Venus Prize 2011 • Andreya Triana interview

We’ve previously described Brighton-based artist Andreya Triana’s 2010 debut album Lost Where I Belong as “a work of soul-tingling beauty and subtle simplicity” with “a sense of yearning and elegant candour [...] that elevates her work above so much of the Brit-soul churned out each year.” She may be one of the more unfamiliar artists shortlisted for this year’s Venus/No-Penis Prize but there’s no doubting that the quality of her music deserves the recognition.

As the voting period draws to an end, Charlotte Richardson Andrews caught up with Andreya for a quick chat to find out what she’s been up to since the album came out, why the day she opened for Erykah Badu was both stressful and brilliant, and which charity she’d like the prize money to go to.

Listen to Lost Where I Belong and the other eleven shortlisted albums on Spotify.

* * *

What have you been up to since you released Lost Where I Belong?

I’ve been touring a lot! I’ve toured all over Europe and been working on my live show.

We’d noticed from your Twitter that you’ve been traveling like crazy! Any favourite moments to report?

The most memorable would be opening for Erykah Badu. She is one of my all-time idols. On the day of the show we missed our plane and all our baggage got lost so I had no clothes or equipment and we were running four hours late! That has never happened before! But it all came together and ending up being a great show. I was right at the front for Erykah’s entire show and cried my eyes out!

Have you been working on new material? If so, can you tell us what’s inspiring it and what it’s sounding like?

Ah…that would be telling!

British music took a big hit with the death of Amy Winehouse. What are your thoughts on the sorry situation?

I never met her but I really respected her. Lyrically, emotionally and musically there was and will never be anyone like her. I think there are also a lot of lessons to be learnt from the way she lived her life, and inspiration to be taken from her music.

If you win the Venus Prize, which charity would you like us to donate to on your behalf?

I would donate it to Kids Company, an amazing charity that supports vunerable children through therapeutic methods.

If you could give an award to any woman who has inspired you personally, who would it be?

It would definitely be mum, thanks to her there was always music and singing in our house. She always encouraged me to work hard and made me feel that the world was my oyster. Without her life would not be what it is today.

* * *

Vote for Andreya here. Keep track of all the developments regarding her oh-so-secretive new music on Facebook.

Tagged andreya triana, erykah badu, venus no-penis music award