POINT ZERO WORLD

Who is really Miles from Kinshasa ? For less then ten years, Miles from Kinshasa is revealing some profound parts of himself in his music and projects. A star in the making, he is embracing his art, his career and himself, not without some troubles but always with conviction and beauty. In this interview, he comes back on the meaning of his art, how he composes and also, his definition of love and creativity !

Pictures by moment_de_grace & Lunaticharlie

PZW : Déjà merci de me rencontrer, je voulais savoir déjà comment tu vas, pour commencer ? 

MFK : En ce moment ? Agréable, fatigué, mais…

PZW : Tu peux répondre anglais.

MFK : Yeah, I can’t complain ! 

PZW : Okay so I have…

MFK : I’m sorry, et vous ? 

PZW : Ah tu ne peux pas me demander ça (petits rires) mais ça va. So my first question is about your alias, your artistic name…

MFK : Okay !

PZW : So your name is “Miles from Kinshasa” and the first time I saw it on Spotify or Instagram I was like “oh his name is Miles”. And the other day I was talking with my friend Grace and she told me “oh he is far away from Kinshasa !” and yes, I didn’t connect. So now I understand. So you’re Miles from Kinshasa, far away from the country of your grandfather, Bukusu. And also the origins of your family and the country where you are born. Miles away from the rich and this big country that has seemed to inspire you, in your art and your music…

MFK : Of course ! 

PZW : So, how come RDC has inspired and influenced you ? And what is your relationship with it ? 

MFK : So what I can say is, the reason Congo has influenced me is because I grew up in a household where my parents made me feel like we were in Congo. Of course they came to Europe, it was not going to be the same as Congo, but it felt like it. From the food, the culture, our traditions, even if they have rules that don’t make sense (laughs) all of that stuff ! So I think I will always have a lot of “congolese” in me and I think it makes me appreciate it more.

PZW : What is your relationship with the country?

MFK : I guess it’s still developing because I only went back for the first time in 2015. It feels like a long time ago, it’s crazy.

PZW : How old were you ? 

PZW : I was about to ask, why « Miles from Kinshasa ? But I think you have just responded. But are you sure ?

MFK : You know why? I’ll tell you, there are two reasons. No, three. I mean, one : I just think it’s a smart name and I feel like it’s a good introduction, straight away like « Kinshasa, what’s Kinshasa ? ». But then is his name Miles ? Is he miles away ? So I think it just gives something interesting. But also when I came up with the name, I could already see it everywhere : on the front page of the magazines, on the front of the venue. So it really felt like it was I don’t know, it felt classic. I wanted it to be a smart name and I wanted it to be something where when you see the name, you’re like « what is this » ?

PZW : And it works ! So I know that you have lived in different places and spaces during your childhood and your life. So I wanted to know who have raised you ? I think that you told me it was your parents ?

MFK : Yeah, it’s a mix of… Obviously my parents because I used to spend a lot of time between the age of 5 to 11, I would go on summer holiday to Lyon, because one of my uncles lived there. But then he moved to America and most of my other family were in Paris. I would come to Paris before, but not as much. Sorry, what was the question again?

PZW : Who has raised you ?

MFK : Yes. My uncle, very early, was a big influence. He bought me my first CD, which was « Sisqó – Thong Song ». That’s a crazy first single. So he raised me and he probably influenced me a lot because it bought me my first Walkman as well.

PZW : Okay, so it’s a good uncle !

MFK : Exactly ! He just wanted people to follow their passion. And then in Paris, I would say my aunties, because I spend a lot of time with my aunties. Yeah. And I guess my brother as well. My brother lives here as well. There’s a big community within our family, you know.

PZW : Where do you feel at home ? And do you have multiple homes, by the way ?

MFK : Sorry ?

PZW : Do you have multiple homes and spaces ? 

MFK : I mean, in Paris, I’ve got a lot of places that I can go and to stay to but I think London is definitely home. Just because I just know how to move in a certain way in my city. But I always say Paris is my second home because I don’t feel away from home when I’m here. So it’s very close, but obviously, London is London, but you never know I might move here one day.

