Blenna is a multifaceted artiste whose music embodies the perfect fusion of Afro-beats and R&B, showcasing her eclectic taste and versatility. With a musical journey that began at a tender age, Blenna’s passion was evident through her participation in talent shows and her soulful contributions to her church choir. Her artistry gained momentum in 2019 when she launched her singing page, captivating audiences with her captivating covers and freestyles that showcased her raw talent.
This online presence paved the way for her debut single, marking the beginning of a promising career. With her latest releases, such as the empowering ‘Don’t Cage Me‘ and the sultry ‘Hot on a Plate‘, Blenna continues to push the boundaries of her artistry, exploring new sounds and solidifying her position as a rising star in the music industry. Her unique blend of genres, coupled with her dedication to her craft, sets her apart as a talent to watch in the years to come.
We got to hear from her about her new singles;
What inspired the creation of your recent releases?
So it’s a 2-pack single, “Don’t Cage Me” and “Hot on a Plate.”
“Don’t Cage Me” focuses more on self-expression; telling the world not to put me in a box, the message is also for me as well, as we all tend to limit ourselves in some way or form. and then, “Hot on a plate” is more of a summer vibe theme. I wanted a record for all the girlies to have fun and just vibe, so yeah, that’s what the two songs are about.
What were the major challenges that you faced while working on this project?
“Hot on a plate” was initially scheduled for release last year but there were a lot of technical issues and the release was rescheduled for this year instead. I’m happy that I’m able to release it now.
How do you feel you have evolved as an artist since your last release?
My last release was two years ago titled “ Lost then Found”. Since then, I’ve just been honing my craft; trying to understand myself better and the kind of music I want to create. Although, I don’t think I’m fully there yet but I can feel myself evolving and that’s a good thing.
I love the fact that you mentioned that you are evolving. Life is a process and growth is important, with that in mind, how do you manage to stay creative and motivated?
I think my love for music has helped a lot in staying motivated; when you already have a passion for something it pushes you to keep going. Creating can sometimes be difficult especially in terms of resources and all but my love and passion for music has helped me stay grounded. I also draw a lot from my experiences as a muse for creating, so there’s always material to explore and Music helps me to express these experiences. Music is indeed very beautiful and being able to convey these emotions- the beautiful and not-so-beautiful parts of life through music is amazing. It’s beautiful to be able to express yourself through any form of art and I’m happy that I get to use music as my means for expression. That’s how I’ve been able to manage it all.
What inspired the creation of your upcoming release? What particular experience or stories have influenced this project?
As an artist, especially as an upcoming artist, you have a lot of people in your ears telling you like what to do or what to sound like, sometimes people don’t believe in you or you face certain challenges, “Don’t Cage Me” was an expression of these challenges, it was a reminder to myself to keep on pushing and continue exploring even when people try to put you in a box or when you subconsciously put yourself in a box. For “Hot on a Plate”, it was literally a freestyle, I was just joking and vibing with my producer in the studio ; making fun of him, making stuff up and that’s how “Hot On a plate” came about.
What inspired the name “Hot on a plate”?
It’s actually about serving someone “breakfast” like in terms of relationship and you know breakfast is usually served on a plate, it also references me being an Igbo girl and the gist about Igbo women being classy.
How do you envision your music evolving in the next few years?
I’m actually really excited about that because I know that the more I grow, the better I become, I know I’m going to be much better and there’s so much more that I’m going to create; I’m really excited about exploring my full range and sound.
Even for my recent release, the two projects sound quite different from each other; they both give off two different vibes and that what I’m trying to explore for the future, I want to do more and explore more so I’m super psyched for the future.
What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself through the process of making this new release?
I’ve realized that I love and enjoy creating for myself, not just trying to make what sells in the market.
What matters to you most in life and why?
Honestly, understanding that this life is short and then making the most of the blessing and gift that it is; making sure that the people around know that you love and appreciate them and also doing what you love – I think that’s the importance of life.
I’d like to know, what’s the biggest risk you’ve taken in your music career so far?
I think for me starting out and putting myself out as an artist felt like a huge risk for me; I was posting myself on IG signing and playing piano, it felt very scary but I pushed myself to do it no matter what, that’s why “Don’t Cage Me” is so important to me because I understand how it feels like to not box one’s self in.
Would we be having more online singing videos soon? The last time you dropped a video was in 2022 on Instagram
I usually post more on TikTok nowadays, I’m trying to get back to being an Instagram girly but for some reasons, it just feels easier to post on TikTok so I tend to post there a lot.
If you had an opportunity to address the world for a day, what would you say?
I’d like for them to know, although times can be scary, holding on to those around you and understanding that all of us are here for a reason and worthy of love.
