She’s Not Playing Any Games: In Conversation with Mekyja
- Emily Henman
- 1 hour ago
- 5 min read
Mekyja knows what she wants, and she knows exactly how to get it. After going viral for her “Becoming The Biggest Songwriter In The World” series on Instagram, she’s determined to be a recipient of a Global Talent Visa in order to build up her portfolio and ultimately fulfill her dream of living in London. Despite only being 23 years old, she has lived and worked in both England and her homeland of Australia. Her passion is clear from her heavy involvement in every step of the music-making process — from singing and song-writing to marketing and dynamic visuals. Among multiple single releases and live performances, she’s also produced multiple music videos: pairing compelling narratives with gorgeous imagery. We caught up with her amongst the vibrancy of Waterloo Tunnels, in the midst of filming her most recent one for "Games."
Has making music always been what you’ve wanted to do?
I've always made music, probably since I was nine or younger. However, for the longest time I wanted to be an actor and a writer. I went to acting school for a year in Perth, Australia, but it made me realise that acting wasn't my calling - I switched to focusing onto music, which I've always just done anyway. I realised that that’s what I wanted to do.
How would you describe the appeal of working in London, as opposed to other cities?
I’ve met a lot of people that don't really like London, and I will never understand that. I love living in London. Not even necessarily because of the opportunities, because I really do think that you create your own opportunities, wherever you are. I personally find London really inspirational — it feels like living in a movie. That’s kind of my whole thing, making life like a movie, so London has always been the only place that I would have ever considered living long-term.
What was the inspiration behind your latest release, "Games"?
It was completely based on a real story. I ended up seeing somebody who told me that he was in an open marriage. Eventually, I realised that it wasn’t as open as I’d thought, but I actually wrote the song before I knew that. I was struggling with the moral dilemma of something casual, wondering if it was weird to pursue, knowing that it wasn’t going to go anywhere. I wasn’t sure if following what I wanted to do was the right thing, and the whole thing felt very morally grey.
You've masterfully used social media to increase your audience and recognition. How important do you think social media can be for promoting your work in the digital age?
I’m a big advocate for how important it is. I think it's crucial to prioritise your social media because we currently live in an age that we’ve never lived in before — where anybody can be a big artist. Before, it used to be based on connections and wealth, but now you can come from nothing and know nobody. If you can figure out how to market yourself and find your niche, then you will find your audience. Once you have an audience, you have much more leverage when signing with labels, so you're way less likely to get taken advantage of in those situations. I just think it's great, and I think everybody should prioritise it. I know a lot of musicians complain about having to post on social media, and I understand that it can be difficult, but I personally really enjoy the creative aspect of it.
Do you have a preference between songwriting and performing, and how do those processes differ for you?
I definitely prefer songwriting. Right now I’m at a level where I’m mostly performing in pubs, which I’m still getting used to. I did really love a performance that I did one time with a really engaged audience and a live band, so maybe if I was to do more of that, I would gravitate towards it more. At the moment, I don't really like performing by myself with a track — I just don't think that it's my skill. I much prefer songwriting, locking myself in the room for a day and figuring out my feelings through music.
Who or what inspires you, and what influence does that have on your work?
I always struggled with this question, because it's less about individual artists and more about specific songs. I will listen to something and think, “I really want to write something like that. It made me feel a certain way I really want to create something like that.” Sometimes I'll find a song and save it, then I'll stop listening to it for a year and eventually write something and realise that it’s a very similar vibe. I hope that eventually I'll have a song for every song that I love that gives me the same feeling. If something's upbeat, I'll think about how much it makes me want to dance. Then I'll finally write a song that gives me that same feeling, and then I'm satisfied.
What can you tell us about your upcoming music video?
It has been the craziest thing ever and so stressful, to be honest! I'm leaving the country on Friday permanently, as my visa expires, so I’ve wanted to make the most of London and get it done. It’s been very chaotic, but honestly it’s always that way with me. However, I've brought a lot of people together at the last minute who have been super helpful —including somebody to help me direct, which I’ve never had before. In many ways it’s less stressful than before, because I have other people who are keen to do it as well. I still have a lot of creative control, but previously I wrote and shot my own stuff entirely. Now, it's very collaborative, and it’s really helpful to know that there's someone behind the camera, seeing how it looks. It’s been very rewarding working with somebody who has their own vision as well — I think it's so important to learn to work with others.
What's next for you?
I'm moving back to Australia, so things are all up in the air right now. I’ve just been focused on getting as much done in these last couple of weeks as possible. I’m also planning on shooting another music video back home. Once I get there, I'll probably have to get a job first! After that, I might move to Sydney or Melbourne. My final goal is still to come back to London and get that Global Talent Visa. For the moment, however, I have to expand my body of work and create a strong portfolio before applying.
Edited by Mahak Naddafi, Co-Music Editor.
