This weeks installment of UpClose sees us in conversation with enamoring Birmingham funk duo EKKAH following the release of the mesmerising ‘Wendy’s Yard’.
It almost seems fitting that the duo that comprise EKKAH (essentially) share a forename as it mirrors and forebodes the razor-sharp level of chemistry and cohesiveness that pair exude within their sound. Rebekah Pennington and Rebecca Wilson have honed and perfected their brand of modern day funk, and splashed it with enough elements of the past and the present to create a sound that feels thoroughly exciting, new and irresistibly danceable.
Latest single ‘Wendy’s House’ just further pushes this narrative, and while the duo’s renowned live shows are currently on hold, they are still making waves with their air-tight sound and the tracks creative self-directed video. We had a chat with EKKAH to find out some more about the duo and their plans.
EKKAH! It’s great to have a chat! We love your music as you well know. We’re so happy to hear new stuff from yourselves, tell us a bit about ‘Wendy’s Yard’?
We wrote Wendy’s yard in Stockholm with producer and friend of ours Calle Ask. We wanted to write about a place where anything goes, people can be who they wanna be and there us no judgement. Bex’s Grandma is called Wendy and she’s always been wild (literally) so it felt right to name it after her!
What part of the musical process do you enjoy most, and why? is it performing live, creating your tracks, or..?
Creating something new in the world that wasn’t there before is the best feeling ever and definitely a driving force behind our music, however, nothing beats partying on stage with our fans and performing our music around the world which we can’t wait to get back to
2020 has been such a crazy year for musicians, how much has it had an impact on your music, and the band?
A core in EKKAH has always been keeping a positive mental attitude. Even though so many of our plans and shows got cancelled this year we’ve made the most of 2020. We got in our studio and worked with some incredible people all via video call. We also released Giving Up On, Room 4 Love and shot a whole music video virtually with people submitting videos of themselves dancing at home during lockdown with the incredible Betty Lish producing it! And of course, we released Wendy’s Yard on the 4th of Dec accompanied by a self-directed, self-shot and self-styled video featuring our good friend Holly Prentice (just 3 women, 2 iPhones and 1 evening!) so it has pushed us to try new things.
We know first hand that an EKKAH live show is the talk of the town in London when they roll around, what should one expect from an EKKAH live show?
ENERGY! We’re here to party and make people dance – we’ve always said this is our number 1 goal. Expect love and compassion and a place where you can truly be who you want to be.
An oh so generic question, but let’s end on a classic. What does 2021 have in store? Festivals/shows/new music?! Tell us all you can!
We’ll let the vaccine answer that one…(lol)
