Laila! On Her Mom As Manager, Mos Def As Her Father, Her First Song 'Like That,' + More
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
What's up its way up at Angela ye, and y'all
look at who's here today, Layla, not my problem and listen.
Congratulations on all the success that you've been having, you know,
and when you walked in here, your mom is here too.
We talked about this years ago, that this was going
(00:22):
to be your first interview.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Yeah, we definitely did. I literally remember I was like,
how old was? I was like nine, and I remember
you were like, yo, like when you when you're doing
your thing, like you're gonna be your your first interview
is gonna be with me. I was like, this is crazy,
like it's actually real life, like we're really here.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
I remember one time you were freestyling and I filmed
it because I was like, she's really really dope, you know,
just aside from everything else. And you were such a
young baby genius as you're called, but just to see
the talent that you had at such a young age,
and sometimes it takes a while. So let's talk about
the journey, because I'm sure, like you said, when I
first met you nine years old, I was like, this
(01:03):
is going to be your first interview, and clearly you've
been doing this music thing and working for some time.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Now you're eighteen, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, So I
mean I've always known, like I mean, I'm sure like
you could tell from that that time, Like you know,
I've always known that what I've like, I've wanted to
do this with my life, Like I've always wanted to
make music.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
I always wrote songs.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
I always was singing, like I was in musical theater
and everything in band, and like I just I always
had such a love for it, and I never really
imagined myself doing anything else. And I just spent so
much time like figuring out my style, figuring out what
I liked, and like growing my strengths to the point
that I finally felt like, Okay, I can like show
(01:45):
this to the world.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
So yeah, and let's discuss like some of these breakthrough songs,
because you did put out a EP, yeah, I did,
right and even before that though, because I know sometimes
we could be not so patient for things to happen,
Like it's been, you know since I met you nine
years and I know you were doing it before that.
So how was it for you being patient to know
that at some point this was gonna work.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, Like I guess with my first song, So like
that that was my first song ever and I was sixteen.
I was like in my junior year and just like
something clicked where I was like I have to do
this because this is what I love and I want
to show the world and I don't want to be
like afraid or timid anymore. And like I kind of
felt like I grew up like enough to feel like, Okay,
(02:30):
this is like this is it's like.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
A love song. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Yeah, in a way, it was like sixteen, what do
you mean?
Speaker 2 (02:37):
But like I don't know, so I guess I just
was kind of like okay, boom, like I'm gonna put
this out and I just was posting, like just posting
it just I guess I wasn't necessarily thinking like who's
gonna see this or like you know, like I was
just like my mom loves this song, my sisters liked
the song. I like the song, my friends like it.
So I'm just gonna put it out there. And then
(03:00):
people the world just responded to it and it just
became a whole thing.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
You never know, yeah, like it just kind of caught fire.
And I think that like that was when I was like.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Oh wait, I'm onto something, Like people really liked this
and that was my first song.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
That's crazy. I thought that maybe you had been doing
songs and that's the first one that caught on.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
But that was that was I mean, I'd always written music,
like I always and so I started making beats when
I turned fourteen. And that was like during the pandemic
and like me and my mom, we were staying in
Saint Thomas. We were there for like half a year
because jealous. Yeah, it was a good It was just
it was definitely like the right move because I mean,
(03:38):
like New York was shut down. There was nothing going
on right and like everything was online and it was
so depressing. It was literally my freshman year of high
school was on the complete and.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
You got to think about how that affects kids, you know,
because you're a very social person.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I know, Like it just it gave me so much
anxiety and just like made me feel like, dang, like
this sucks. So I just spent That's when I picked
up making beats. I was like, let me just like
see if I could do this because I had we
had so much time on our hands, like you know,
and I and I always loved like making music, and
I paid attention to everything when I listened to songs,
so I figured, like, why can't I like let me
(04:11):
try to douce myself. And that's when I started making
beats and like I actually started, you know, building up
the craft and like seeing like what I liked, what
I did and all that stuff. And then by the
time it came from my first song, I was like
I'd already written so many songs and just like experimented,
but that was the one that I was like, okay,
like this is the first one I'm going to put
out into the world. And people really really responded so
(04:34):
like amazing to it that I was just like okay.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Like yeah, and I think even for like you said,
sixteen years old and what you talk about on the
song also like adad that's a thing you know, to
have the attention span to be able to actually focus
and do that. And when you say you started making beats,
what did you use? Like how did you see me
do that?
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Okay?
Speaker 2 (04:57):
So I used garage band and I still use garage
band to this day.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
I have not stopped using.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Garage band, and I guess the reason for that was
because like I didn't have like any other like dog
on first of all, I didn't have my own computer.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
It's my mom's computer. It was literally my mom's computer.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
This is before I even got my own computer, and
like she just had garage band on there already, So
it was kind of just like okay, let me just
see like it was literally out of curiosity and to
this day just stuck.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Like I ended up just developing my whole own like.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
You definitely did, because it is definitely a unique felow
and you're from Brooklyn. Yeah, right, do you feel like
you have a Brooklyn sound if you think about in.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
A way, because I feel like everything I'm like that
influences me is so like it's just Brooklyn, Like it's
where I live, It's where I'm from, It's where like
all the people that you know, I love, like have
come from or been or whatever. So I just kind
of feel like there's so much Brooklyn like in me.
But I love that as Yeah, there's so much Brooklyn
in me, Like you could, you could take me out
(05:58):
of Brooklyn, but you can't take the Brooklyn out of me.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
You're also in the Million Dollar Baby video, and people
do compare you to Brent Faires a lot as well.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
People do what's.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
The Is there any correlation? Do you know him? Has
he reached out? Because I see everybody in your comments.
I saw id jump from like twenty twenty three where
it might be like fifty comments to like six thousand comments.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Yeah that is a very yeah, that's a very popular thing.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
And a lot of people say and yeah, like we we
met in Paris, it was super cool, like he's super cool.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
And yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
I think that I listened to Brent a lot, like
in middle school, Like I think around middle school ages
when I really started developing like my music taste well
of course, like classic ar and B like Aliya Brandy,
you know, yeah those are my like two. I definitely
to samples and Brandy, Oh yeah, I like I have
so many Brandy samples like for Days, for days, y'all.
(06:53):
But yeah, so I think like in middle school, I
definitely listened to a lot of brand. I remember, like
I heard Brent for the first time on Music Choice
because this is like before I really use like Apple music,
like I would just put it like on the TV
and I heard like I think it was Crewe actually.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
And I was like, oh my god, who is this?
