ENNY

MUSIC

Dec 2

UK based artist Enny has debuted her first release since singing with record label FAMM. "Peng Black Girls" represents an essence of strength and unity between black women across the world. Her sound is sharp and resonate, accompanied by undertones of jazz which blend to give her music a stunning sense of soul and catharsis.

With "Peng Black Girls", the emerging South East London rapper & singer presents a vital message of empowerment and unity between Black women everywhere through her incredibly swift and sharp rhymes atop jazzy undertones. The recent remix, featuring Jorja Smith adds a soft soulfulness to Enny’s original sound, while honouring the strength of her original message and stunning lyricism.

We caught up with Enny via Zoom for an exclusive shoot, and to chat about Honesty, creative process & practicing allyship. Listen to "Peng Black Girls" (remix) feat. Jorja Smith below

Aside from the aesthetic & sound, what makes an artwork compelling, as both a creator and a listener?

For me I think it’s having a story - I like to be taken on a journey that I can find myself imagining parts of while I’m travelling. I want to walk away feeling changed or impacted, angry, happy or even hurt. And that's what I want people to feel.

What is ‘honesty’ to you?

Honesty to me is a form of release, it’s such a simple concept but there’s so much surrounding it because it can be used to heal and facilitate growth, but it can also be used as a weapon that hurts and destroys things, so you have to be cautious.

Can you talk us through your creative process & how Peng Black Girls came about?

I don’t really have a creative process, it might sound corny but I kind of get a feeling that I want to write something then I’ll throw on a beat and write something. And that’s what happened with Peng Black Girls, I had a feeling and I just started writing.

What do you think is important for us all to be doing right now? How do fellow creatives and allies positively educate themselves and others? Is there anything you have been doing in particular during this time that has really helped you?

I think right now the most important thing is looking after ourselves physically, spiritually and mentally. This is a very trying time for the world right now and it’s important to try and stay centred. I think the only way to educate yourself is to seek out information, read, have conversations, step into other communities, be open minded. It's such a big world and there is so much out there.

How has your mental health and boundaries imposed on you as a woman affected your self-concept and pursuit as an artist? What do you believe is important to communicate to aspiring artists?

For a long time I think the boundaries I faced were: did anyone even want to hear what a dark skinned girl from London had to say? I didn’t really see people that looked like me in these spaces and if I did they weren’t getting the recognition they deserved. For me the most important thing to communicate to aspiring artists is be your authentic self. There is no one like you so that’s your superpower, and even if they don’t catch on today, they will eventually.

See more from Enny here & here / Photos by Simone Taylor / Words by EA Milstead + Jay Rickards