Kojey Radical on Youth Music Awards 2023 | M Magazine – M Magazine

As an acclaimed lyricist himself, Kojey knows how integral storytelling can be to the art of songwriting. ‘It’s everything and nothing at the same time,’ he observes. ‘Sometimes you can pour your heart out into the most complicated verse ever, and the line that sticks with people is the simplest. I think it’s about finding that balance of when to draw back and just say what you mean rather than perform or decorate what you mean. Just say it!’

With well over a decade of songwriting experience under his belt, the London artist’s creative process has understandably evolved over the years. ‘I used to be a heavy writer: I’d sit in my house and write pages and pages of lyrics, hoping they would fit into whatever song I was making,’ Kojey tells M. ‘I then met more songwriters and lyricists, people who I respect, and there wasn’t a pen, a paper or a phone in sight. Instead, you’d go into the booth and just speak. I took that very seriously. Obviously it’s a skill to just be able to write from the top of your head, but I think it’s less about that and more about developing the skill of telling your truth: walking in there and being honest with how you’re feeling and what the song is going to convey. Finding that was probably the most difficult process, but one that I got comfortable with working on the last album.’

That record, 2022’s Reason To Smile, earmarked Kojey as one of UK hip hop’s top talents and, understandably, he’s keen to build on that momentum with his next project. ‘I’ve recently spent some time away from music, getting in my acting bag in TV and comedy. But I’m over it now: I want to go back and make another album,’ he declares. ‘I feel like we’ve allowed too much to slip through the cracks and the balance needs to be restored, so I gotta go back to the studio and pull something together.’

While 2023 hasn’t seen much solo material from Kojey, he can look back on this year as one that featured dynamic collaborations with the likes of SHY FX, KAMILLE and Blanco. ‘You’ve got to be available to the opportunity,’ he says about stepping into the studio with these artists. ‘I can’t ever put my ego in place of the music, as music’s always going to be bigger than me: same with the song and the art. So by showing up and actually trying to contribute to all of these moments in music, it’s an opportunity. I’ve always lived with the understanding that you’ve got to grab these opportunities with both hands.’

Returning to this week’s Youth Music Awards, where Kojey will present the Lyricist Award on Wednesday night, the artist is hopeful that the young creators who will be celebrated at the ceremony will then be ‘allowed to grow’ organically after the event.

‘I think it’s about allowing young artists to grow and not making them feel like their success has to be [achieved] overnight,’ Kojey continues. ‘They can win this award today and maybe not win the next award for seven years. That’s not a reflection of the type of career they might have, it’s a reflection of how long they’re given to develop. The more you allow someone to develop, the more poignant their work becomes. I want people to be able to [make] their own way and really become their best selves.’

You can find out more information about the Youth Music Awards 2023 by heading here.