Q&A: Voice Memos and Vulnerability: MEI-KA on “Perfume”
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY NTHATILE MAVUSO ☆
MEI-KA IS A LONDON-BASED SINGER, SONGWRITER, AND RECORDING ENGINEER FROM SAN FRANCISCO. She traverses the soundscapes of pop, soul, and electronic with ease and pure playfulness. Contrary to the production is her rich storytelling that touches on sentimental themes of family, love, and yearning.
“Perfume” is a different sonic path for MEI-KA, who is moving towards a more soulful sound that perfectly complements the message of this song: missing your loved ones while building a life far from them. The vulnerability in the lyricism gives the song a texture and layer of sincerity. It is also refreshing to listen to a song that could easily be interpreted as romantic, but is directed to family instead, and holds as much emotional weight and meaning. The words are only elevated by the jazz-infused instrumentation, electronic synths, and velvety vocals.
There is also an earnest approach in the way that she incorporated the voice memos of her loved ones, which reinforces the wholeness one feels when they are equally loved and missed. On the other hand, the title “Perfume” alludes to the lingering pain that comes with the distance but is always present.
Luna sat down with MEI-KA to talk about her latest single, longing for family, and her future in music.
LUNA: How do you feel about the release of “Perfume”?
MEI-KA: I'm really excited. I've been working on this song for about a year, maybe more, and I'm excited to release it and start this new chapter of music. I've done things in the past, but I'm taking things in a different direction. This song includes voice memos and specific details from my family and friends back home. I'm excited for them to hear that and have that moment of recognition.
LUNA: Now that you've moved to the UK and are in London, how has living there and being part of the London music scene influenced your artistry?
MEI-KA: It pushed me to do a lot more within the music scene. When I first arrived, I was sure I wanted to pursue my artist project and songwriting, but over the past couple of years, I got into audio engineering. Now I'm a recording engineer alongside being an artist. That broadened my view of music. I've gotten to know different creative processes—the recording, writing, and performing—and it deepened my love for music. I've also met inspiring people who've shaped my sound through collaboration and inspiration from friends who make music. It changed my relationship with music in that way.
LUNA: You mentioned it took you a year to make this song. Why do you think it took so long?
MEI-KA: I wrote the majority of the song quickly—the verses and choruses, and produced the demo myself. The initial writing was quick, but I knew I wanted to work with others and get input. It took a while to find collaborators. I also sat on the song because I wasn’t sure how to approach the bridge. I had a lot of feelings about moving away and being far from loved ones—regret, questioning if I should go back, and other emotions. A friend suggested I add a spoken part. I went through voicemails and voice memos from my family and friends, and realized their words captured the feeling better than I could. I arranged those memos with music behind them in one night, and it felt right. I’m glad I took the time, because otherwise I might have written something that didn’t capture the feeling.
LUNA: Let’s delve a bit deeper into who you are and what you’ve done before. You mentioned getting into engineering and working for yourself. Do you self-produce most of the time? Do you always write for yourself?
MEI-KA: I always write my own songs, and I like that to be a solo thing because it allows me to try things without fear of judgment. Writing is very therapeutic for me. It lets me be most vulnerable. I usually produce my demos myself, then sometimes get input for a more objective viewpoint.
LUNA: What pushed you into making music? What motivated you to start?
MEI-KA: I had been singing since a young age, but I didn’t start writing until about five years ago. At that point, I felt lost and didn’t have an outlet. I was interested in songwriting but scared to try it, thinking I needed more skills or technical knowledge. Eventually, I pushed myself, and it became the most fulfilling outlet because it involves so many things—lyrics like poetry, the musical side of playing and producing, and the technical aspects of recording. It uses different parts of my brain and feels very fulfilling. Creating lets me express emotions in a more complex way than poetry alone. Music can hold so many layers of feeling in one package.
LUNA: Who are some of your influences in music?
MEI-KA: I’m inspired by Björk, especially her creative approach and how she uses her voice as an instrument. I also love Olivia Dean’s music and Caroline Polachek’s experimentation within pop. Those are my biggest inspirations.
LUNA: You also mentioned writing this song to reach out to people you miss. What do you hope someone else who feels far from home takes away from it?
MEI-KA: That’s a hard question, because it’s something I’m still working out myself. The feeling of missing someone doesn’t go away—it changes, but never disappears. There’s a reason you move away, but at the same time, there are complex feelings of wanting to be elsewhere. I’d want someone listening to feel connected to their loved ones even from afar, and to know that connection doesn’t fade with distance.
LUNA: What’s in the future for you after this release?
MEI-KA: I’ve been working on more experimental, electronic pop songs. It’s challenging and exciting because it’s a new direction. I hope to release more music as I have time, with more singles and hopefully an EP next year. I like to take my time. With this song, some ideas only came much later, and they became essential. I don’t want to rush, even if a song feels done, sometimes it needs more time to develop.