PZW : And who are you? What’s your name? Who are you really ? How can you introduce yourself?

MFK : Who am I really? That’s a good question ! I would say…I think… It’s a good question because I thought about it everyday. I am representation. What I mean by that is maybe I might not become the biggest artist in the world. Who knows ? I don’t know.

PZW : But do you want to become the biggest artist ?

MFK : I don’t really care, I just want to have a good career and just be able to take care of my friends and my family and stuff like that and just have fun. But the reason I say « I’m representation » is because I think there are people younger than me that need to see me in this space because when I was younger, I wished there was an older me that I could see so I could be like  » I want to do that one day ». You know what I’m saying ? So for example, my cousin, who you see, is 19, we came to the studio the other day, that’s perfect !That’s exactly who I’m trying to speak to. So that’s who I would say I am. 

« Every time I go out, I do market research. I’m listening to what the songs are doing to people, how they’re reacting »

PZW : Okay. And in terms of personality, how can you present yourself ? I don’t know, are you an introvert, extrovert ?

MFK : I grew up as an only child. So in the house, but obviously I have my brother here, so we didn’t really live together. I can be very introverted, but around those that I love, I’m super silly. I don’t know, sometimes I say things and « I’m not okay in the head ». I think I’m very silly, I like to just have fun, jokes, but also when I’m focused, I’m very focused. There’s no I don’t know if I have a middle, I think I’m either really, really focused or I’m really, really just messing about.

PZW : I don’t know if there’s a word for that ?

MFK : Yes, I know you mean, I think there is a word for it.

PZW : Ambivert ?

MFK : I think sometimes it can be like… I think it’s called something introvert or something extrovert. I can’t remember what it’s called, but people in psychology know the shit that I don’t know. 

PZW : You are now based in London. I wanted to know how your life is there and your creative life and path ? Is it hard to be an artist in London ?

MFK : Is it hard ? I mean, being an artist it’s hard just in general. To think about it, I think London is very expensive. So it means that to be an artist in London, you have to sacrifice a lot of fun to do what you really want to do simply because you can have fun but it’s quite expensive. Music stuff requires money and a lot of time, so you have to think about it. But in terms of creativity in London, I don’t know, I guess I just like to write about random shit that I see or a random phone call that I had with someone. When I make a song when I’m in London, I’m always thinking about my day to day life. So if I want the truth, for example, I’ll just write some shit and it might not even be for a song. And I’ll come back to it when I’m in the studio and it’ll remind me of that whole day. So maybe someone might have done something. But also I think my process in London is I’m just watching what’s happening whereas in Paris, I feel like because I’m never here for so long, I’m just soaking in everything. Everything that’s just happening, I just soak it in ! So for example, the other day I went to Wanderlust. My friends came from London and they were like, Yo, we’ve got to go out, etc, etc. I went to Wanderlust last year for « Recess », which was amazing and my friend was like « Oh, there’s an event at Wanderlust » and I was like « I don’t know how good it’s going to be ». But I went to one last year and it was good. We went there, it was a vibe. But every time I go out, I do market research so I’m listening to what the songs are doing to people, how they’re reacting, and they play a lot of Amapiano, Dancehall, etc. And I don’t know, when I went to the studio the next day, I didn’t ask the producer to make something like that, but I just wanted that energy. Then he played something and it was that exact energy and then I guess I just took it straight from that night before I put it into the song. Sometimes in London, that doesn’t always happen because your brain is maybe stressed about real shit that’s happening. But when you’re abroad, you forget about those things in your life and you just have fun.

PZW : It feels like your music is really nourished by your life experiences, some are not really soft, because at the studio the other day, you were talking about your tattoo, the story of your tattoo, and it was so sad !

MFK : Yeah, I know it’s crazy. But you know what ? I feel like that story is sad, but also sometimes I laugh at it as well because I’m like…

PZW : You can laugh about it ?

MFK : No, do you know why ? Because I just think to myself, think about it : If obviously I had not survived that year, there would be no « Miles from Kinshasa. So you would have got no « Ivry », no « Don’t be an opp », these things will not have existed. You see what I’m saying ?

PZW : Is it your superpower or something ?

