When Voice Entertainment first caught up with Priscilla K in November 2020, she was a 20-year-old up-and-comer with 13, 000 followers on Facebook.
Less than three years later, those numbers now stand at 47, 000, a tally that’s rising every day.
Batswana have been blown away by her hit song ‘Away’, a trending track with Chef Gustos that’s in the front-running for the ‘People’s Choice song of the year’ award at the 2023 YAMAS.
Let’s find out more…
With 1.7 million Youtube views, it’s been an amazing year for ‘Away’! Did young Priscilla who used to sing in front of the television ever anticipate such success?
It’s all so funny because never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that ‘Away’ would be as big as it is right now!
I have always known that I would one day be successful, and I was brought up to carry a mindset of working hard in order to make your dreams come true, but I never thought it would happen so quickly for me.
Tell us more about this sensational collab with Chef Gustos?
If I am not mistaken, Chef Gustos’ manager at the time hit us up to work on a song together.
I was honestly a bit skeptical at first but the moment I heard the beat, I knew that I could work wonders on it.
Within 30 minutes, I had written and recorded ‘Away’ at my studio.
That’s just how effortless the process was, for me at least.
Wow, 30 minutes; it will take me longer to type up this interview! Sounds like you have a special relationship with music?
Music means everything to me.
I best express myself through the music I make; if I’m not writing, just listening to it makes me feel whole.
We’ve all derived our own meanings and messages from ‘Away’, but how do you interpret the song?
I’m glad you asked!
‘Away’ tells the story of how a person I loved let a third party into our relationship.
I know the whole ‘I’m not letting you go’ sounds encouraging, but it was actually an ultimatum issued to a lover: I’m staying even if what we have is a lie, so she has to leave.
Wow, I’d never have guessed; thanks for the insight! Your music is famous for its emotion, but do you prefer live or recorded performances?
It depends.
Sound has a huge role to play in the execution of an artist’s performance and if it’s not to par, I personally get very uncomfortable and demoralized.
So I’d go with live when there’s good sound, and semi-live when it’s just basic, but either way, I make sure to have fun when performing.
What about performance anxiety? As an artist, how do you take care of your mental wellbeing?
Performance anxiety is such a normal thing in my line of work.
There’s always this pressure to deliver and not mess up, and it can be nerve-racking.
I guess I block everything out once I get on and off stage.
I rarely watch my performance videos unless my producer, Levels, forces me to – that’s when I get a little insight on where I could do better and what needs to change.
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing?
I’ve always known I would pursue music from a young age but there was a time in my life when it seemed a music career wasn’t on the cards for me, and I envisioned a future in medicine.
What advice would you give to a 15-year-old Priscilla Khan if you could?
My advice would be ‘your past made you you, but you choose who you really want to be going forward’.
Wise words! Speaking of ‘wisdom’, you forfeited tertiary school to pursue music, any regrets?
Honestly, no regrets at all.
Life is too short to not be living the dream; everything else that will follow in my life will be a bonus.
Mention two life lessons you now know that you didn’t when you started out in music.
First lesson was: don’t be too quick to trust anyone in this industry.
Everyone is competing with everyone here, and even though I’m yet to find out what the competition is about, I already know it’s a one man for himself and God for us all industry.
Second lesson was patience, knowing my worth and believing in myself.
If you were a cocktail, what would you be and why?
I don’t drink cocktails and don’t really know their names.
If you came with a warning label, what would it say?
Highly flammable!
Five things people don’t know about you?
1. I love food!!
2. I battle with mental health, and the rest they will know with time…