Speaker 1 (07:11):
And then amazing on that hook to this day. That's
a nice classic song.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
So yeah, so that was like my first I guess,
like like introduction to like Brent's music, and then since then,
I've always listened to him a lot, and he's definitely
someone that's inspired me. But I think like the similarity
like in our voices, Like I think that there's just
certain nuances and things that are so.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
I guess they're the heart in the root of R
and B two.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Like there's so many like riffs and runs that have
inspired me over time that I just feel like there is, like,
you know, it's a certain soul.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
I don't know. Sometimes I could hear, sometimes I don't.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
But you know, it's interesting because I always thought you
were going to be a rapper and you can't rap,
but now you're you really have a beautiful singing voice.
So I think when you think about like your prajets,
because you do have something coming out in September, yes,
correct write.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Yeah, I do my first official full length project.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
So what is the feel of it gonna be? And
is there a genre that you would put yourself in?
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Ah, that's okay.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
I think that I'm definitely a lot of my like heart,
my soul is R and B. I think that, like
I've just been so inspired when it comes to R
and B. I think that's like a place that I
really like love to work in and work around. But
I think that I kind of like take everything and
turn into my own thing in a way. Like I
think that I still and that's something that I really
(08:30):
want to keep with my music. It's like there's still
a sense of I want to give people that sense
of nostalgia and like the relatability, but I also want
to like make it new and fun and different and
like I don't know, just just bring people into like
a different a different space, a different Yeah, I don't know,
era of sound.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
You know, you do have the experience of growing up
in music, so I'm sure there's all different types of
music that you've been exposed to that the average person
maybe hasn't.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Yeah, for sure, I think I've definitely listen. I listened
to like everything from soul music to like indie music
and R and B and pop and funk and just everything. Like,
I think I've definitely explored so much when it comes
to my music taste. So I kind of just take
little bits of everything that I love and you know,
kind of kind of take it with me.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Now, your mom is also a really integral part and
everything that you do. I've seen you post it, I've
seen you a beautiful Mother's Day message, and you guys
have are like always together. So talk to me about
she's your mamager yes as well? Yes so and your
father's most death, which I know people have found the
picture is online and likes. So when it comes to
(09:40):
being in this music business, how do your parents feel
about that, because it is a crazy business to be into.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Yeah, I think my I'm so blessed because I've had
parents and family and support system, but especially my parents.
They've always been so supportive of everything that I wanted
to do, Like they never question like what I want
to do, like my mom, like my dad, like you
guys have always just been like, Okay, that's what she's
gonna do, Like that's that's Leila. And I feel like
(10:07):
that's always made me feel like I can take on
the world, like you know, or I can show the
world who I am because I've always had that like
in my life, like I've never been told like you.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Know, that's not gonna happen or nobody.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Yeah, yeah, like I've always just felt so incredibly supported
and like having having a mom Meger is so fun
because it's just it's really beautiful, Like my mom, you know,
she's my mom, and like if anyone knows you, it's
gonna be your mom.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Anyone loves her too, like everybody.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Yeah, Yo, it's so funny because people will be like yo,
like you know just in the Brooklyn Yea ecosystem, Like.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Oh yeah, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
So it's like everybody knows my mom and because she's
the coolest, she's the best, she's super fly, and she
is my manager and that's an amazing thing that she's my
mom Meger, Like, it's just cool having somebody that literally
knows you for real, for real and has your best interests,
like when it comes to the business and when it
comes to everything that I do, Like she's by my
side making sure people not playing no games.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
You don't play no games, and you do have your
dad's whole face you know.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Was it a conscious thing to not because I know
sometimes it's hard people are going to make comparisons. Oh
that's my safs daughter. Was that something that you kind
of were like, I don't want to be identified until
I'm there, you know.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
I guess like I just never led with it because
like I just didn't want like my talent to be
like diminished, overshadowed, and yeah, you know, just because like
and I'm proud of like my family, I'm proud of
who my dad is, and it's never something you know,
it wasn't it just I just I know, my own person,
like my own artists, and I just didn't think that
that was like something I had to mention in order to,
(11:43):
you know, get people to care about my music or
care about who I am, you know.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
And he's very proud of me. He's super septuous.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Listen, I've seen y'all together. We were Day Electronica. Yeah,
you guys we met that. I think we were in
Puerto Rico something like that, and.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
It was literally nine and we were freestyling, and that
was the day that you were literally like, yo, like
watch your first interview is going to be with me,
And I was like, okay, well.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
I saw the talent at such a young age though,
because honestly, like I'm not even kidding, because when you
were freestyle, I was like, she's really really dope, and
I can't even imagine what it's going to be like
a few years from now, and so I could never
have pictured it being like this because when I first
heard not My Problem, I didn't even realize that was you.
Everybody was putting it on their stories on Instagram. It
(12:28):
blew up on TikTok, and then I was like, oh,
let me see, and then I was like, wait a minute,
that is so talk to me about not My Problem,
because that was that is definitely probably one of the
biggest songs out right now.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Yeah it's I am like wow, honestly, just how the
world has taken it and just been like, Yo, this
is this is lit and it's like the song was
a freestyle.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
So I made the beat and I was just like, oh,
this is cool.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
I didn't think too much of it, and I just
came up with the lyrics kind of like vibing in
my room with my sister.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
And she was like, Yo, that's hard, that's fire, and
I was like cool.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
And then I literally like went to the studio like
the next day and like they're like, you'll record that,
Like that's.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Great, have to like dad, report that that's a phrase
we all say.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Yeah like that, And I don't even know like what,
Like I was just like in a vibe like I
was just like you know what, like some things just
aren't your problem. Like you, there's certain things that people
will project on you, try to make you internalize about
yourself or feel bad about yourself, and it's just like
some things are just not like.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Not my problem.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Was there something that happened in particular that triggered that.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
I feel like I feel like a lot of my
writing style is so like eclectic in the sense that
like it'll be things that don't necessarily happen to me,
but it'll just be like things that I can like,
I don't know, there's just a message that's like in
my spirit. But there was nothing specific that happened. I mean,
there's definitely things that have happened to me where I've
been like not my problem, for sure, but there was
nothing that like offset that that made me feel like, Yo,
(13:55):
this damn make this song this distract Like it wasn't
even geared towards anything specific.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
It was just it's just like a mantra about just like.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Yo, listen, it's a master There's much needed today because
the amount of people and celebrities even that have posted that.