PZW : So I was saying your music is nourished by your life experiences, some are not very soft and easy. So how are you transforming those conflicted experiences into calm and beautiful songs ?

MFK : How am I transforming that into ?

PZW : Soft or calm songs.

MFK : I don’t know, my job is just to be honest. Obviously, when you entertain, you have to dramatize because even when we watch films, it’s an exaggeration of the story. So you have to exaggerate. But yeah, I think my job is just to tell the truth, whether or not it is something that’s a subject that’s very deep or something that’s very light. I think for me, as long as when I’m on the song, I’ve said everything that I felt on the day, I’m okay !

PZW : Okay ! And how do you explain the… I don’t know. I don’t want to say it, but I think you’re kind of not sad, but melancholic.

MFK : I am !

PZW : Your songs are so beautiful and not very sunny, but it’s… I think they are making everybody good, but in a smooth way. But the subjects that you are talking about in them are not really…

MFK : You know what I think ? That’s interesting !I think that’s something I’ve developed over the time. So for example, a good example of that is, you see in life, say a guy comes up to you right now and two guys could come up to you and say the same thing. But if the approach is different, one is going to be successful, the other one might not be successful. Or all might be even unsuccessful. But the reason that one would be unsuccessful and one would be successful is because of the approach. And I feel like… So sometimes I say some stuff, that’s mad. Wow, how can you say that on its own? But because of the way that it’s been said, I think you can receive it in a way where you’re like « Oh, that’s funny ! ». You see what I’m saying ? Rather than it sounding aggressive or rude or something like that. I think that’s something that I’ve worked on over the years because I think a lot of my favorite artists are very cheeky, but they do it in a way that’s very smooth. Frank Ocean is probably one of my favorite examples of that because he would say some crazy shit, but just because he sang it in such a sick way, it’s okay.

PZW : And it shows, and it shows. Who are the others?

MFK : Jai Paul, of course…

PZW : Oh he’s British?

MFK : Yeah, he’s crazy, he’s sick. I don’t know if I’ll get canceled for this, but Kodak Black is my favorite rapper.

PZW : Really ? Oh my god !

MFK : Okay, I’m lying. He’s not my favorite rapper, but he’s one of my favorite rappers. But he is so direct and I can only respect someone for being that carefree because I can’t be, I think there’s a certain level where I’d be that I can’t say that. Also, I just feel like he’s got skills in the way he does what he likes as well, I know he’s a problematic guy, definitely. But I’ll be real, we all listen to problematic guys, so let’s be real. You know what I’m saying ?

PZW : Hmmm…

MFK : I think we all have a little one. You know that meme of Russell Westbrook ? You know what I’m saying ?

PZW : Yes !

MFK : Who else ? Kelela, love Kelela. Tony Braxton, I love Tony Braxton,that’s one of my favorite voices of all time. I love the 80s, so Phill Collins, George Michael. Yeah, all of that stuff ! I guess I’m influenced by everything. But I love the melody, like Tame Impala, I can listen to it the whole day with no other songs, I love the melody. That’s it. There’s probably more, but I just can’t really find it.

PZW : You are an artist, but would you describe yourself as a singer or a vocalist or a rapper ?

MFK : My goal is to be able to do both at the same level !

PZW : Okay !

MFK : Actually, not even both at the same level, my goal is to get to a point where you don’t know if I’m singing or rapping. I think it’s going to be hard because everybody nowadays does that. But I feel like there’s only a few artists that do it at a very high high level. That’s my goal. If I can get to that level, then it would be a nice thing.

PZW : I have another question, but I think you have kind of responded to that already but answer it sincerely : do you feel conflicted right now in your life ? And by the way, how would you define your music?

MFK : How would I define my music ? When you say define, what do you mean ?

PZW : Define.

MFK : Define. Okay. What was the first part of the question ?

PZW : Do you feel conflicted right now in your life? Maybe it’s too personal…

MFK : I do ! I wouldn’t say why because I’m still trying to I figured it out, I guess. Wait, what was the second half again ?

PZW : Do you feel conflicted right now in your life ? And by the way, how would you define your music ?

