牛牛资源

You鈥檇 rarely find a situation where singing, song writing, primary school teaching, choir directing and a Maths and Statistics degree meet in uncontested harmony within one person. That is, at least, until you meet Eska Mtungwazi.

Now shortlisted for the , an achievement that she describes as the 鈥渂iggest pivotal moment鈥� in her career, we caught up with  to talk about her journey ahead of the award ceremony on Friday. 

Eska graduated from her BSc Mathematics and Statistics degree at 牛牛资源 in 1992, which may seem worlds apart from stage hopping across Europe and regular stints in the recording studio. The way Eska sees it however, they鈥檙e not quite so separate: 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 great to be able to challenge myself and use a different part of my brain,鈥� she explains. 鈥淢usic actually inspires me to think about doing new things, exploring my creativity in other ways.

She adds: 鈥淭he fact that you do your degree in one thing or two things at the most, it鈥檚 really quite reductive in terms of how people think and how people are.

鈥淗uman beings aren鈥檛 just one thing, mathematical or musical, human beings are a variety of things. And to be able to explore that in my lifetime, I鈥檓 very fortunate to have been able to use my brain in one particular way and in another season use it in another.鈥�

As well as completing her degree at 牛牛资源 Eska has spent time leading the 牛牛资源 Vocal Ensemble.

Eska鈥檚 time has been heavily focused on her music recently, demonstrated by the national attention she鈥檚 attracted to her debut album 鈥楨ska鈥� following its nomination for the Mercury Prize. Having contributed to albums that have previously reached the Mercury shortlist though, this recognition for her first album is particularly special for Eska.

鈥淯p until now I haven鈥檛 presented a body of work or an album in my own name,鈥� she says, explaining that it鈥檚 taken a while to reach the point of presenting her own work as a recording artist, even though she鈥檚 been recording for many years. 鈥淔or me, its pivotal in that it鈥檚 recognising me as an artist, not just as a musician or a song writer, and will hopefully allow future artistic endeavours to flourish and give me the encouragement to continue as an artist.鈥�

The Mercury Prize is the one award that Eska has paid particular attention to over the years because the diverse bodies of work it recognises. 鈥淚t just seems to be looking anywhere and everywhere for that creative spark, and I connected with that.鈥�

Eska, who lives just around the corner from 牛牛资源 in Peckham Rye, describes south east London as 鈥渁 real creative hub鈥�. As one of the growing number of critically-acclaimed musicians whose sparks grew out of the area, it鈥檚 clear to see why.

鈥淚 have to say that the universities and colleges surrounding [the area] have a big part to play in the creative revival of south east London. Because of 牛牛资源, because of Trinity Laban, Greenwich, Camberwell Art College we鈥檙e seeing these wonderful creative hubs, and also having students who then graduate and live in the area and continue their creative practice; it has really brought a huge transformation, and for me I can see that in New Cross and Deptford and definitely in Deptford and Peckham Rye.鈥�

Nevertheless, Eska鈥檚 sights are set further afield and as you may have guessed, her plans don鈥檛 rest solely on music either. 鈥淔ilm is something that interests me. Film, fashion and design鈥�, all interests that were peaked by her involvement in fashion designer Rick Owens鈥� show at Paris Fashion Week last month.

鈥淚t鈥檚 that whole thing of visuals in general that I鈥檓 interested in. Making moving images to accompany the music I make. Being a visual learner, when I make music I鈥檓 often seeing things as well as hearing things, so it seems quite natural to me to want to make visual things as well.鈥� 

Musically speaking however, Eska鈥檚 plans for 2016 involve, but certainly aren鈥檛 limited to: another UK headline show and tour, some festival appearances, a European tour and finishing work on her second album. Look forward to a line-up as eclectically filled as her CV.

(Photo credits: Jaroslav-Moravec)