But what I love is that what you posted was
people leaving a voicemail just kids singing ass song that
meant a lot to you.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
It does. Like so basically for.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Those of y'all who don't know, I have a we
started a hotline with you know, the release of Not
My Problems.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
You know, she's old school.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
She got a hot line, okay, because I just want
to do things that are like nostalgic and fun and
just like, yeah, stuff that that's like interactive when it
comes to music, because I feel like, you know, there's
so many angles and things that you can play with
and just like make it something that people can actually
do and like, you know, play into it. So we
made this hotline and yo, like now it has like
I don't even know how many calls it has, like
(14:48):
over like twenty thousand. That's just wild, and it's it's
so beautiful. Like when I tell you it's people. We
had to like categorize it at first and like try
like even going through the messages is so insane, but
there's like just so many sweet messages from like people
who are actually like fans of my music, like kids
(15:09):
and it's so sweet, like just saying the sweetest things,
the funniest things, like it's just so adorable. And then
there's people who are actually like talking about their real problems,
like actual things that are going on, like people, their boyfriends,
problems whatever, like just not my problem.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
It's been so like cool just to see how many
people have like resonated with it and just be calling
hotline and being like, yo, let me tell you about
my day.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
You know.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
So I definitely want to, you know, play into it
more and just like respond to as many messages as
I can.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
I've already done like a movie.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Yeah, I've already like called some people back to wow. Yeah,
so that that'll be some content that's coming soon that
I really hope. And I mean I wish I could
call everyone back.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Like it's so you don't have time to call twenty.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Yeah, but it's so sweet, like it's literally the cutest
thing ever.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
You know what's good about that song? It's so universal,
doesn't matter. There's like literally fifty year olds like not
my problem, because everybody feels like that when things are happening,
whether it's at work, at school, no matter what your
age is, you want it Okay, not my problem. Literally, yeah,
that song is saving lives. And so you did go
(16:19):
to Paris for the first time in Europe and perform.
Tell me about that now that you're moving around and
you're actually doing shows.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Yeah, so that was the coolest thing ever, like just
to be like in Paris. It wasn't my first time
in Paris, like, but it was my first time doing
like my performing. Yeah, performing in Paris, Like that was
my first like you know, performance outside of America. So
that was really cool and I just like had I
had so much fun seeing like everyone there, like they
(16:46):
knew my lyrics, they knew like they knew what was up.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
So I just thought that that was really sweet.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
And yeah, fashion week was so fun, Like I definitely
want to go back for next fashion week because.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
You'll be there. Yeah, it was a movie.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
It was a movie.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Like Paris is just super super fun and like I
was really out there, like yo, like people in Paris
know my music.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
That's so lit.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Can you remember your first ever show that you did,
because I'm sure that's still kind of fresh.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
I'm trying to think of my first show.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
The first show is always a tough one too, because
it's like you've never done it before, and usually when
people do their first show, everybody don't know the music yet.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Yeah, and this was I've done a lot of shows
like in Brooklyn, like just like local stuff, whether it's
for like a little like like block party or of
like events like small stuff like just in the community.
And then I, oh, yeah, I did. I think maybe
that was it. I we yeah, there.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
Was maybe something at like Von King Oh wow, and
I did. Yeah, it was.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
That was like one of my very first performances, and
like it was just like me like doing my thing.
But that was way before, like you know, people actually
knew my music.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
But at school where you like a local celebrity in
the school, people knew you did music performance.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Yeah, well I guess yeah, but that was before like
before it blew up.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Yeah yeah people know, but everyone yeah somebody.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Yeah, yeah I did get that, which was so sweet.
All my teachers would like say stuff. They'd be like,
don't forget me at the Grammy better invite me.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
I remembering all of y'all.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
I first interview, we talked about this at nine years old,
and that so you definitely are keeping your word. That's
a lot of people to shout out though.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Look I'm gonna be like, look y'all.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
I feel like it's also because I have like a
big family too, So every time like it's time for
a show or event, it'd be like Laila.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Plus forty three, right and the family comes. Be good.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Yeah, it's gonna be Lailah plus forty three plus the
twenty two teachers plus the forty five students, like.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
We all, we all mob being in there.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Now not my problem. A lot of people did remixes.
We saw what Cash Cobain did, but that was unofficial. Yeah,
so yeah at the moment, So is that something you're
working on to do something official.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Or yeah, it's it's stuff is in the works. I
definitely think it's super cool like that bringing that energy
back to like remixing stuff and like having a whole
challenge because it just feels it feels so like twenty sixteen,
like we used to have all these challenges going on,
like remix challenges, beat challenges. I just feel like that
was so fun and like it's such a fun spin
and also for me to see like all of these
(19:17):
artists that I love, like Black Flow Mill amazing. Just
there's like everyone everyone who got on that remix. I
was like, yo, y'all ate it, Kara Nisia, Like it
was just so fun.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
If you could do an official one, who would it be?
Speaker 3 (19:33):
I don't, I can't.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Who do you love? Like? Who would you love to be? Like?
I want the official remix with I don't know.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
I love There's so many people I love, like, I
can't even pick Brandy. Oh that's that is the trend
that I'm getting on. I'm sorry, that is the one. No,
Brandy is one of Yeah, I know she She's like
my biggest inspiration of my whole lifetime, so I mean yeah,
if she was ever like, I would be, like, everybody.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Stand down now when it it comes to a lot
of people reaching out to you, because nasty everybody in
the comments, everybody I'm sure was in the dms. What
have been things that have been exciting for you? Like,
I can't believe this person just hit me up.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Oh my god, I think, like, what's one that's cool?
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Solange liked my real yesterday?
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Oh wow, okay, that would be nice cool. That would
be a nice collab. I could see that.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
I love her so much, Oh my god, Like I
could say here and talk about like.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
All the hair practice have been amazing.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
No, she yeah, sometimes there are certain projects that it
just takes the words away from you. You're just like,
but no, that was really cool. That was literally yesterday.
I was like, what is going on, guys?
Speaker 3 (20:39):
This is so cool.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
It's everyone.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Yeah, I'm also trying to think there's just been so
many people that like have reached out. Oh Tyler when
he like reposted my song, that was really cute and
we were just like chatting. He was like, we were
literally talking for like thirty five minutes about riffs and runs.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
I love his songs fas Yeah yeah yeah that might
be one of my favorite ones.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Yeah yeah yeah they No, they're definitely super super cool.
Like that was a cool That was a cool moment too.