MFK : Okay. I do feel conflicted in my life in different areas, whether it be career wise, whether it be love life and stuff like that. But I wouldn’t say I feel any more conflicted than I’ve ever been before.

PZW : It’s good !

MFK : I guess I’m always in that place of just like, Oh, maybe this, maybe that, etc. How would I define my music ?

PZW : Maybe it can’t be defined ?

PZW : Oh it’s a good answer ! 

MFK : Thank you !

PZW : Okay, that’s a good answer. So from « Glitchin’ », Paranoïa », « This Side » or maybe « Can we just talk instead ? « , it looks like love is the epitome of your music. Maybe I’m wrong but you seem to have complex love stories, very high and low rhythmic relationships, and where you sometimes run away… 

MFK : You did you researches (laughs)

PZW : So my question is, are you afraid of love? Are you afraid to be loved? And are you aware of your limits and fears ?

MFK : Oh that’s a good question ! I guess, yeah, I guess (laughs). No, you know what ? I’m not afraid of love, but I’m afraid of everything else that can come from it when it just doesn’t work because I feel like both sides have to heal. So you have to do it again, you know what I’m saying ? And then the second half of your question was ?

PZW : And, are you aware of your limits and fears ?

MFK : Definitely aware of my limits, 100 %, I won’t lie to myself. Even the other day on stage, when I tried to do a certain note, I was like « no, I need to get better, I need to do that way better ».

PZW : What about your limits and fears about love ? 

MFK : Oh about love ? I’m learning more about my fears as well in terms of love. But I think ultimately, I’m still learning because I feel like maybe I haven’t experienced anything that’s been long term enough where I’m like « hey this is love !« . But what I would say is I think I need to experience a bit more of a longer period of having the love for me to be able to describe both sides because I feel like right now I know more about not the bad side, but the failures in love rather than the successes. So obviously I can speak more on this than that and it’s funny because my cousin asked me yesterday, she was like, « pourquoi tu fais pas des chansons ‘ya bolingo’ (what you do not do songs about love, hopeful love »), and I was like « I don »t know ! »

PZW : Oh I don’t speak lingala !

MFK : So songs about love and hope !

PZW : Oh !

MFK : So about hopeful love. I’m not going to talk about something I haven’t experienced yet.

PZW : You have only experienced toxic relationships ?

MFK : I would say I’ve experienced some toxic, but I’ve experienced mostly relationships where we were both not ready to do what we were before, but we just never were. Maybe timing or maybe just maturity. It just depends really.

PZW : Are you looking for love ?

MFK : Everyone’s looking for love !

PZW : Hmm I’m not sure.

MFK : No, no, I’m like, everyone’s looking for companionship or something.

PZW : Maybe yes !

MFK : Am I looking for love ? I don’t feel I need to go looking for love. Am I willing to accept love ? Yeah !

PZW : Let’s talk about your creative processus : you write, compose, and produce your songs. Is that right ? Would you define yourself as a multi hyphenate person ?

MFK : I love that word, multi hyphenate !

PZW : Me too (laughs) 

MFK : I was even speaking to my friend yesterday and I was saying one of the reasons why we’ve been progressing is because there’s no limits to what we think we can do. Of course, if someone can do something better than us, then of course, we’ll always get them to do it. But I don’t ever like… When I was rapping, I had no idea that I would get to a point where I could sing and here I am ! Now I might do some acting in 10 years or something like that and then after that, what am I going to do ? I just don’t really see a limit. My only thing is I always want to make sure that I do it at a high level, I feel like I’m really competitive. I just can’t do shit just for the sake of doing it ! I don’t do it would be a very good day if I do that.

PZW : How do you compartmentalize all those abilities of your persona ?

MFK : It’s hard ! I don’t think I’ve gotten to a point where I can control it. Because I think… There are times where I might concentrate and be like, « Okay, cool. I’m just going to work on this part of the music », etc. But sometimes, especially at the beginning of the process, sometimes I might be like, « Okay, cool. And we work on this beat and we work on this vocal ». And then straight away, I’ll get the idea for the video, so I start writing for the video idea etc. I’ll message someone and be like « Hey, think of this from the artwork », I’ll message my manager and be like, « Oh, you know what ? We could do this for marketing », etc. So I feel like I’m always just switched on. It’s very different. And sometimes I would love to turn it off. I’m just switched on and I’m just pushing my ideas.

