Could you walk us through your songwriting process for this single? Did the lyrics or the instrumentation come first?
When creating Is This Paradise?, I relied on instinct. I try not to overthink, because that interrupts the natural flow of creativity. I don’t usually go in with a fixed idea, but most of the time, the lyrics and chorus come to me first. I know not everyone will connect with my art, and that’s fine—music is both subjective and objective. What matters most is that I’m happy with the outcome, because it’s my art. If others enjoy it too, that’s a bonus—and I’ve been fortunate that many people have connected with and even loved my music.
The track blends dream pop, R&B, and soul—how do you approach merging these genres while keeping a cohesive sound?
I’m a genre-blending artist. I don’t focus on fitting into a specific category—I just create whatever comes naturally. In the past, whenever I’ve set out to make a song that’s for example an R&B track, it almost always ends up evolving into a mix of different styles. I have a wide range of musical influences, and with this track, that fusion came through as Dream Pop, R&B, and Soul. I think of it like MMA—why limit myself to one discipline when I can combine many to create something unique? Not everyone will connect with that approach, but many people have, and that’s what matters to me.
Tell me what recent setback has happened with your musical journey?
Honestly, a recent setback was when Stephen Deusner, a writer from Spin—who actually at least, followed me on X/Twitter—stupidly blocked me, I believe because he felt I was over-tagging him. From my perspective, artists like me in the early-ish stages naturally have to promote ourselves more than someone who’s already established. If he thought I was over-tagging, a simple message like, “Hey, I get you’re hustling, but tag me only half the time,” would have been far better than just blocking me. I felt this was unnecessary and frankly stupid. That said, I’ve gained far more recognition, support, and more invaluable followers than setbacks like this. It’s part of the journey—you take the good with the bad
In what ways do your family connections, like being related to Deyaz and Mizzy, influence your creative journey?
My cousin Deyaz is also a UK artist. Although we’re no longer in contact, watching someone from my own bloodline carve their own path in music shaped my perspective. His journey made me reflect on mine — and while he achieved early success, my route has been entirely different: grass-roots, self-funded, self-managed, and built from the ground up. My investment in Hazard wasn’t just financial; it was a statement of conviction in myself, my vision, and the message I stand for.
When it comes to Mizzy — who is my half-niece’s half-brother, so not someone I’m directly related to — he was raised with good values. The last conversation I had with him was about his approach, and he told me it was part of his plan to cause a stir to gain attention. He has been heavily shaped by social media, which can be both a blessing and a curse. That contrast also made me reflect on my own journey and family dynamics.
I recognise that we’re very different people. I’m not here to downplay anyone else’s success, but what sets me apart is that I live by an approach I consider truly authentic — not in the overused, buzzword sense, but in the way I refuse to let external factors dictate who I am. I trust my instincts, choose my own direction, and don’t conform to what people think I should be. When people engage with my brand, they know it’s me — unfiltered, uncompromised, and not the product of behind-the-scenes conditioning or carefully scripted talking points. That honesty resonates, and it’s the foundation of how I connect with my audience and vision.
There’s a cinematic quality to the arrangement. How did you craft the layers of piano and vocal harmonies to evoke such emotion?
Every instrument has to accurately reflect the themes of my music. That’s important because it keeps everything cohesive. By cohesive, I mean that the arrangement should mirror the feeling being expressed. This way, the listener can start to sense what the song is about—even before the lyrics come in or the track reaches its end.
As a producer and sound engineer, how involved are you in the technical side of your tracks versus the creative side?
When it comes to the objective technical side of music—though these don’t have to be 100% perfect—for an example; pitch, key, timing, and rhythm. Those are the only truly objective elements in music. That said, not everything needs to be perfect. We’re human, and a lot of music today is over-produced and over-manufactured. Striving for absolute perfection often makes a track sound robotic. Even legends like Whitney Houston had moments of slight sharpness or flatness in their isolated vocals, and she’s considered one of the greatest singers of all time. For me, it’s about capturing authenticity, not perfection.
How long did it take from the initial concept of “Is This Paradise?” to its final release?
This is a great question. Many of my songs came from my youth. However, with Is This Paradise?, I came up with the melody and a rough concept years ago. I never like to rush the creative process—I let it unfold naturally, whether it takes weeks, months, or even years. In this case, the song evolved over time, and this release marks the first time I’ve fully brought it to life and shared it with the world.
“Is This Paradise?” deals with loss and resilience—how much of your own personal experiences shaped the song?
Is This Paradise? is based on real-life events and is one of the singles from my debut album Hazard. My brand right now usually centres on self-investment and empowerment, and this track reflects that. It explores grief, loss, and the challenges of living with the past rather than erasing it, while recognising how it shapes both the present and the future.
From a writing perspective, the lyrics came from a very honest place. I wanted to capture raw thoughts as they were, almost like journaling. Musically, I kept the arrangement spacious and reflective to let the words breathe, before building it up with layers that carry both the weight of loss and the sense of growth that comes from my own life experiences.
For example, I’m special needs and most likely have autism, though I haven’t been officially diagnosed. Growing up, I went through a lot — I was temporarily excluded from schools, even kicked out of one. I had a near-drowning experience and also, I was hospitalised at a very young age. I’ve had a background full of challenges and setbacks, and that history gives my songs, especially this one, a profound emotional weight.
How do you hope listeners interpret the song, especially those who may have experienced similar losses?
I hope that listeners—especially those who’ve carried similar grief or loss—feel seen and understood when they hear Is This Paradise?. I want the song to resonate like a mirror to their own emotions: honest, raw, and reflective. My aim is for my music to create a sense of peace, giving listeners space to fully feel those unspoken thoughts that linger before words form.
For someone living with pain and loss, this song isn’t just music—it’s a companion. It’s a reminder that you’re not alone in carrying the past, and that it can be felt deeply without being a burden. Above all, I hope it brings a sense of solace and maybe, in time, healing.
The song is part of your debut album Hazard. How does it fit into the overall narrative of the record?
Is This Paradise? is the fourth single from my debut album Hazard—a bold, conceptually and emotionally charged body of work that explores pain, resilience, relationships, and inner strength. Each track represents a different chapter of my journey, blending raw truth with experimental, genre-blurring sounds.
At its core, both Is This Paradise? and Hazard as a whole are about self-preservation. They reflect my experiences with adversity, self-discovery, and learning to empower myself and others through it all. I wanted Hazard to feel like both a release and a revelation—something honest, cinematic, and deeply personal.
For me, it’s simple—ignore the stupidity and elitism of the music industry and create music that comes from within, not from someone else’s idea. There’s a lot of conditioning in the wider music world, but as an independent artist, I’m free from that nonsense. That freedom allows me to stay authentic and make music straight from the heart.
Growing up in Leytonstone and navigating your personal struggles, what role did music play in shaping your identity?
My music is deeply rooted in personal experiences. Growing up in Leytonstone, I faced a lot of challenges—living with special needs, nearly drowning as a pre-teen, and being temporarily excluded from schools, even kicked out of one. I spent most of my school years in a special needs unit, and those experiences shaped not only how I see the world but also how I channel my creativity.
Music became both a safe space and a form of self-expression when words alone weren’t enough. Instead of letting the pain define me, I use it as fuel to create. Writing gives me the power to transform difficult moments into something meaningful, not just for myself but for others too. That’s why my sound carries so much honesty and reflection—it’s me turning my own story into something that can help others feel seen and understood.
If you could summarize the essence of “Is This Paradise?” in one line for a first-time listener, what would you say?
It’s about confronting loss and pain, and transforming it into strength and self-empowerment.