And just to see people like on my YouTube being
like yo, Tyler brought me here.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
I was like, that's cool.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
Do you have a plan in mind for what you
want to do? Do you want to be independent? Do
you are you like I've always wanted to sign to
this label, Like in your head, what do you see
as a plan? Because you are a baby genius son
and you have a plan.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
Yeah, I think that like right now, like I am
continuing right now, I'm working with an independent label based
in Brooklyn, so I definitely want to keep it just
like low key independent, and like you know, I just
I like it that way.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
I like to feel close and.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Connected to what I'm doing and letting the art like
run like everything, let the music speak instead of just
like you know, anything that's super analytical or super overly
you know, overdone or over because I just feel like
there's so much noise when it comes to the industry
that takes away from like what the whole point is,
and that's the music, and that's like the love for memusic,
(22:00):
and I just never want to get into anything that
like takes away the original love and everything that I do.
Like I still I'm still nine year old me, Like
you know, I still I still think about like why
I do everything that I do. And that's because like
from a little girl, I always loved this and I
always you know, I always had that drive. So I
never want, you know, to get into any type of
business situation that takes away my love for that.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
How was your eighteenth birthday? Because you did just recently
tearing eighteen.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
It was the most fun ever, I think, mom.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Thanks Mom, because my mom is like part of the reason,
the biggest reason why my eighteenth birthday was so fun
and such a success. It was amazing, Like that was
the coolest thing ever. I literally posted it like two
days before we had the party, and so many people
like popped out, people that just listen to my music,
and this is way before, like this is before Not
(22:48):
My Problem popped off and like the whole like you know,
like everything was super crazy, like this was just like
when everything was chill. I remember, like I played, I
like played a bunch of unreleased stuff and everyone one
just popped out. It was literally so amazing, Like I
don't know, Yeah, being eighteen is fun, y'all.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
It's fun.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
I was just like I was just like my little eighteenth.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
A couple of months ago.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
I don't know, I guess, but it's cool.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
It's a good time though, yes, because it's a good
time for you period anyway. So what changes now with
the huge success of a song like not My Problem
and now I'm sure the money's up. You know, the
album's coming out in September. You have a title, yes, But.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Can I say.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
Like they're having a conversation, yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Okay, okay, guys. So can I say, I'm like, okay, guys, Okay,
I'm sorry, trying to make sure. So my first official project,
it's coming out in September, and it's called gap Year,
and it's very special to me because it basically it
basically travels through the journey that I've had, like coming
from being you know, in high school and like you know,
(24:00):
teen agehood to like young adolescents and just pretty much
everything that's like me, you know, everything that I've gone through,
all the themes of like, you know, my life in
this season. So I'm very very excited about it, and
I think it's gonna be I think it's gonna be
really cool.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
Oh you're having your gap year. You're gonna go to college.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
Look y'all.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Go online take some courses.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
You know.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Yeah. I think that if I ever went, if I
was going back to school, it would be for like
music theory, because I'm like a theory nerd. Like I
just think that that is like the coolest thing, Like
I could sit and learn about that all day.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
But like anything else, no.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
Now, And some of your songs are about relationships and
love and things like that. What are the rules when
it comes to that because your mama Jerry's right here,
and I know she's like, keep these boys away.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
I think, I think, well, I don't think it's necessarily
like my mom has any rules for me. It's like me, like,
I just don't be messing around with nobody because I
just feel like these boys are and I just.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
And all of them, right, That's what I'm saying. I
don't know that's the song fly it in you you
know what it is?
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Yeah, I don't know. I just I think that, Like,
I don't know. I'm very focused. I'm a very focused person,
so I don't even think i'd have the time to
like even focus on any boys right.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Now, but right stay out of the DMS, guys. Yeah,
so she's focused. But honestly, congratulations and everything. I'm so happy, Like,
I'm so happy to see that it's you. I'm happy
to see the success. I'm happy to see your mama.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
And here with you.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
You know, my girl Jennifer working hard. That's my girl
right there, that's your publicist. It's a Brooklyn thing. Guys,
nice in this room. But honestly, so proud of you,
like jes seeing you are definitely a child prodigy, definitely
the baby genius term. Is that going to be like
the brand.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Or that's just like my nickname?
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Like I can see why, yeah, like my.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Grandma, my dad, and like my mom's like my one
of my aunties, like my mom's super like longtime college friend.
They all kind of came up with that like nickname
for me. Like that was just like a thing that
I was called. So I kind of yeah, just like.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
What did your dad say about all this? And what
did he think when he heard the song?
Speaker 3 (26:10):
Oh? He was just like yo, like this is crazy.
He's super proud of me, Like he's just like he
knew it. Yeah, he is, like we all knew, like
da got it. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
He was like he actually saw me perform like for
the first time, like in front of a crowd when
we were we were in Paris, because obviously, like I've
showed him all of my songs like throughout like just
making stuff and creating stuff and like we've created stuff together.
But he actually saw like how I was performing and
he like was it was just such a special moment
(26:42):
because he was really like wow, Like it was cool
just to see him like in the crowd like super
super vibing. Yeah, like he yeah, you know, and that
was so cool, Like it was a really good moment
just for him to like see you know, everything, and
in real time, and like everyone in the room was
feeling the energy, and I think that that was really
special for the both of us.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
So you think you'll do something with him?
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Maybe we'll see. I don't know if he's cool enough.
I don't know if it's fine enough.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
Yeah, but we'll see.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
You could redo, Umi says, I mean I would find it.
That would be dope.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Yeah, that would be cool.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Well, maybe maybe some beat stuff too, Like I'll slide
him a beat here and there.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
Make sure you try to market rate too.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
Oh, this is a business, all right, guys. Make sure
you follow her. Are you doing beats for other people too?
Speaker 2 (27:27):
That's something I really do want to expand on, for sure.
I think following my project, which is also entirely self
produced and written like by me, So yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
That's I hope you guys enjoyed that.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
But after following that is definitely something I really want
to like explore and expand on and just working with
There's so many artists that I really want to work with.
So I think that the production space is a great
way for me to do that as well.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
All Right, well, I love this and congratulations well deserved.
I cannot wait for Gap Year to come out in September. Yes,
all right, and we definitely going to see a tour
I'm sure at some point.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
Yeah, yeah, I definitely want to like just curate some
really dope, awesome events for the people that love my
music and just want to have a good time.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
So yeah, I see it off of hair, fashion, hair makeup,
you know, products, all of the things.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
Everything.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
All right, we're manifesting it right now. All right, Well, Layla,
thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
Thank you well
What's up its way up at Angela ye, and y'all
look at who's here today, Layla, not my problem and listen.
