Emerging vocalist embracing the beat

HAVING recently performed as part of the City’s Be Hear Now festival, rapper and vocalist Inka Temam is keen for next year to release new sounds and get back into the live music scene.

Although he spent his time during lockdown productively honing his craft and making new music, Temam said having the opportunity to perform in person again was great.

“It was really good performing there, I hadn’t been that happy with a performance for a while,” he said.

“I felt good after it, I got feedback from people who were there saying it was really good.”

Having learned piano and other instruments from a young age, Temam channelled his musical skills and formed a rap group with a friend called Habit.

Although he stuck to the rap and hip-hop scene for a while, Temam’s said his tune has changed slightly over the last few years as he delved a little into RnB, soul and afro beat styles.

“When we disbanded the rap group, I kind of blended together what I had from hip-hop with the melody side of stuff,” he said.

“I have a friend, Mix by JD, who produces the rest of the tracks, he really helped to develop my sound.

“Some of my biggest musical influences would be Daniel Cesaer, Frank Ocean and Flatbush Zombies, but I also listen to a lot of classic music and stuff, a whole variety.”

With two singles and video clips currently out there, Temam said he’s looking forward to releasing another track soon and even more music into the new year.

“The next single is called Nobody and it’s featuring Jark, a rapper from Geelong,” he said.

“We also have other singles dropping, one January and nearly every month next year.”

While Temam noted that The Eastern have been instrumental in supporting his local live performances, he said the city’s RnB and hip-hop scenes should be further cultivated.

“Music is really good for the community,” he said. “It shows off all different aspects of the community like different ethnic groups all around, it’s important to help it grow.

“I think the scene here it could be much bigger, I think it’s because of a lack of artists and lack of artists getting together and organising stuff here.”