Happy International Women’s Day!
We’re back with the latest instalment of SPOTLIGHT where we point the spotlight inconspicuously at the Lewisham Music team, delving into their lives, unearthing top tips and secrets along the way.
As it’s International Women’s Day we wanted to pop the spotlight on one of Lewisham Music’s top team members, Afiya Lucombe-Davis, our Community Programme Producer, and epic musician!
We caught up with Afiya to find out a bit about her role, her experiences in music, the women in music that have inspired her, her favourite woman artists, and some top tips for young people looking to pursue a career in music.
“Generally, I’m inspired by women in music as a whole!”
Tell us a bit about yourself, your role, and your career as a musician
I’m the Community Programme Producer at Lewisham Music, overseeing all activity that takes place here at The Fellowship. In addition to this, I also have the pleasure of creating projects/programmes that usually take place over half term or summer holidays.
I’m an independent musician and I started my project i.am.afiya over lockdown. I learned how to play guitar and wrote a load of songs during this time. I decided to take the basic music tech knowledge I had from college to produce my first EP. This has led to some really exciting opportunities from being supported by BBC Introducing London, playing at Latitude and Wild Fields, headlining the BBC Introducing in Norfolk + Norwich stage and featuring in The Line of Best Fit.
Who are the women in music that have inspired you the most in your life?
Generally, I’m inspired by women in music as a whole. The whole reason I wanted to play guitar was because of seeing Lianne La Havas on screen on Jools Holland many years ago. Similarly, I’m really inspired by Nai Palm’s guitar playing. My constant influence will always be Hayley Williams. Seeing her front an otherwise all male band/genre with such power and confidence in my teens changed my life.
Tell us a bit about your journey in music and whether you’ve faced any challenges trying to establish a career?
I’d say I’ve been lucky to not have experienced any bad behaviours this far into my career. I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by a band of guys who respect my decisions and music and are happy to go in whatever direction I think is best.
In a general sense though, I do think there is also a bit of standoffish behaviour towards women who play instruments or are interested in any kind of guitar music. You always see male fans of a rock band, for example, giving the female front woman a hard time for not being ‘good enough’ when that’s always far from the truth.
“I think people assume because I’m a black woman and also because my voice does have a slight soul influence, that soul/R’n’B is the music that I make”
I would say that the biggest challenge I’ve faced would be other’s understanding/accepting the genre of music I make. I think people assume because I’m a black woman and also because my voice does have a slight soul influence, that soul/R’n’B is the music that I make, when it’s really far from that.
I’m really grateful for artists like Rachel Chinouriri who make a point for black indie artists to be respected as that and to be seen.
Who are your favourite women artists?
This always changes, but at the moment I’d say Doechii, who is really just having her moment right now. I love Courtney LaPlante from Spiritbox, Hayley Williams, Beyonce, Lianne La Havas, Nai Palm & ENNY to name a few.
Do you have any top tips for young people who want to pursue a career in music?
I’d say always keep your authenticity and integrity at the core. Always do things and create what feels right and authentic to you you, regardless of what everyone else says. Try not to let outside influence impact you too much. It always stifles your creativity when you start to compare yourself to others. Remember there is only one you, and you do you best!
“I could really go on, but I’ve stopped myself! Haha!”
Thanks Afiya, we’ll have to come back for pt.2! Check out some of Afiya’s music below, and come say HI to her at one of her next gigs! Oh, and don’t forget to follow @i.am.afiya on instagram!
i.am.afiya