Congratulations on all the success that you've been having, you know,
and when you walked in here, your mom is here too.
We talked about this years ago, that this was going
(00:22):
to be your first interview.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Yeah, we definitely did. I literally remember I was like,
how old was? I was like nine, and I remember
you were like, yo, like when you when you're doing
your thing, like you're gonna be your your first interview
is gonna be with me. I was like, this is crazy,
like it's actually real life, like we're really here.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
I remember one time you were freestyling and I filmed
it because I was like, she's really really dope, you know,
just aside from everything else. And you were such a
young baby genius as you're called, but just to see
the talent that you had at such a young age,
and sometimes it takes a while. So let's talk about
the journey, because I'm sure, like you said, when I
first met you nine years old, I was like, this
(01:03):
is going to be your first interview, and clearly you've
been doing this music thing and working for some time.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Now you're eighteen, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, So I
mean I've always known, like I mean, I'm sure like
you could tell from that that time, Like you know,
I've always known that what I've like, I've wanted to
do this with my life, Like I've always wanted to
make music.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
I always wrote songs.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
I always was singing, like I was in musical theater
and everything in band, and like I just I always
had such a love for it, and I never really
imagined myself doing anything else. And I just spent so
much time like figuring out my style, figuring out what
I liked, and like growing my strengths to the point
that I finally felt like, Okay, I can like show
(01:45):
this to the world.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
So yeah, and let's discuss like some of these breakthrough songs,
because you did put out a EP, yeah, I did,
right and even before that though, because I know sometimes
we could be not so patient for things to happen,
Like it's been, you know since I met you nine
years and I know you were doing it before that.
So how was it for you being patient to know
that at some point this was gonna work.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, Like I guess with my first song, So like
that that was my first song ever and I was sixteen.
I was like in my junior year and just like
something clicked where I was like I have to do
this because this is what I love and I want
to show the world and I don't want to be
like afraid or timid anymore. And like I kind of
felt like I grew up like enough to feel like, Okay,
(02:30):
this is like this is it's like.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
A love song. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Yeah, in a way, it was like sixteen, what do
you mean?
Speaker 2 (02:37):
But like I don't know, so I guess I just
was kind of like okay, boom, like I'm gonna put
this out and I just was posting, like just posting
it just I guess I wasn't necessarily thinking like who's
gonna see this or like you know, like I was
just like my mom loves this song, my sisters liked
the song. I like the song, my friends like it.
So I'm just gonna put it out there. And then
(03:00):
people the world just responded to it and it just
became a whole thing.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
You never know, yeah, like it just kind of caught fire.
And I think that like that was when I was like.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Oh wait, I'm onto something, Like people really liked this
and that was my first song.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
That's crazy. I thought that maybe you had been doing
songs and that's the first one that caught on.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
But that was that was I mean, I'd always written music,
like I always and so I started making beats when
I turned fourteen. And that was like during the pandemic
and like me and my mom, we were staying in
Saint Thomas. We were there for like half a year
because jealous. Yeah, it was a good It was just
it was definitely like the right move because I mean,
(03:38):
like New York was shut down. There was nothing going
on right and like everything was online and it was
so depressing. It was literally my freshman year of high
school was on the complete and.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
You got to think about how that affects kids, you know,
because you're a very social person.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I know, Like it just it gave me so much
anxiety and just like made me feel like, dang, like
this sucks. So I just spent That's when I picked
up making beats. I was like, let me just like
see if I could do this because I had we
had so much time on our hands, like you know,
and I and I always loved like making music, and
I paid attention to everything when I listened to songs,
so I figured, like, why can't I like let me
(04:11):
try to douce myself. And that's when I started making
beats and like I actually started, you know, building up
the craft and like seeing like what I liked, what
I did and all that stuff. And then by the
time it came from my first song, I was like
I'd already written so many songs and just like experimented,
but that was the one that I was like, okay,
like this is the first one I'm going to put
out into the world. And people really really responded so
(04:34):
like amazing to it that I was just like okay.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Like yeah, and I think even for like you said,
sixteen years old and what you talk about on the
song also like adad that's a thing you know, to
have the attention span to be able to actually focus
and do that. And when you say you started making beats,
what did you use? Like how did you see me
do that?
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Okay?
Speaker 2 (04:57):
So I used garage band and I still use garage
band to this day.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
I have not stopped using.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Garage band, and I guess the reason for that was
because like I didn't have like any other like dog
on first of all, I didn't have my own computer.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
It's my mom's computer. It was literally my mom's computer.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
This is before I even got my own computer, and
like she just had garage band on there already, So
it was kind of just like okay, let me just
see like it was literally out of curiosity and to
this day just stuck.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Like I ended up just developing my whole own like.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
You definitely did, because it is definitely a unique felow
and you're from Brooklyn. Yeah, right, do you feel like
you have a Brooklyn sound if you think about in.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
A way, because I feel like everything I'm like that
influences me is so like it's just Brooklyn, Like it's
where I live, It's where I'm from, It's where like
all the people that you know, I love, like have
come from or been or whatever. So I just kind
of feel like there's so much Brooklyn like in me.
But I love that as Yeah, there's so much Brooklyn
in me, Like you could, you could take me out
(05:58):
of Brooklyn, but you can't take the Brooklyn out of me.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
You're also in the Million Dollar Baby video, and people
do compare you to Brent Faires a lot as well.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
People do what's.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
The Is there any correlation? Do you know him? Has
he reached out? Because I see everybody in your comments.
I saw id jump from like twenty twenty three where
it might be like fifty comments to like six thousand comments.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Yeah that is a very yeah, that's a very popular thing.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
And a lot of people say and yeah, like we we
met in Paris, it was super cool, like he's super cool.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
And yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
I think that I listened to Brent a lot, like
in middle school, Like I think around middle school ages
when I really started developing like my music taste well
of course, like classic ar and B like Aliya Brandy,
you know, yeah those are my like two. I definitely
to samples and Brandy, Oh yeah, I like I have
so many Brandy samples like for Days, for days, y'all.
(06:53):
But yeah, so I think like in middle school, I
definitely listened to a lot of brand. I remember, like
I heard Brent for the first time on Music Choice
because this is like before I really use like Apple music,
like I would just put it like on the TV
and I heard like I think it was Crewe actually.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
And I was like, oh my god, who is this?
