LAYYAH INTERVIEW: South London rising star Layyah is the first-ever female winner of BBC’s The Rap Game UK, and comes with millions of streams already under her belt from her recent singles and freestyles. Get familiar…
What five words define your sound?
Raw. Real. Unique. Meaningful. Different.
Tell me something unique about your creative process.
I love to freestyle. It’s how I unlock my creativity. No overthinking, just emotion and flow. I’ll record a bunch of freestyle takes, then pull together the best bits. It keeps my process organic and helps the music feel alive.
Which song of yours would you like people to hear first?
‘Respect and Power’. It’s the track that truly represents who I am, confident, self-aware, and driven by purpose. It’s my blueprint.
What inspired you to make that song?
I wanted to be the voice I needed to hear growing up. ‘Respect and Power’ came from a place of wanting to stand strong and encourage others to do the same to know your worth and demand respect in every space you enter.
What’s the most vulnerable you’ve allowed yourself to be when writing/making music?
When I opened up about my suicide attempt. That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever shared, but it was also healing. It allowed me to connect with people on a deeper level and help others who were going through similar struggles. Turning pain into purpose is powerful. It was my closure, my new beginning. Onwards and upwards. Let’s go!
What’s the best/worst experience you’ve had on stage?
The worst moment I’ve had on stage was definitely when I hit a bad note during a performance. It was one of those moments where time feels like it slows down, you instantly notice it, and you’re hoping the crowd didn’t. But honestly, it taught me something important. In that split second, I had to choose whether to let it throw me off or to carry on and own it. I decided to keep performing with even more confidence, and by the end, the crowd was still with me. It reminded me that mistakes don’t define the performance; how you recover does.
The best moment, on the other hand, was when I heard the crowd singing my lyrics back to me. That feeling is indescribable, it’s like pure magic. Knowing that people not only know your words but feel them deeply enough to sing them with you… that’s the real reward. It’s one of those moments where everything, the studio sessions, the late nights, the self-doubt all feels worth it. It’s the kind of connection that keeps me hungry to perform and share my story through music.
What is your favourite song to perform?
‘Respect and Power’. It was the track that started everything for me, and performing it still feels emotional every single time.
Which artist/song/album made you want to make music?
Lauryn Hill’s ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’. That album changed everything for me: her honesty, her storytelling, her balance of strength and vulnerability. She showed me what it means to make timeless music that really says something.
What’s the meaning behind your name?
My name means “musical rhythm” in Arabic which feels so aligned with who I am and what I do. Music has always been my rhythm, my heartbeat.
If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead?
I’d probably be a celebrity personal trainer. I love fitness. It’s something that keeps my mind clear and my energy right. Health is a huge part of my balance as an artist. It got me through a lot of dark times.
What’s success to you?
Success, to me, is being able to give back to my family especially retiring my mum and repaying everything she’s sacrificed for me. It’s not just about fame or numbers; it’s about freedom, legacy, and gratitude.
What moment in your life/career forced you to change direction?
Losing my grandma changed everything. It pushed me to chase my dreams even harder. She didn’t get to see my success here on earth, but I know she’s watching over me in Jannah. Everything I do now, I do to make her proud.
Where can people keep in touch with you?
You can find me on all social platforms @layyah20000. That’s where I share my latest updates, music, and moments from my journey.
