of a temptation. Please note that there were experiences of sexism there also where I would be overlooked (even when fully kitted up), until someone left or was injured so they ‘needed’ a player…this patient but p*ssed player would bring her very best game to “make them respect me!” and consequently they did.
‘DJ Daughter Influences’ and having older siblings that sang & enjoyed music also, meant that a plethora of songs vinyls cassettes storytelling comedy albums African Jazz, Folk, Country, Reggae, Soul, Pop, Highlife etc would be heard continuously at home as well as at family & Nigerian Igbo Social Community events. The common theme I was always inspired by was the ‘story’ itself, the message and the betterment ending of hope.
To be approached with requests to deliver, perform and facilitate workshops abroad, to this day, truly is a blessing that I for one never ever take for granted. An absolute honour in fact.
Music is reflective and subjective so I understand people’s perceptions as well as their ‘take-away’ from my song recordings. This is very much down to the listeners own personal experience, social situation, interpretation and responsive feeling.
To be asked permission to use a particular song for a short independent film, a website opening page set up for young girls & sexual health, commissioned to collaborate & write/host/compare, to help raise awareness on issues of racism, domestic violence, poverty survival/homelessness, to be a peace advocate for victims of war, gun/knife crime, social issues, invited onto gallery exhibition projects/art interpretation pieces, to lead enrichment incentives for wellbeing, mental health, female empowerment focus, weekly radio show during the pandemic and charity guest performances as an artist, for me personally, has all been the medicinal purposeful make up of my life journey. This impactful yet influential insight has been achieved through participation and continual life changes. It is encouraging for me also, especially with my current work practice through art therapy, by honing in on decades of involvement, creative awareness, life skills, academic postgraduate achievements and being certified in Applied Anthropology and Community Arts + Counselling Skills, to me means that I now have the responsibility and life-license to both ‘talk about it and be about it.’
What sets me apart would be the innate organic experiences and journey I have had for years as an independent artist, lyricist and published songwriter.
I am proud to have made it this far doing what I love whilst loving what I do. I believe the legacy of my family names and surname which means ‘Bringer Of Peace’ to help reinforce my work purpose as a self proclaimed ‘Change Maker’ (however small that might be to the onlooker from the outside looking in), more so in a world graded on likes followers and monetary merits.
I feel exceptionally rich in heart, spirit and purpose through my diligence, consistent efforts and work ethic, as giving up is easy! So for people and listening audiences who I have been fortunate enough to meet in person, those who have had the opportunity to interact in order to access obtain responses/feedback, see hear feel and experience my work, dancers artists creative collaborators including those willing/wishing to, there are poems, songs, videos, mentorship masterclasses, albums, anthology books, short films and such readily available plus accessible online and worldwide. It’s still surreal to know this, but a blessing nonetheless that I most certainly do not take for granted…at all…never…EVER! Awareness that the work itself will outlive the physical person who curated it, I truly am honoured to be in a position just to simply share.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
The phrase that resonated at that time was “If you don’t go within you go without.” Unfortunately I got to a point where I felt a bit overwhelmed and underappreciated, which required my having to take and make some extra reflection time for myself in order to navigate through ‘the everything’ of my thoughts feelings and emotions. Had a few turbulent personal issues, life wise, health wise, intensity during post graduate studies, current climate, societal issues, race related triggers of heaviness/world news, creative cognitive dissonance, relationship breakdown, family/friendship disconnect, then the pandemic happened as an added extra gruesome garnish.
The analogy would be that of a ‘vending machine’, in the sense of people regularly ‘taking-taking’ for their own immediate needs to be met & yet no one looking at the proverbial items themselves being face value, being nourished by what was being shared due to expectancy, not noticing if refilled, the likelihood of there being an expiry date, if what was being presented perceived (like the vender screen cover advert), if the bulb behind the screen was as bright as usual or even if it was actually going to last, basically (and more importantly), if the machine itself has even been looked at, observed, or serviced even and where the power source was coming in from…and such….but as long as everyone was nourished and encouraged there seemingly was nothing wrong.
I know that if you do the same things the same way you get the very same results so I had to look at different options for the betterment of myself as well as my wellbeing regarding what I was experiencing at that time, and how best to cope mindfully whilst in this space.
Had to decline on all performance opportunities, collaborations, attending events (online and in person), embraced more walking, virtual remote sport races/extra running, sound bath yoga, stillness & breathwork meditation, mindfulness & deliberate daily prayer affirmation, journaling, change in diet, listening to myself more, and intentional acts of kindness at a time when when Mankind was truly being unkind, all whilst understanding loneliness loss and seperation, I really had to be kind to myself because that was all I had: ‘Myself’. Of course it was beyond normal and a remarkably strange feeling not doing the only thing I knew plus what I unequivocally and wholeheartedly loved, from a now very different and disciplined stance. Having people seemingly disappointed with my decision to withdrawal from this very apparent scene with my own community social presence and kinship…but were actually okay about it, (I believe from the response replies), because I was relearning through the painful butterfly rebirth. Steadily feeling whole, embracing stillness and listening to my plants grow!
Arts space PoplarUnion hosted a final one night only closing showcase as I felt that it was imperative to leave with a thankful heart, respectfully.
Although I did feel somewhat pressured to do so indirectly, was thankful for the opportunity plus all those who supported my decisions attended in person via social distancing logged in online and sent me appreciation messages …the rest as they say…is the REST
When you step back you see more as we grow through what we go through! Learned a lot about myself my life, purposefully, how I can help healing and honour the process. Post graduate studies and counselling changed the trajectory, placing me in different positions to see and learn from very different perspectives, so with graduation, new pastoral role, healing holidays, music releases, festival bookings and even two full marathon medals, I knew just how hard things were, how things can be, as well as what positive outcomes can be achieved once successful steps are made. Leading by example….from the back.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
A few game changer books, humanitarian experiences & creative collaborations with professionals have definitely helped in shaping my perspectives as well as my understanding of my role as a creative changemaker are art therapist.
To be invited onto a project to gain insight on another person’s life experience through war/genocide, racism, poverty & homelessness, adultification bias, knife crime, various types of violence, prejudices and otherness …whilst still shining a light or forging a spark strong enough to bring both warmth to the heaviness or in fact light a path in order for me and others to simply look ahead, is paramount.
I have seen firsthand people with less doing so much more and I’ve learnt to be both humbled as well as hopeful enough to wait for answers to appear. Let go and let God.
Three books that I believe helped prompt stir evoke and encourage insightful inspiration and creative awareness that warrented my having to re-read enroute in order to realignment, reassign and navigate back to my creative self, ‘Big Magic’ by Elizabeth Gilbert, ‘Conversations With God’ by Neale Donald Walsch and ‘The Creative Act. A Way of Being’ by Rick Rubin. Also and including a few other game changer eye openers being ‘The Artist Way’, ‘Sacred Woman’ and ‘Pedagogy of the Oppressed’…to name a few.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lyriclnkechi.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyricl_/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/100063554867824/
- Twitter: https://x.com/lyricl?lang=en
- Other: https://nationalrunningshow.com/profile/lyricl-nkechi
Image Credits
Oihanna Barato