Speaker 1 (07:11):
And then amazing on that hook to this day. That's
a nice classic song.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
So yeah, so that was like my first I guess,
like like introduction to like Brent's music, and then since then,
I've always listened to him a lot, and he's definitely
someone that's inspired me. But I think like the similarity
like in our voices, Like I think that there's just
certain nuances and things that are so.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
I guess they're the heart in the root of R
and B two.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Like there's so many like riffs and runs that have
inspired me over time that I just feel like there is, like,
you know, it's a certain soul.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
I don't know. Sometimes I could hear, sometimes I don't.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
But you know, it's interesting because I always thought you
were going to be a rapper and you can't rap,
but now you're you really have a beautiful singing voice.
So I think when you think about like your prajets,
because you do have something coming out in September, yes,
correct write.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Yeah, I do my first official full length project.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
So what is the feel of it gonna be? And
is there a genre that you would put yourself in?
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Ah, that's okay.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
I think that I'm definitely a lot of my like heart,
my soul is R and B. I think that, like
I've just been so inspired when it comes to R
and B. I think that's like a place that I
really like love to work in and work around. But
I think that I kind of like take everything and
turn into my own thing in a way. Like I
think that I still and that's something that I really
(08:30):
want to keep with my music. It's like there's still
a sense of I want to give people that sense
of nostalgia and like the relatability, but I also want
to like make it new and fun and different and
like I don't know, just just bring people into like
a different a different space, a different Yeah, I don't know,
era of sound.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
You know, you do have the experience of growing up
in music, so I'm sure there's all different types of
music that you've been exposed to that the average person
maybe hasn't.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Yeah, for sure, I think I've definitely listen. I listened
to like everything from soul music to like indie music
and R and B and pop and funk and just everything. Like,
I think I've definitely explored so much when it comes
to my music taste. So I kind of just take
little bits of everything that I love and you know,
kind of kind of take it with me.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Now, your mom is also a really integral part and
everything that you do. I've seen you post it, I've
seen you a beautiful Mother's Day message, and you guys
have are like always together. So talk to me about
she's your mamager yes as well? Yes so and your
father's most death, which I know people have found the
picture is online and likes. So when it comes to
(09:40):
being in this music business, how do your parents feel
about that, because it is a crazy business to be into.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Yeah, I think my I'm so blessed because I've had
parents and family and support system, but especially my parents.
They've always been so supportive of everything that I wanted
to do, Like they never question like what I want
to do, like my mom, like my dad, like you
guys have always just been like, Okay, that's what she's
gonna do, Like that's that's Leila. And I feel like
(10:07):
that's always made me feel like I can take on
the world, like you know, or I can show the
world who I am because I've always had that like
in my life, like I've never been told like you.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Know, that's not gonna happen or nobody.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Yeah, yeah, like I've always just felt so incredibly supported
and like having having a mom Meger is so fun
because it's just it's really beautiful, Like my mom, you know,
she's my mom, and like if anyone knows you, it's
gonna be your mom.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Anyone loves her too, like everybody.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Yeah, Yo, it's so funny because people will be like yo,
like you know just in the Brooklyn Yea ecosystem, Like.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Oh yeah, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
So it's like everybody knows my mom and because she's
the coolest, she's the best, she's super fly, and she
is my manager and that's an amazing thing that she's my
mom Meger, Like, it's just cool having somebody that literally
knows you for real, for real and has your best interests,
like when it comes to the business and when it
comes to everything that I do, Like she's by my
side making sure people not playing no games.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
You don't play no games, and you do have your
dad's whole face you know.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Was it a conscious thing to not because I know
sometimes it's hard people are going to make comparisons. Oh
that's my safs daughter. Was that something that you kind
of were like, I don't want to be identified until
I'm there, you know.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
I guess like I just never led with it because
like I just didn't want like my talent to be
like diminished, overshadowed, and yeah, you know, just because like
and I'm proud of like my family, I'm proud of
who my dad is, and it's never something you know,
it wasn't it just I just I know, my own person,
like my own artists, and I just didn't think that
that was like something I had to mention in order to,
(11:43):
you know, get people to care about my music or
care about who I am, you know.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
And he's very proud of me. He's super septuous.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Listen, I've seen y'all together. We were Day Electronica. Yeah,
you guys we met that. I think we were in
Puerto Rico something like that, and.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
It was literally nine and we were freestyling, and that
was the day that you were literally like, yo, like
watch your first interview is going to be with me,
And I was like, okay, well.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
I saw the talent at such a young age though,
because honestly, like I'm not even kidding, because when you
were freestyle, I was like, she's really really dope, and
I can't even imagine what it's going to be like
a few years from now, and so I could never
have pictured it being like this because when I first
heard not My Problem, I didn't even realize that was you.
Everybody was putting it on their stories on Instagram. It
(12:28):
blew up on TikTok, and then I was like, oh,
let me see, and then I was like, wait a minute,
that is so talk to me about not My Problem,
because that was that is definitely probably one of the
biggest songs out right now.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Yeah it's I am like wow, honestly, just how the
world has taken it and just been like, Yo, this
is this is lit and it's like the song was
a freestyle.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
So I made the beat and I was just like, oh,
this is cool.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
I didn't think too much of it, and I just
came up with the lyrics kind of like vibing in
my room with my sister.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
And she was like, Yo, that's hard, that's fire, and
I was like cool.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
And then I literally like went to the studio like
the next day and like they're like, you'll record that,
Like that's.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Great, have to like dad, report that that's a phrase
we all say.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Yeah like that, And I don't even know like what,
Like I was just like in a vibe like I
was just like you know what, like some things just
aren't your problem. Like you, there's certain things that people
will project on you, try to make you internalize about
yourself or feel bad about yourself, and it's just like
some things are just not like.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Not my problem.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Was there something that happened in particular that triggered that.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
I feel like I feel like a lot of my
writing style is so like eclectic in the sense that
like it'll be things that don't necessarily happen to me,
but it'll just be like things that I can like,
I don't know, there's just a message that's like in
my spirit. But there was nothing specific that happened. I mean,
there's definitely things that have happened to me where I've
been like not my problem, for sure, but there was
nothing that like offset that that made me feel like, Yo,
(13:55):
this damn make this song this distract Like it wasn't
even geared towards anything specific.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
It was just it's just like a mantra about just like.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Yo, listen, it's a master There's much needed today because
the amount of people and celebrities even that have posted that.
