Interview: Kei Linch Talks About Her New Single “No Sé Si Tú”

We saw her grow as an artist on the Factor X program, for which she was a finalist. This is Kei Linch, formerly known as Anarkía, who now embarks on a musical career after the game show. She recently released her single "I don't know if you", which she told us about in an interview.

LatinAmerican Post: First, tell us a little about your experience after the X Factor, in what ways did this show impact your relationship with music and your creative process?

Kei Linch: The X Factor was the biggest school I've ever had, it taught me to see the music industry differently. It focused me and made me see that I want to dedicate myself to music all my life. It was also difficult on the creative side because I had a fight not to let my proposal be taken elsewhere, to keep it very faithful to me. This created some creative blocks for me. After the recordings, I couldn't write as I did before. I was psyched that "this has to sound this way or it's not going to work." However, I believe that this is a lesson in not being weak before changes and simply accepting and transforming them in favor of my project.

LP: In the X factor we knew you as Anarkía and now your music comes out under the name Kei Linch, what is behind that change?

KL: It was a name that had to accompany me to a point, it had to change because it is an immense responsibility to carry it. I didn't even want to change it because it limited me commercially but rather limited myself. I began to receive criticism and I really did not use it to represent anything other than myself and my search for freedom. This started to bother me because I wanted to make my music freely. In fact, on the show I wanted to change it but already in finals so it was too late. I then decided to face the change on my own outside. Then I went out and decided to represent myself, I stayed with the Kei Linch, which is a nickname my grandmother used to call me, I think there is nothing more authentic than that.

LP: Now you are releasing a new single, what do you want to convey with "No Sé Si Tú"?

KL: "No Sé Si Tú" was my bet to let go of the fear of facing me and my feelings. I was afraid of knowing how I was experiencing heartbreak and did not dare to write about it. Then came "Caciques" [contest program that seeks the best talent in Colombian hip hop], the final came and this instrumental; I thought it made me feel sad and melancholic. I thought it was a challenge for the final and I decided to write about heartbreak. I had to get into character because at that moment I wasn't sad, I was happy. So I lasted for two days feeling like I was on a cob and I got papery and that's how I wrote the song.

And the video was directed by Rodrigo Torrijos. I really like the concept he gave me, he also recorded the video for "Bendita" and he is a person who has always known how to capture my world visually. This time I let him flow, I just threw an idea at him and he threw others at me which resulted in the "I don't know if you" video. The most beautiful thing about this is that it is open to anyone's interpretation, it can mean many things. We simply see hurt people in the video that can mean that we all suffer and are hurt by love or lack of love in different ways.

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LP: What genres besides rap are you interested in? What would you like to mix this genre with?

KL: Since I started in rap, I have always liked to merge with jazz, with soul, now with bolero in "No Se Si Tú". I have always wanted to get out of the stereotype in which the genre is so enclosed because for me what music makes me feel in general is very valuable. Of course I want to keep hip hop as a base because it is what has saved my life and what sustains me, but I really like to give it a tinge of what makes me feel good. For example, I would like to make a fusion with llanera music because they are my roots and I will always defend that: if it makes me feel good, why not try it? At the end of the day it is what makes me feel closer to myself and mine.

LP: What are your musical influences?

KL: Every day a new artist appears and I like to listen to everything, they are all references. Perhaps my greatest references are llanera music, boleros … what was heard in my house, what my grandmother put on the radio and I was glued to the tape recorder there. I would watch and analyze the way they wrote and then start making my music.

Obviously there are also several rappers. When I started, I stuck more to the scene of Spanish rap, Venezuelan and Chilean rappers. Little by little I got closer to Colombian rappers, I don't know why but I didn't like the style here very much, it seemed more dynamic to me in other countries. Later, I got to Colombian rap and I had more references, some girls. In my ignorance, at fourteen I did not know that there were rappers because in my house you did not listen to rap, I thought "how can a rapper stop on a beat?" So then I looked and I already found more Colombian references, among them is Spektra De La Rima. Now there is Nathy Peluso, another girl who from the egotrip and empowerment formed a proposal that is expanding.

LP: Now what project do you have getting ready?

KL: I like music that makes you feel or is very visceral. So now I'm creating an EP that is going to be called "Rosa", which is my grandmother's name and that will be in homage to her. Accompanying those who have lost a loved one is the purpose of "Rosa".