Album Rundown - Anushka

We wanted an album name and artwork that was unapologetically Black and feminine. Yemaya is an Orisha (deity), the goddess of the sea, the protector of women and the eternal mother in the Santería/Yoruba religion. She is the goddess of home, fertility, love and family and is particularly important to the Caribbean diaspora.

'So far Journey'

Victoria: The opening track on the album is a favourite of mine. When we were recording with the backing vocals I explained it to the singers as ‘a call to the ancestors’. This track is about coming back to yourself and who you are. It’s inspired by the feeling of being displaced and living somewhere that can sometimes feel quite hostile. Trying to return to something you feel innately even if not fully understood.

'You My Love'

Max: I was playing with a little loop of a modular synth and it somehow pushed the song melodically and harmonically somewhere quite strange. Almost like prog rock in the melodies, but very beat driven.

Victoria: Themes of past love, past life.

'Speak to Me'

Victoria: This song was written before I knew the name 'Yemaya'. I used to speak to or pray to what I described in my head as the eternal mother. It’s about being at one with nature and feeling the presence of a higher power.

Max: The beat was made on the OP-1 on the way to a gig in Copenhagen. Really reminds me of that lovely trip.

'You Mine'

Victoria: This song is about the fact that relationships are hard sometimes. We are sold the fairytale ‘and they lived happily ever after’, but sometimes it can be hard to find the person you fell in love with.

Max: The beat was trying to channel Hi Tek on old Mos Def beats but then the piano took it somewhere completely different, especially the changes in the chorus. Victoria came with a stone-cold soul classic on this one.

'Breathe'

Max: I made this beat on paternity leave - feeling very spaced out, but just enjoying the vibe of it on headphones quietly. There’s something quite hypnotic and rhythmic about breathing and I think that’s part of it.

Victoria: The lyrics talk about growth and change and started to set a bit of a theme for the album.

'Serenity'

Victoria: It’s that feeling when a person makes it feel like home wherever you are. When something is stressful, and you know that they can help you find your peace. Being completely content in a relationship.

Max: Production wise I was really happy with the synth sounds on this one. Skippy.

'Bad Weather'

Victoria: I love the rain. I love the sound it makes. I love the drama and beauty of a thunderstorm. It just feels so much more passionate than a sunny day.

Max: It’s also the most old school house track on the record.

'Go'

Victoria: 'Go' is about rebellion. Against the patriarchy, against racism, homophobia, misogyny, whatever. Occupying space where perhaps you haven’t been welcome before. I guess it’s about letting go of all the expectations and limitations we and others place on ourselves, especially as women. It has to be more than words - you have to go and get started.

Max: We had a session with Will from Ebi Soda. I was telling him how I love chord progressions that are sort of ambivalent - somewhere between sad and happy. He put down the Rhodes chords and laid the trombone harmonies.

'Brave'

Victoria: Brave is about how we embrace and adapt to change. Being brave enough to grow.

Max: I was aiming for somewhere between Dilla and house on the beat.

'Free Will'

Victoria: This track is about being at peace with your choices and trusting in the guidance of our ancestors. We had been talking Sartre, we have all control and no control. I think it was a reaction we both had to the state of the world we are living in.

'Did I wake you?'

Victoria: This song is about being in a long-distance relationship. James and I used to joke that I would miss him on Monday and by Friday I would hate him because he had been away too long.

Max: The beat is kind of footwork inspired.

'Move Right Through Me'

Victoria: I wrote this years ago on the piano at my mums house and it was in reflection to the time I spent at home after leaving Brighton. I had needed to leave but it had been hard. “Trust in what the Gods fear most” - our strength as human beings is our capacity to love. “Like you’ll never leave, but leave you will" - we all die at some point and leave each other and that’s where our love makes us weak. It’s the juxtaposition of love being both our strength and weakness.

'We Live in Hope'

Victoria: This was written after Eric Garner was murdered by the police. I wanted to believe that in those final moments there was some kind of calm for him. I believe that in death we all get to return home. There is a freedom in that, there is freedom in death. I always imagine a beach and the wind when I hear this song. Standing in front of the sea.

Max: The beat was made in a Youth Homelessness project in between teaching music workshops. We’ve had it for ages and I remember thinking how amazing the song was as soon as I heard it. Really glad that we finished it and it's on the record.