But what I love is that what you posted was
people leaving a voicemail just kids singing ass song that
meant a lot to you.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
It does. Like so basically for.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Those of y'all who don't know, I have a we
started a hotline with you know, the release of Not
My Problems.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
You know, she's old school.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
She got a hot line, okay, because I just want
to do things that are like nostalgic and fun and
just like, yeah, stuff that that's like interactive when it
comes to music, because I feel like, you know, there's
so many angles and things that you can play with
and just like make it something that people can actually
do and like, you know, play into it. So we
made this hotline and yo, like now it has like
I don't even know how many calls it has, like
(14:48):
over like twenty thousand. That's just wild, and it's it's
so beautiful. Like when I tell you it's people. We
had to like categorize it at first and like try
like even going through the messages is so insane, but
there's like just so many sweet messages from like people
who are actually like fans of my music, like kids
(15:09):
and it's so sweet, like just saying the sweetest things,
the funniest things, like it's just so adorable. And then
there's people who are actually like talking about their real problems,
like actual things that are going on, like people, their boyfriends,
problems whatever, like just not my problem.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
It's been so like cool just to see how many
people have like resonated with it and just be calling
hotline and being like, yo, let me tell you about
my day.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
You know.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
So I definitely want to, you know, play into it
more and just like respond to as many messages as
I can.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
I've already done like a movie.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Yeah, I've already like called some people back to wow. Yeah,
so that that'll be some content that's coming soon that
I really hope. And I mean I wish I could
call everyone back.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Like it's so you don't have time to call twenty.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Yeah, but it's so sweet, like it's literally the cutest
thing ever.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
You know what's good about that song? It's so universal,
doesn't matter. There's like literally fifty year olds like not
my problem, because everybody feels like that when things are happening,
whether it's at work, at school, no matter what your
age is, you want it Okay, not my problem. Literally, yeah,
that song is saving lives. And so you did go
(16:19):
to Paris for the first time in Europe and perform.
Tell me about that now that you're moving around and
you're actually doing shows.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Yeah, so that was the coolest thing ever, like just
to be like in Paris. It wasn't my first time
in Paris, like, but it was my first time doing
like my performing. Yeah, performing in Paris, Like that was
my first like you know, performance outside of America. So
that was really cool and I just like had I
had so much fun seeing like everyone there, like they
(16:46):
knew my lyrics, they knew like they knew what was up.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
So I just thought that that was really sweet.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
And yeah, fashion week was so fun, Like I definitely
want to go back for next fashion week because.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
You'll be there. Yeah, it was a movie.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
It was a movie.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Like Paris is just super super fun and like I
was really out there, like yo, like people in Paris
know my music.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
That's so lit.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Can you remember your first ever show that you did,
because I'm sure that's still kind of fresh.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
I'm trying to think of my first show.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
The first show is always a tough one too, because
it's like you've never done it before, and usually when
people do their first show, everybody don't know the music yet.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Yeah, and this was I've done a lot of shows
like in Brooklyn, like just like local stuff, whether it's
for like a little like like block party or of
like events like small stuff like just in the community.
And then I, oh, yeah, I did. I think maybe
that was it. I we yeah, there.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
Was maybe something at like Von King Oh wow, and
I did. Yeah, it was.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
That was like one of my very first performances, and
like it was just like me like doing my thing.
But that was way before, like you know, people actually
knew my music.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
But at school where you like a local celebrity in
the school, people knew you did music performance.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Yeah, well I guess yeah, but that was before like
before it blew up.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Yeah yeah people know, but everyone yeah somebody.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Yeah, yeah I did get that, which was so sweet.
All my teachers would like say stuff. They'd be like,
don't forget me at the Grammy better invite me.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
I remembering all of y'all.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
I first interview, we talked about this at nine years old,
and that so you definitely are keeping your word. That's
a lot of people to shout out though.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Look I'm gonna be like, look y'all.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
I feel like it's also because I have like a
big family too, So every time like it's time for
a show or event, it'd be like Laila.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Plus forty three, right and the family comes. Be good.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Yeah, it's gonna be Lailah plus forty three plus the
twenty two teachers plus the forty five students, like.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
We all, we all mob being in there.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Now not my problem. A lot of people did remixes.
We saw what Cash Cobain did, but that was unofficial. Yeah,
so yeah at the moment, So is that something you're
working on to do something official.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Or yeah, it's it's stuff is in the works. I
definitely think it's super cool like that bringing that energy
back to like remixing stuff and like having a whole
challenge because it just feels it feels so like twenty sixteen,
like we used to have all these challenges going on,
like remix challenges, beat challenges. I just feel like that
was so fun and like it's such a fun spin
and also for me to see like all of these
(19:17):
artists that I love, like Black Flow Mill amazing. Just
there's like everyone everyone who got on that remix. I
was like, yo, y'all ate it, Kara Nisia, Like it
was just so fun.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
If you could do an official one, who would it be?
Speaker 3 (19:33):
I don't, I can't.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Who do you love? Like? Who would you love to be? Like?
I want the official remix with I don't know.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
I love There's so many people I love, like, I
can't even pick Brandy. Oh that's that is the trend
that I'm getting on. I'm sorry, that is the one. No,
Brandy is one of Yeah, I know she She's like
my biggest inspiration of my whole lifetime, so I mean yeah,
if she was ever like, I would be, like, everybody.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Stand down now when it it comes to a lot
of people reaching out to you, because nasty everybody in
the comments, everybody I'm sure was in the dms. What
have been things that have been exciting for you? Like,
I can't believe this person just hit me up.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Oh my god, I think, like, what's one that's cool?
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Solange liked my real yesterday?
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Oh wow, okay, that would be nice cool. That would
be a nice collab. I could see that.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
I love her so much, Oh my god, Like I
could say here and talk about like.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
All the hair practice have been amazing.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
No, she yeah, sometimes there are certain projects that it
just takes the words away from you. You're just like,
but no, that was really cool. That was literally yesterday.
I was like, what is going on, guys?
Speaker 3 (20:39):
This is so cool.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
It's everyone.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Yeah, I'm also trying to think there's just been so
many people that like have reached out. Oh Tyler when
he like reposted my song, that was really cute and
we were just like chatting. He was like, we were
literally talking for like thirty five minutes about riffs and runs.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
I love his songs fas Yeah yeah yeah that might
be one of my favorite ones.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Yeah yeah yeah they No, they're definitely super super cool.
Like that was a cool That was a cool moment too.
