Meet Kanda, the 17 year old rapper here to tell you you’re not alone

It’s not easy to talk to your mates when things are tough, that’s why Coventry-based rapper Kanda has teamed up with CALM for the release of his new track, IHGYN (I Have Got You Now), to let you know that you’re never alone. We chatted to Kanda to hear more about the message behind the song.

At just 17, Kanda’s already been championed by 1Xtra and played the MOBO awards – not one to shy away from big topics, his single Never The Same highlighted the Black Lives Matter movement, while Toxicity reflected on a toxic relationship. IHGYN is no different, Kanda explains:

“This song was created with the intent of metaphorically holding the hands of those struggling. I’ve encountered many people where their struggles were getting the better of them. The song enables people to relate, but might also encourage those struggling to speak out and turn to their loved ones for support.”

I Have Got You Now is a fusion of Kanda’s Indian heritage, Afro music influences and a drive to use music as a force for change. Bringing to light young people’s mental health, the brilliant track is a reminder to check in on your mates and is out today. Check out our chat with Kanda to hear more.

You’ve been making music for quite a while, how did you get into writing songs?

I started singing at the age of eight and over time I realised I really wanted to make music as a profession. At 14 I'd had enough of doing covers and wanted to bring in some originality, so I started writing. I’m really inspired to keep writing music, because I feel like the best way to portray yourself is in your own art.

Who’s helped shape and influence your music?

My music is quite worldwide because of my Indian heritage and the different cultures that I’ve channelled into my music. My childhood music teacher is from the Caribbean Islands and he had a big impact on me, as a lot of my songs are centred around Afro music. I want to give a feel of my roots and origins when I write songs, so I don’t tend to put myself into one genre. I think spreading across a few makes my music more unique.

Can you tell us a bit about your track I Have Got You Now and the message behind it?

At first listen I Have Got You Now sounds like it’s about a girl, but it's not. It's actually about boys’ mental health and the friends around you. I've had a lot of experiences where I've acknowledged that my friends haven't felt 100%.

When you’re at school, you’re not always going to feel great and it’s important we show our support. IHGYN is about being around our friends and supporting them, because it’s not always easy to talk when we feel like that. I wanted to spread that message and just say - look, nobody is ever alone, there’s always someone out there for you.

What made you want to pair up with CALM for its release?

I wanted to team up with CALM to address this stuff, because it’s a really important message. A lot of people don’t realise how much support is around them when they’re facing different pressures, so I want them to hear the song and realise they are supported.

Do you think music can help people talk about what they’re going through when they’re not feeling great?

I think the messages embedded can be harmful, but there's another side to music and that’s what I want to show, because it can do some really positive things. My song is about showing people who feel lonely or unsupported that we’re here. Just hearing that message in a song can be really helpful, especially to young people, because a lot of their influence revolves around the media, music and movies.

How can someone be a good mate to friends who are struggling with their mental wellbeing?

Sometimes it’s difficult to see the signs that someone is struggling, because some people are used to hiding their emotions, so I think the best advice I can give is to check in with your mates. It doesn’t have to be weird, just casually make sure they’re okay and they’re not going through anything major. And just spend time with your friends, because sometimes escapism really helps.

Why do you think the support mental health charities like CALM offer is important?

People don’t need to struggle on their own, which is why charities that look after people’s mental health are crucial in society, especially when you have people who don’t feel able to talk to their mates or family. It’s helpful to have support externally, where you can speak to someone for advice and support.

What’s your go-to album or track when you’re feeling crap?

People deal with stuff in different ways, some people listen to hype or angry music, but I prefer something a bit more calm. Maybe someone like Khalid to help me just slow the day down and process everything that's happened.

Music’s a great way to get people talking about mental wellbeing, but it can also help us look after our heads, giving us space to process tricky emotions and connecting us to a wider community. You can read more about what ambassadors like Arlo Parks, Idles and Glass Animals have to say on music and mental health here.

Or if you need support, check out CALM Guides, where you can find lots of advice on stuff you might be going through.