Artists In Conversation: Wifty

Pershing Square could be the Washington Square Park of Los Angeles, but instead its a mostly empty plaza in a downtown that is begging for more excitement. DTLA is architecturally beautiful, with its various art-deco (I’m not an architect so I could be wrong) and aesthetically buildings amongst the few blocks of urban density that a city of millions deserves. Yet, the epicenter of the city seems to have less traffic and cultural relevance than Downtown Brooklyn, feeling more like Dallas than the same place that has produced so many homegrown culutral giants. Nonetheless, it is also the place where I am reuniting with an old friend Wifty as we prepare to shoot a video for a project she’d been working on.

The last time Wifty and I had worked together was in 2021 for an intimate performance I put together called Towards The Sky My Light. Before 2021, we’d been in each other’s orbit since our days at Morgan State where she was one of the campus’ shining voices. Since then, life has pulled us in different directions by the time we meet on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon in October. Many friends and peers have moved from Baltimore to Los Angeles over the past couple of years (see AIC: T.Ali) and she’s made that transition very recently herself residing in Long Beach. I’m excited to talk with her and catch up. With my cameras, her friends Ify and Kitty, and a dream, we set out downtown to create some low-budget magic, but not before we catch up.

T: We’re just gonna have a casual conversation. I’m just curious as to how you are.

W: Yeah! Is there anything in my teeth?

T: No –– but beauty.

W: Thank you. I’m cool.

T: You’re in school.

W: Yeah, I am in school.

T: That’s dope! So what’re you studying?

W: So, I’m studying psychology. And it all started cause every few years I go back to school.

T: Okay every few years!

W: Cause I dropped out my first year of undergrad. I was doing [something] at Morgan. I tested out of 3 or 4 classes. They wouldn’t let me take the senior levels and I was like “Fuck this shit.”  Also the Christian supremacy was a thing and I was like “I gotta go.” and so I left. Yeah, I go back to school every few years to cop a lil bag to pay rent. I don’t like working I don’t like doing 9 to 5 jobs so I be finessing. But, this time around I went back to school. I took an abnormal psych class and I used Rick James for a case study for assessing high cocaine usage and dopamine levels in the brain. I was like, “Yo, the music industry needs this! This is cool.”

T: The music industry needs cocaine?

W: No! No! No! Psychology research! Lord! The music industry has enough cocaine bruh. No, my guy, psychological research and support. And then I go and start researching Universal Music Group psychology department. No psychology department. Warner Brother Music group psychology department.  No psychology department. So I was like, “You know what - maybe I can do something here?” And then I also realized its hard to get arts funding, but there are millions and millions of dollars of psychological research funding and its easier to get than arts funding. I feel like with arts funding we’re all just fighting for scraps. So f I can figure out a way to merge music and psych then I think I have some longevity in the business outside of singing. And so I’m here and I’m currently working on my undergraduate research thesis

T:Okay!

W: I’m like, this is really cool. There’s this Black professor at USC and he does research with socioeconomic like –– this is what he does — socioeconomic research based on different things,  financial factors like race. All that shit. And he’s Black! And his aunt was on the cruise I was on this summer. And was like––And so I smoke and I’m hanging out with all the old people cause they spoke and she was like “Oh my God I love you! I’m gonna give Jerry your number!” Tell me that’s not divine as fuck! It has felt so in alignment I actually want to stay in school. So I’m in school!

T: Well I’m happy for you. School is cool. Crack is not.

W: Now that I understand it.

T: That’s good.

W: It took me a cool 10 years to be like “Oh, it’s about the networking. Not just about the degree. Cool.” It took me a minute because before I didn’t care. Not that I don’t value or like classical music, but like ––

T: You don’t?

W: I don’t. I’m not passionate about classical. I didn’t want to do the MET and  also hated being in the gospel choir and they hated me!

T: Damn! They said “Fuck that bih!"

W: No, they hated me because I was a Freshman section leader for the altos. Fuck them. They were mad at me because they were super seniors and I was in honors classes and I am a bit of an arrogant prick. I’m an Aquarius - it is what it is. I’m working on that.

T: Can I guess your birthday? February 12th.

W: No! I am not a February Aquarius. Try again.

T: I don’t know where Aquarius goes. My best friend’s birthday is February 5th.