And just to see people like on my YouTube being
like yo, Tyler brought me here.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
I was like, that's cool.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
Do you have a plan in mind for what you
want to do? Do you want to be independent? Do
you are you like I've always wanted to sign to
this label, Like in your head, what do you see
as a plan? Because you are a baby genius son
and you have a plan.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
Yeah, I think that like right now, like I am
continuing right now, I'm working with an independent label based
in Brooklyn, so I definitely want to keep it just
like low key independent, and like you know, I just
I like it that way.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
I like to feel close and.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Connected to what I'm doing and letting the art like
run like everything, let the music speak instead of just
like you know, anything that's super analytical or super overly
you know, overdone or over because I just feel like
there's so much noise when it comes to the industry
that takes away from like what the whole point is,
and that's the music, and that's like the love for memusic,
(22:00):
and I just never want to get into anything that
like takes away the original love and everything that I do.
Like I still I'm still nine year old me, Like
you know, I still I still think about like why
I do everything that I do. And that's because like
from a little girl, I always loved this and I
always you know, I always had that drive. So I
never want, you know, to get into any type of
business situation that takes away my love for that.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
How was your eighteenth birthday? Because you did just recently
tearing eighteen.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
It was the most fun ever, I think, mom.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Thanks Mom, because my mom is like part of the reason,
the biggest reason why my eighteenth birthday was so fun
and such a success. It was amazing, Like that was
the coolest thing ever. I literally posted it like two
days before we had the party, and so many people
like popped out, people that just listen to my music,
and this is way before, like this is before Not
(22:48):
My Problem popped off and like the whole like you know,
like everything was super crazy, like this was just like
when everything was chill. I remember, like I played, I
like played a bunch of unreleased stuff and everyone one
just popped out. It was literally so amazing, Like I
don't know, Yeah, being eighteen is fun, y'all.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
It's fun.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
I was just like I was just like my little eighteenth.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
A couple of months ago.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
I don't know, I guess, but it's cool.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
It's a good time though, yes, because it's a good
time for you period anyway. So what changes now with
the huge success of a song like not My Problem
and now I'm sure the money's up. You know, the
album's coming out in September. You have a title, yes, But.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Can I say.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
Like they're having a conversation, yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Okay, okay, guys. So can I say, I'm like, okay, guys, Okay,
I'm sorry, trying to make sure. So my first official project,
it's coming out in September, and it's called gap Year,
and it's very special to me because it basically it
basically travels through the journey that I've had, like coming
from being you know, in high school and like you know,
(24:00):
teen agehood to like young adolescents and just pretty much
everything that's like me, you know, everything that I've gone through,
all the themes of like, you know, my life in
this season. So I'm very very excited about it, and
I think it's gonna be I think it's gonna be
really cool.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
Oh you're having your gap year. You're gonna go to college.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
Look y'all.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Go online take some courses.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
You know.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Yeah. I think that if I ever went, if I
was going back to school, it would be for like
music theory, because I'm like a theory nerd. Like I
just think that that is like the coolest thing, Like
I could sit and learn about that all day.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
But like anything else, no.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
Now, And some of your songs are about relationships and
love and things like that. What are the rules when
it comes to that because your mama Jerry's right here,
and I know she's like, keep these boys away.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
I think, I think, well, I don't think it's necessarily
like my mom has any rules for me. It's like me, like,
I just don't be messing around with nobody because I
just feel like these boys are and I just.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
And all of them, right, That's what I'm saying. I
don't know that's the song fly it in you you
know what it is?
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Yeah, I don't know. I just I think that, Like,
I don't know. I'm very focused. I'm a very focused person,
so I don't even think i'd have the time to
like even focus on any boys right.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Now, but right stay out of the DMS, guys. Yeah,
so she's focused. But honestly, congratulations and everything. I'm so happy, Like,
I'm so happy to see that it's you. I'm happy
to see the success. I'm happy to see your mama.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
And here with you.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
You know, my girl Jennifer working hard. That's my girl
right there, that's your publicist. It's a Brooklyn thing. Guys,
nice in this room. But honestly, so proud of you,
like jes seeing you are definitely a child prodigy, definitely
the baby genius term. Is that going to be like
the brand.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Or that's just like my nickname?
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Like I can see why, yeah, like my.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Grandma, my dad, and like my mom's like my one
of my aunties, like my mom's super like longtime college friend.
They all kind of came up with that like nickname
for me. Like that was just like a thing that
I was called. So I kind of yeah, just like.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
What did your dad say about all this? And what
did he think when he heard the song?
Speaker 3 (26:10):
Oh? He was just like yo, like this is crazy.
He's super proud of me, Like he's just like he
knew it. Yeah, he is, like we all knew, like
da got it. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
He was like he actually saw me perform like for
the first time, like in front of a crowd when
we were we were in Paris, because obviously, like I've
showed him all of my songs like throughout like just
making stuff and creating stuff and like we've created stuff together.
But he actually saw like how I was performing and
he like was it was just such a special moment
(26:42):
because he was really like wow, Like it was cool
just to see him like in the crowd like super
super vibing. Yeah, like he yeah, you know, and that
was so cool, Like it was a really good moment
just for him to like see you know, everything, and
in real time, and like everyone in the room was
feeling the energy, and I think that that was really
special for the both of us.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
So you think you'll do something with him?
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Maybe we'll see. I don't know if he's cool enough.
I don't know if it's fine enough.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
Yeah, but we'll see.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
You could redo, Umi says, I mean I would find it.
That would be dope.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Yeah, that would be cool.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Well, maybe maybe some beat stuff too, Like I'll slide
him a beat here and there.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
Make sure you try to market rate too.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
Oh, this is a business, all right, guys. Make sure
you follow her. Are you doing beats for other people too?
Speaker 2 (27:27):
That's something I really do want to expand on, for sure.
I think following my project, which is also entirely self
produced and written like by me, So yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
That's I hope you guys enjoyed that.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
But after following that is definitely something I really want
to like explore and expand on and just working with
There's so many artists that I really want to work with.
So I think that the production space is a great
way for me to do that as well.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
All Right, well, I love this and congratulations well deserved.
I cannot wait for Gap Year to come out in September. Yes,
all right, and we definitely going to see a tour
I'm sure at some point.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
Yeah, yeah, I definitely want to like just curate some
really dope, awesome events for the people that love my
music and just want to have a good time.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
So yeah, I see it off of hair, fashion, hair makeup,
you know, products, all of the things.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
Everything.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
All right, we're manifesting it right now. All right, Well, Layla,
thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
Thank you well
Way Up With Angela Yee News
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Angela Yee
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