PZW : When have you started music ?

MFK : I guess Miles from Kinshasa is probably when I really took music seriously and that was in 2016. But I’ve been making music since I was 17. That was just because everyone else was doing it. I had a passion for it, but I had no intent for it to become a career or anything like that. I was even saying this the other day : if you ask most people in my secondary school, « what would Miles have turned into ? », they would have said football !

PZW : Really ?

MFK : Everyone would have said football. Because I actually loved football, I was actually really good. But I think what’s interesting is I feel like I took my… This is just a segue, I took my lesson from being really talented at food and not working hard enough into music and being like, « Okay, I’m not going to do that in music, I’m going to be talented and work really hard to see what I can do ».

PZW : And how do you perceive music and your music ? Mentally, spiritually, physically ?

MFK : How do I perceive my music or music in general ? 

PZW : Music in general and your music, on different scales ? 

MFK : I think it’s really interesting because there’s people that don’t listen to music.

PZW : I can’t believe that !

MFK : To me, which is just crazy. Or they listen to it, but it’s just very passing. It’s all like, the music that’s playing right now, is them listening to music. To me, music has so many different frequencies, even if we think of the technical aspect and all of us have different frequencies that we move in as well. There’s a reason that I think we listen to it because I think it helps us align with ourselves sometimes, depending on the music as well. I think there’s a very, like I was saying, it’s a feeling. I think everyone just needs to, at some point, that feeling is something that everyone needs to experience, whether it’s a sad song etc… I would perceive it as a pure feeling, if I’m honest.

PZW : How do you perceive your music ? 

MFK : I think I make my music to just add value to people’s lives. I know a song like « Wearing smiles », it’s a song that people listen to and I can relate to that, I feel like I’ve been in that exact same place and it maybe inspires them to leave that place. I think I just want to have song where people go « That’s Miles song man ! » or « I listen to this on the way to work every day ».

PZW : And what are your current inspirations for and aspirations ?

MFK : I can’t really say aspirations because, again, I’m not trying to put a limit on anything I can do. The way I see it, as long as I’m passionate about it and I’m willing to put in the right amount of work, then I guess I’ll do whatever I put my mind to. As for inspiration…

PZW : What are you listening to, reading, or maybe watching ?

MFK : I’m reading this book called « The 12 Rules of Life« , it’s a really good book !

PZW : Who’s the author ?

MFK : I can’t even remember, I’ll be honest, but it’s one of those books that it’s very philosophical, but it uses stories from the Bible, the Quran, etc, etc, to just explain, I guess, the 12 basic rules of life, kind of things. But it’s so good because it doesn’t tell you what to do, it’s not like a « mad self help book », but it just tells you… Basically, it explains what will happen if you don’t do certain things. So, for example, there was a part where I was talking about accountability and how that lack of accountability affects all of your life, not just relationships. So, for example : if you got that lack of accountability, someone will tell you that « you’re late ! » And you’ll be like : « it was only three minutes ». So it’s that type of book that’s really been inspiring me because it helped me to keep it real !

PZW : Okay ! It makes me think of the « quatre accords toltèques »(the four agreements). I don’t know if you have heard about it ?

MFK : No, send it to me ! What kind of books do you prefer to read or audiobooks ?

PZW : I’m a reader, yes. And you ?

MFK : I prefer reading, but sometimes I like reading audio books. For example, I’m about to start this book called « The Art of Seduction » (laughs). Yeah, yeah, I don’t listen to it because I want to learn how to seduce but…

PZW : Are you sure? (laughs)

MFK : I think it’s an interesting concept.

PZW : Okay, so you are now 33 years old. It’s been years that you’re doing music and being an artist, but it seems like, and you can correct me if I’m being rude, that you are barely touching the beginning of a formal career…

MFK : Yeah yeah !

PZW : So how does it feel to live off your art and your music ? And can you live off your music actually ?