W: You’re funny. My best friend’s birthday is February 4th. I’m a January Aquarius. January 23rd. And I’m an Aquarius sun with a Leo moon and And at 18 I was way more of an asshole than I am now so I probably came off real bad anyway. Accountability.

T: Accountability!

W: Accountability!

T: You know, because you said that word you’re gonna read that poem.

W: Okay word. It was a time. I did my astro-cartography and my education line runs right through LA so It makes sense that I want to stay in school — while I’m here.

PURPOSE

T: While you’re here?

W: Cause I don’t know if LA is home. LA feels like a mission. Like, I came here for a very specific purpose. I came here to make some shit pop with music. And I came here I guess now to get my Ph.D? Sounds crazy, but I think its gonna happen.

T: That’s good. How’re you doing with music, actually, no, while we’re talking about music I’ma cuss you out because one of them songs I sent you from your Soundcloud I said you should put it out and you haven’t put it out.

W: Which song was it? Fuck.

T: [Sings]

W: Ohhhhhhh…cause it was on an Erykah Badu track .

T: Oh, that was Erykah Badu track?

W: Yeah, So we have to get clearance for it. Thats why we have to get clearance for it. Awwww.  That’s everybody’s - that’s my  - favorite song too.

T: Okay Erykah Badu.

W: We would have to get clearance for it.

T: Yeah, that’s a lot.

W: But! I might do more RnB  type stuff. Who knows?

T: What bag are you in now? Are you in your hip hop bag?

W: I just have a bunch of hip hop stuff on reserve. So the way that song came about is, my friend who you’ll meet today their name is Ife, their boyfriend’s name is Lamar. Dope producer. And we were just talking and I was like,  “I need a new producer. I need a producer that’s close to home —“

T: Close to home?

W: Here. I need cause my home studio really is back in Baltimore and I don’t have the money to go back and forth right now.

T: Cause you’re a student and students don’t have money.

W: Students don’t have money!

W: So he sent me a few beats and I didn’t like the beats he sent for real.  But then he went home and made a beat in 12 hours. In 12 hours he sends me back this beat and I was like “You fucking get it! You understand.”  And within 24 hours I sent that track and I was like “This is what I came up with.” And so we’re gonna record the actual version of it and I’m so pressed.

T: Okay.

W: So that brought me right back into my hip hop bag because initially I have a bunch of alternative stuff. Then I had lots of full band. Witchy. Vibey. Alt girl stuff.

GRUNGE

T: We need more Black alt girls.

W: We need more Black girls who aren’t trying to be Rico Nasty. We need more Black girls that are not trying to emulate.

T: I’m seeing her on Saturday!

W: I mean I love Rico Nasty, but that’s Rico Nasty and we can’t all be Rico. I was a scene kid before it was fucking cool. I just don’t feel like dressing up and I like thick eyeliner. It’s not an aesthetic. Ugh! It’s so interesting. I feel like being grunge can be synonymous with going through bouts of depression. People don’t  talk about that. People just wanna wear the clothes and I’m like Bro, I just don’t have the money capacity to dress myself. People don’t give a fuck. They just care about the look and it’s annoying.

T: You know, it’s crazy that you say that cause I was reading — I feel like Zane Lowe right now. I am the next Zane Lowe. I am the Black Zane Lowe. Okay! That’s what I’m gonna say. That’s gonna be my Twitter name - The Black Zane Lowe. Watch out Zane Lowe. I’m coming for your nachos. But I was reading this thing online and it was talking about how regional sounds and regional wear has become. And scenes have dissolved because we’ve taken away the politics and the things that make the scenes a scene. Like everything is commodified now. So now being grunge is just about how you dress and not about circumstance in the same way that hip-hop is about an aesthetic and not the material conditions or the history.

W: Yeah.

T: People –– In the gay world we say the straight men are now dressing like butch queens.

W: Hmmmmm.

T: With the way they dress up with the earring. Breaking down “masculinity” and stuff like that. Like girl shut the fuck up. Why do you look like this? You’re not supposed to be wearing that. That’s not who you are.

W: The same way straight women dress a lot like the masc lesbians nowadays. That’s a thing.

T: I’m all for decolonizing our minds and being free, but at a certain point its like, this is appropriation, because how am I supposed to find my husband if I’m asking you —

W: and you have a fucking girlfriend or you have a boyfriend. I don’t —

T: Why you dressed like that? Why you got two fucking earrings on and your nails painted? I’m supposed to be able to ask you out and you telling me you don’t roll like that bro. Come on! Fuck outta here. Pissing me off.

