Every year, ARMC collaborates with different export offices to bring European talent to the ARMC by Night stage. This time we introduce to you our next international artist, Papa from UK, whom you don’t want to miss at the ARMC stage by night. Big thank you to the PRS Foundation for making this exchange possible!
In this interview, Papa takes us on a journey from his choir days at church to late-night jam sessions with his improv band “The Jim Jams”, and recording albums in pillowcase-lined cupboards. Drawing inspiration from Disney legends and Afrobeat icons, Papa speaks on his creative process, meaningful collaborations, and what fans can expect from his upcoming set at the Africa Rising Music Conference. Dive in for volcano hikes, funk-fueled wisdom, and the beauty of musical storytelling with purpose.
Hey Papa, we’re so honoured to have you! Could you tell us about yourself and how your journey into music began? What sparked your inspiration to start making music?
I hail from the divinity that is Kenya, my motherland, though I’ve got British roots too, having lived in the UK most of my life.
My journey into music began in the choir at church, then took a curious turn when I started learning flamenco from a fun guitarist named Keith Goddard. At the same time, I was being seduced by Blues, Funk, and Jazz on the airwaves, which eventually led to jamming with an improv band that came to be known as The Jim Jams. A ragtag, merry bunch of rhythm-soaked, brass-drenched jubilation merchants who blazed a trail for about a decade before flaming out spectacularly and settling into this tighter, more focused trio.
The inspiration? I’ve always found it difficult to communicate my emotions verbally. Music is my vehicle for doing so through storytelling. Channeling love, grief, anger, and everything in between in one of the healthiest and most cathartic ways I know.
Who are your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your work?
I’m deeply influenced by the old school Disney musicianship – geniuses like Alan Menkin, Howard Ashman, and Tim Rice – who produced some of the most iconic soundtracks of our time, with storytelling that immersed me in cultures far and wide.
Haruki Murakami, though a novelist, inspires my creative discipline – the way he runs and writes every day with incredible consistency. The music equivalent would be someone like Tommy Emmanuel, phenomenal blues guitarist.
The rhythmic complexities from Fela Kuti’s afrobeat, the raw emotional delivery of Nina Simone, and that funk-driven energy from James Brown—all of it swirls together into something that is undeniably PAPA, and that we hope to imbue into this next album and performances: wistful, hopeful, MOTHERLAND optimism personified.
Can you walk us through your creative process when making a new track?
The creative process nowadays is much more considered and collaborative. For the last two albums, I had written about 40 songs and played them out at open mics all over the place to whittle them down. There’s something about that live energy—watching people’s reactions in real time – that tells you immediately if you’ve got something special or not.
At the same time, anatu was making hundreds of beats, and Andrew Ace was scatting billions of basslines. The group chat was constantly buzzing: “Let’s take that riff and try it with this beat,” or “That melody works well here, but I think we can scrap this chorus,” and so on.
Each song tends to be written with someone specific in mind.
“Find Someone” for our sisters who so deserve love.
“Baba, I Understand” for our Fathers, who deserve forgiveness.
“Mamamayako” for our mothers, who are life.
It grounds the work. We meet in person, jam it out, record in a cupboard using pillowcases as mufflers, and albums are born.
What has been your most exciting collaboration so far?
Having Will from Will and The People on “Thumping” from my upcoming album was an absolute honour.
“I hope she woke up on the right side of bed, and I didn’t cheat in her dreams.” Working with anatu has been transformative. We’ve known each other for decades now.
There was even an (unofficial) Wim Hof collab on “Time (to Breathe)” from the Legacy album.
Over the years, more than 50 different people have come in and out of the band—the Jim Jams.
A dash of drums here, a pinch of horn there, a tablespoon of boiling Memphis guitar sprinkled in.
Each one of those collabs was exciting in its own unique and special way.
What can fans expect from your set at Africa Rising Music Conference?
We want to emphasize heartfelt moments with music that connects. Expect to feel sunshine and rain.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to up-and-coming artists?
I’m inspired every day by those who are kind, humble, generous, warm spirited, curious, and passionate. My most transcendent creative moments have happened during periods of deep immersion in the wild: climbing a volcano, hiking a glacier, or simply jogging through a new city.
What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects or releases we should look out for?
The last album, our fourth, “Down In The Dirt”, was the first opportunity we’ve taken to branch out and do something more bombastic harking back to the Motown era. The next album will have a heavy African and Latin influence, I’m attempting to nudge the team into calling it MOTHERLAND. It’ll drop when its ready, but we’re sharing snippets & taking a leaf out of the Jon Bellion style of guerrilla connecting with those who vibe with us.
The next album will have a heavy African and Latin influence. I’m attempting to nudge the team into calling it MOTHERLAND. It’ll drop when it’s ready, but we’re sharing snippets and taking a leaf out of the Jon Bellion style of guerrilla connecting with those who vibe with us.
How do you want your music to impact people?
To feel both grounded in their roots and free to transcend them.
RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS
If you had to describe your music using only three words, what would they be?
Disney. Afro. Soul.
What’s your go-to guilty pleasure song?
The Scatman.
If you could create your dream festival lineup, who would be your top three headliners?
Buena Vista Social Club.
King Curtis on horns, Bernard Purdie on drums, Cornel Dupree on guitar, Jerry Jemmott on bass.
Stevie Wonder on keys. John Mayer on Guitar. Bootsie Collins on Bass. Jack Costanzo on the bongos.
Thank you very much for the interview, we’re excited to see you soon at ARMC 2025!