MFK : Not yet. Not full-time, but I’m definitely making money at some point, which I wasn’t making. But it was the first part of the question ?

PZW : My questions are too long, everybody is telling me that. So how does it feel to live off your art and your music ?

MFK : It feels like I’m doing exactly what I’m supposed to do because I just can’t imagine myself not doing it what I want to do. I feel like it would be a waste of time on this Earth. Even if I can’t make music full-time, I will always make music. Always ! There’s no way that I won’t because it’s just my diary !

PZW : It’s your what ? 

MFK : My diary.

PZW : My… Oh, journal. 

MFK : Yes. Okay. It’s my journal. I just need it to just express myself !

PZW : So your first project « Limbo », was kind of 80’s inspired and pop. Your second was, to me, maybe a little bit inspired by rock music…

MFK : A bit, yes. I was listening to a lot of Tame Impala around that time.

PZW : The last project is closer to afro, dancehall, and hip hop. Your evolution is pretty clear in terms of sounds and universes. And have you thought about it ? And how each project is reflecting a new sound and energy and maybe your mindset ?

MFK : I have actually because each project is separated by about three years. So clearly I’m changing a lot. I never want to do the same thing, it’s just boring. I just found that so boring. Every time I make a song that sounds like a song I’ve already made, I just stop it because I was like, « The world doesn’t need that, we need more new stuff ».

PZW : You are too harsh ! 

MFK : You know what ? I’m a « bougie » man. I’m a bougie music maker. But every project, I always just want to see what I’m capable of doing. So even this project with Kadiata that we produced, some of these beats, I didn’t know that I could do that. But just because I tried, something like… Sometimes you’re just inspired by stuff that you didn’t even know you could do and it’s like « okay, cool, let’s go ». So I think every project is always going to be a reflection of maybe what I’m listening to, the rhythms that I’m into at the moment, and also just the place that I’m in in my life, really. So I think, especially with the last project that was during COVID, the reason the songs are very upbeat is because I want it to be outside. You see what I’m saying ? Whereas the other songs, I guess around… I have made songs that are a bit more upbeat, but I guess before I was making songs for headphones, I think this project, I really made it to be heard outside, in the car. So hopefully now, I’m saying I want my next project to be a mix of all three, but then also going into the future as well, just to see what it can sound like.

PZW : From Pop, Afro, and ballads, your music touches a lot of genres. Who are the producers and musicians surrounding you ? And what are the prerequisites of working with you and others ?

MFK : So the guy around are kinda like Kadiata, Sam Wise, I don’t even want to say around me because I’m also around them but Vino, Nax, Jade and Clover, who else ? And they’re genuinely my friends as well, so I think most of the people that I work with are actually my friends. And it’s because in their own way, they inspire me, just taking a similar journey to me and just taking the risks is very inspirational when you see that other people like yourself are as crazy as yourself are crazy for taking such a risk, but also so brave to do that.

PZW : Thank you !

MFK : Come on ! 

PZW : It’s the last question. So finally, let’s hear Miles… You haven’t told us your name, by the way Let’s hear Miles from Kinshasa in five years : where are you, with who, and what are you doing?

MFK : In five years ? I think in five years, where am I? I’m probably in Japan. Probably in Japan, recording some music. You know how Andre 3000 just being in Japan with his flute ?

PZW : Hum hum !

MFK : That’s me !That’s the shit that I want to be on. Just in Japan, minding my own business, making new music, circling new culture.

PZW : Married, with children ?

MFK : Maybe alone, maybe with someone, maybe with some kids, et cetera. But I just want to evolve as a person, which obviously means maybe being a bit more open to love, maybe being a bit open to you know trying different things. I guess just doing more of what I’m doing !

PZW : Period ! That’s a good conclusion.

MFK : Exactly. Come on, that’s a good interview tho !

PZW : Thank you !

MFK : That’s cold. I like it !

Miles from Kinshasa‘s music is available on Spotify and all the other platforms, stay tuned ! And If you have enjoyed the interview, don’t forget to subscribe by clicking on the little blue button by the end of the page. And follow the media on Instagram !