W: It’s like on one hand I’m all for the spectral existence. It’s true. I’m here for the spectral existence.  But I also feel like straight people lack respect for the origins of their aesthetic and that’s where the problem is.

T: Problems. Big problems.

NONAME, DOECHII AND SOUNDS OF THE SEASON

T: What are you listening to nowadays?

W: What am I listening to? Lots of Meshell Ndegeocello. She has this song called “The Atlantis” I’ve been listening to Noname “Sundial” like front to back. I know there are some things with Noname but I personally —

T: I ain’t say nothing. Damn, why you giving me a disclaimer. I ain’t say shit.

W: No because I don’t know who your audience is.

T: I don’t have an audience yet.

W: You have a fucking audience. Anyway. You have a fucking audience.

T: Alright.

W: People are tuned in. But people have an issue with her still vibing with Jay Electronica. I don’t know the lore on that man but I guess there’s an issue. Anyway, Noname started a library called Radical Hood Free Library and she has a prison book club program. I feel like she’s doing whatever work she’s meant to be doing. Ya’ll need to leave that lady alone. Anyway,  “Sundial” is a really amazing album. I listen to that shit front to back. Of course I’m listening to “Alligator Bites Don’t Heal”. Never Heal?

T: Aht! Aht! Yes. I’m so glad. It’s Don’t Heal.

W: Of course I’m listening to that.

T: No, it’s Never Heal. ABNH. Word to Doechii.

W: Word to fucking Doechii. I really hope to open for her one day. Would be nice.

T: Okay! We’re gonna put that in the air.

W: I’m listening to Flyana Boss. I fuck with Flyana Boss heavy. Uhmmm. Who else am I listening to? You know, I’ve recently gotten back into vibing with Disney Channel Circle of Stars music . “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes” -but the one where Raven is singing lead. It’s so good. Makes me cry every time I watch it. Yeah, the Lizzie McGuire Movie Soundtrack. My favorite Disney Channel Original Movie is the Lizzie McGuire Movie.

T: That’s Black excellence.

W: It’s actually amazing. Hmmmm. That might be it. And then there’s stuff in between.

T: I’m a give you a recommendation. You should listen to Annahstasia. She is so good. She has a song called “Power” and a song called “Stress Test” that is so good.

W: You’re gonna have to send that to me. Ah-Nuh-Stah-See-Yuh. Ima still type it in.

T: I can send it to you. As an artist, what do you think are your biggest obstacles right now.

W: My biggest obstacles right now is money. It’s literally just money. It’s not a lack of support. I have some amazing people that I’ve met since being out here that give a fuck about music. They care about their craft. They like me. They like what I do. So that’s cool. The fact that you decided to come down. Like, you know what I mean. It’s not for lack of community. It’s literally just money. Money for studio time. Money to book bands. Money to pay people what they’re worth. Money to pay for food. Like, money.

T: Have you performed out here yet?

W: Uh huh.

T: How that went?

W: They’ve gone pretty well.  Even with me not feeling the best I had this one show I would give it a 94% out of 100. It was pretty damn good. We practiced our asses off - me, Kitty, Ife, and the guitarist I had on Tyler.  We practiced so fucking hard, so of course the show was really good. The other shows I think range between B plusses and A minuses.But the reception was like great. People don’t usually care like the artist themselves care - which is like fine, but yeah. So I started to build a little fanbase. It’s nice. I like it. I’m meeting good people. I’m collaborating with good people. So that’s cool. So I’m like, okay, for this to be the foundation I’m grateful, cause if it was the other way around where I had all the money but I don’t have good people I think that would really fucking suck.

T: Hmmmmm…

W: No that would suck. We have to reframe these things because yes, it is stresful, but I do care more about the community I’m building. It ends up working out. You know?

T: That’s fair. I think I’d rather have the money though. I can find good people.

W: Respect.

T: Good people gravitate towards me.

W: Respect. Yeah, ashe!  I just mean if I had a bag, but everyone I worked with, everyone that’s reaching out was a fucking asshole.

T: True! This celebrity shit does stress people out because of that reason. The industry is so sick and rotten.

W: 100%.If I had the money that I wanted now, I already have I have people in place that I know deserve that money. Deserve for me to reciprocate the energy.