The One With the Bright Future
Today’s ALL RISE series focuses on Abena Essah. At only 23, this North Londoner already has a couple of strings to their bow. Singer, songwriter, model but also poet, this up and coming artist shared with us their black and queer experience, their hopes for the future, and their music debut.
Words & Images by Audrey Damier
London’s music scene is as flamboyant and colourful as its inhabitants. The city overflows with talents that need to be heard. On a hot Tuesday afternoon, I met with one of these special ones. Their name is Abena Essah. A name that can’t possibly be forgotten. For as long as they can remember, music has been a big part of their life. But it’s only been a year or two since they took it to a whole other level. Not only do they sing, they also write their own songs and poems and models every now and then.
On RuPaul’s Drag Race, if you ever want to take the crown you have to master these four elements: charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent. Well if Abena was competing, they would pretty much snatch the throne right away, and here’s why.
Let’s begin with their charisma. As it stands, the word ‘charisma’ is extremely difficult to define. Yet, when you meet Abena, it is crystal clear that they have it. Their smile, skin, and overall appearance are magnetic and cannot go unnoticed. The energy they brought when they sat down with me and Mahla (RISE co-founder) is immaculate.
Now, let’s talk about their uniqueness. With their plump lips, deep brown eyes, mahogany skin, and coily hair, Abena is a singular beauty. A beauty so singular that it got them a modelling contract with Marques Almeida. A rare opportunity that gave them the chance to walk for the brand at London Fashion Week.
What about the nerves? Well, it takes a lot of guts to go against your parents' will. Although they graduated in Psychology as a way to please their parents, Abena always knew that they were meant for the artistic world. ‘I could just get lost in it’ is what they said when mentioning their passion.
Last but not least, the talent. If talent is described as a ‘natural ability to be good at something without being taught’ then Abena completely fits the description. They sing, model, write songs and poems and were never once taught any of that.
At 23, Abena carries two heavyweights: being black and queer. According to society’s norms, someone like them is not meant to succeed or even exist in this world. Growing up, Abena spent part of their adolescence trying to hide a part of them that was not accepted outside but also inside their own household. ‘I thought I was an error, I thought I was a sin’ is what they told me when mentioning their queerness.
While their friends, sisters, and the whole internet knew about their queerness, it took Abena a very long time before they could tell their parents. And, you would think that being selected by BBC Word First and joining the Roundhouse Collective would have made things easier for them. Back when I interviewed them in August, no amount of achievement or success could remove the anxiety in their voice when mentioning coming out to their parents. Laughing nervously, Abena told me ‘I can’t even share my poem with them because it’s about coming out to them and they have no idea’. But it seems like they eventually got rid of that anxiety and finally told their parents. ‘They didn’t take it well and I still don’t talk about it with them’ Abena revealed.
Battling with their parent’s expectations and the struggle of being black has been an ongoing theme that affected them mentally. ‘During the Black Lives Matter movement, at some point, I felt like going back home to Ghana but at the same time, I didn’t know if I would be accepted’ they revealed to me.
Despite all that, ‘I refuse to stop’ is Abena’s leitmotiv. Their determination led them to be selected for BBC Word First program, a talent development scheme. A day before the deadline, Abena submitted their work. A few weeks later, there they were, attending digital workshops with established mentors and artists.
An experience that gave them more confidence and truly helped in their writing process. Their encounter with RISE also played an important role. ‘The online workshops helped me stay grounded and focus on my music career’ they confessed.
Although it seems like poetry and modelling have completely taken over, Abena still invests a lot of time and energy in their music. A first love that they are not willing to dump.
The sound of spirituality
Every career always starts from scratch. Abena has never taken any proper singing classes nor piano lessons. They don’t have a home studio nor a band to play with. But, with the bare minimum, this talented Londoner can create a sound that will stick to your mind.
So far, Abena has only released two songs on Soundcloud: Care to Be and For a Minute. Two acapella songs that reveal their potential. An almost perfect control of their voice and impeccable use of melodies sealed with truthful lyrics that bring the depth of their soul to the surface. ‘By downloading information from the sky’ that’s how they write their songs. ‘Care to be is about unrequited love’ , they explained. A song that they had in mind back when they were 15.
Their recent performance at RISE’s Amplify event was a small but important step towards their career goals. For the moment, Abena hasn’t found their sound yet. However, Abena is clearly a hustler and while they’re still trying to figure it out, they’re working on an EP that should be out soon. ‘I create my tracks by using a garage band on my phone’ they reveal.
When you listen to their songs and understand their character, you can feel that there is something spiritual about Abena’s artistry. Their personality and voice reflects influences from artists like Erykah Badu, India Arie, or more recently Raveena Aurora and Jhené Aiko whose music is proven to have spiritual healing effects. But if you have to put a genre to it, Abena would say ‘Alt Soul’.
After meeting Abena, I couldn’t help but think about something that my mother always tells me. She says that whenever she walks into an empty shop, minutes later the shop gets filled with customers. Some kind of way to say that she brings luck wherever she goes. Well more than luck, Abena Essah brings lights wherever they go. And, with such talent, their future is as bright as the light they bring. So, Mom and Dad if you’re reading this, Abena will be just fine.
Find more from Abena Essah on their Instagram: @abena_essah_ or over on twitter @abena_essah
Follow Audrey Damier: @audrey.slmt