by Nadirah Simmons
Born and raised in The Bronx, 19-year-old Rileyy Lanez is poised and ready to take the music industry by storm. Last year she dropped “I’m Leaving,” a song about exiting a relationship that no longer serves you, whose video is nearing 8.5 million views and counting. The resulting visibility and fame have made it impossible for her to walk anywhere alone, and now venturing out into her neighborhood means getting recognized and asked for pictures. It makes her feel proud, because in her words, she says, “I’m really doing this.” And doing it she is.
Earlier this month Lanez dropped her EP Beautiful Mistakes on Columbia Records, on which she confronts the ending of a relationship, growth and self worth. For Rileyy it was important to tell stories that would relate and speak to people. She says, “I used to have followers that would text me like, ‘Rileyy, this song helped me through this relationship. Like, I was really in a bad place but now look at me. I’ve grown.’ This is really important to mention, you know? Because I know people are really probably going through that as we speak, you know?”
We spoke to the artist about releasing music and creating during a pandemic, “real R&B.” creating music in the digital age and more.
The Gumbo: Your new EP Beautiful Mistakes has been out since May 1. What have these past two weeks been like for you?
Rileyy: I mean, it’s been good because something that I’ve been working on for so long finally came out and the responses have been good. But, it’s also saddening because I can’t be out in the public, you know? I can’t promote it how I really want to promote it. Everything’s limited now.
It’s crazy. Were you nervous? Because I’m sure when you have a project you have something lined up, you have your rollout and you have a time table and you have your promo. And all of that has essentially been scrapped for everyone because of the pandemic.
I was a little nervous because, like I said, everything is limited. We really had big plans for this EP but it’s going to resume when quarantine is lifted, hopefully. (Laughs)
Now, I read your interview with DJ Booth and you described “a beautiful mistake” as the growth that comes after a bad relationship and coming out of something that wasn’t necessarily good for you as a better person. How important was it for you to talk about this on your EP?
It was really important. Sometimes when people are going through a heartbreak, they tend to lose all hope and give up. And sometimes they never really get to escape their pain and the sadness. So, when I say that there’s growth after a bad relationship, there is. People really need to know that. They need to know that.
Definitely. And you’ve cited Alicia Keys and Lauryn Hill as two of your influences. How has their music influenced your process and your sound?
[When] Alicia Keys and Lauryn Hill sing, you can feel. They sing from their hearts. And that’s really what I’m trying to bring to the table. I’m trying to sing from my heart. Yeah, you could listen to my words, you know what I’m saying? But you’re gonna feel my pain. You’re gonna feel the words that I’m singing, you know? So, I really try to bring that to the table. That’s really how they influenced me.
Have you been watching these Verzuz battles and seeing how everybody talks about them online? [A lot] of times people get so caught up in the conversation around what’s real R&B, and who’s real and who’s not. What is real R&B to you?
I feel like real R&B, it really got lost. (Laughs) It really got lost. A lot of people come around with new voices and sounds but that’s not much. Where’s the soul? Where’s the emotion? That’s what I’m trying to bring to the table. I’m trying to bring it back.
Now I know you’re from the Bronx. Born and raised?
Yes! Born and raised in the Bronx.
What’s it like for the people you grew up with and your family to see you grow into this star?
I mean, they’re really proud of me, you know? They’re really proud of me. Sometimes when I walk in the street, I get recognized. They’ll be like, “Oh my god, can I take a picture with you? I love you so much,” And it makes me feel proud of myself. I’m really doing this. People are really listening to my music. They’re definitely very proud of me and they support me 100%.
That’s awesome! Has the visibility been difficult for you at all?
Yeah. Certain places I can’t go by myself. (Laughs) I can’t do that anymore. I have to have somebody with me because people recognize me.
Does that scare you at all? You know, the bigger you get and the more music you put out that could only increase. Does that make you nervous at all?
No, that doesn’t really make me nervous. What really does make me nervous is that I feel like I’m going to stop finding genuine people. I feel like, during a certain stage of my fame, people are just gonna want to be around me because of my money or my status. I feel like I won’t find genuine people anymore. That’s what I’m really scared of.
That’s understandable. So, I wanted to switch gears a little bit. You also used to dance. What made you decide to pursue singing as a career and do you still dance?
Of course I still dance! I love dancing. It really helped me find my voice and my passion for music and being able to create my own music. That was literally the rush I was looking for. I love dance, you know? I’ll always dance. Dance will always be in my blood but making music and being able to sing-that’s a rush and I love that feeling.
That’s awesome. Who are some people that you would like to collaborate with or work with? Whether it’s a producer or songwriter?
Ooh, it’s a lot of people. (Laughs) I want to do something with Jhene Aiko. I want to do a song with her. I want to do a song with H.E.R. I want to do a song with Daniel Caesar. I want to do a song with Trippie Redd. It’s hella diverse. Sorry, I want to work with a lot of people
No, that’s really, really good! What does success look like for you?
That I’m stable, and healthy, happy, you know? In a good place.
That’s good. One of the last few things I want to ask you is, a young Black woman, it’s so important for other young Black women to see role models and to see people that they can look up to and have a vision of as far as success. How important is it for you to represent young Black women in a music industry like this?
It’s really important. Especially as a singer, it’s really hard for a young Black girl to get control...I guess you can say control in the music industry. Some people tend to walk over us and I’ve noticed that since I’ve been in the music industry. But, you’ve got to be headstrong. Fight for what you want. If that’s your sound, that’s what you want to do with your sound, this is what you want to do with your career, you know what I’m saying? Speak up. It’s really hard to really represent for Black women but I’m doing the best I can.
No, that’s great! I agree. It is hard.
Yeah, certain stuff I still need to learn, though. It’s a learning process too. Like, everything right now is really new to me so I’m just trying to get my head wrapped around it.
Well, look. You’ve got all the time in the world and we definitely ain’t going nowhere anytime soon so you’ve got even more time to learn whatever else it is you’ve got to. I want to know, let’s say we talk again five years from now. Where do you hope to be musically and personally?
Personally I see myself out of the hood. (Laughs) Honestly, I really wanna bring my family. I know it’s cliche to say, everybody else is saying this, but I mean this genuinely. I really want my family to get out of this place. In a better place, you know? Right now, that’s really where I see myself in five years. Just out of this place.
And what are the things that inspire you to keep going and making music? Is your family what inspires you to keep going or are there a bunch of other things, too?
Yes, definitely. I have two nephews, one niece, an older brother, a sister, and my mother. And we’re all living under the roof. They really inspire me to keep pushing. I really want the best for my family and for myself. So, they really inspire me. They help me, support me, whatever I need. They always bend over backwards for me and I appreciate it.
That’s awesome. I’m excited. Are you working on more music to come out this year, too? What else are you working on?
Yes! I’ve been writing, writing, writing this whole quarantine. Hopefully when this lifts, I can go to the studio and lay some tracks down.
Listen to Beautiful Mistakes here: https://rileyylanez.lnk.to/BeautifulMistakes
Some questions and answers have been lightly edited for clarity.