Festival season is just around the corner.
And Galway-based rapper Sweetlemondae is going to be lighting up the stage this year at festivals like Forbidden Fruit and Body & Soul.
VIP Magazine caught up with her for a quick chat…
Heya, how are you?
I’m good, I’m chilling!
You’re going to be busy this summer, how did you get into music?
I started when I was maybe eight or nine. I started messing around with music but I didn’t really know what I was doing. Then the pandemic really gave me the time to really focus on making this a career. I was working on an EP and I dropped that. It definitely opened doors to me. Then I started doing shows. I think shows are very underrated because you get to meet people and connect with them. That’s important because when you start connecting with people you might start collabing with them. I started working with Diffusion Lab last year and we did a couple of songs. We’ve been releasing them one by one.
Are you excited to get back on the festival scene?
I did some festivals last year but I’m excited more this year. I know what festivals are like, I know my songs a lot better and I’m a lot more comfortable performing them. It’s going to be a lot more fun this year.
What is it like performing to a crowd?
I’m always really nervous before I go on stage. I always think I’m going to mess up. Once you get past the first song you start to enjoy it as well. You get to share what you made with people. Seeing their faces and seeing them dance and connect with your songs, it’s a really nice feeling.
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What is the first thing you did this morning?
I tidied up, I washed the dishes, I did some sweeping! Got my life together in some way!
Who would play you in a movie?
Who would play me? Oh! I’d love to say Kehlani but she’s super cool! I wish I was Kehlani.
How would you spend your perfect day?
I would wake up and have a nice breakfast. Then I would go to the studio and spend a few hours in then, doing, maybe nothing productive but just being there. I would have some good conversations with people, learning stuff and connecting with people. That would be my ideal day.
Who are your three dream dinner guests?
I’d say, Oprah! Then I’d say Jay Z. Maybe Doja Cat, just for fun! Oh, wait, maybe Rihanna! She would give me great business advice. I would definitely be taking notes.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received?
As long as you’re trying you can’t be too hard on yourself.
Who is the person you look up to the most?
I think there are so many different people for so many different reasons. So to pick one person is hard. I’m going to say Lexii Alijai, just because she inspired me so much.
As a female rapper, do you feel more pressure to prove yourself?
100 per cent. I feel like I have to prove myself all the time to show that I can rap and I’m good. I don’t know if that pressure will ever go away, I want to be the best. I don’t want people to be like, “Oh she’s a female rapper”. I just want to be a good rapper. Us women have to work 10 times harder just to get noticed. And even at that, you’re always going to be categorised as a female director or a female rapper. It’s annoying.
What is the TV show or book that you wish you could watch or read for the first time again?
Gossip Girl! I love, love, love! And a book, probably The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It’s such a good book.
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What am I bingeing at the minute?
I’m bingeing a lot of the reality TV shows. Love is Blind, it’s so good. The Ultimatum as well. I’m so cringey with my TV. I can’t wait for Love Island as well. I’m like bring it on!
If you weren’t a rapper right now, what would you be doing?
I would probably be doing a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff. Probably on the producing side or the PR side or doing managing.
Where is your favourite place to be?
I love being at the beach. Anywhere near water makes me happy.
What’s on your bucket list?
Get a car! [Laughs] Travel. I want to travel everywhere. I want to learn how to surf. I want to learn how to play the bass guitar. There a whole lot of other things too!
Where would you like to see yourself in five years?
I would like to have two albums out. I would like to do a world tour. I would like to set up something else as well, maybe managing or setting up my own label. Just something to give myself space to not be at the front.
