Camera Roll is an interview series where we glimpse into the current moment via the mundane and the ordinary — the life documented and forgotten, lived through our phones and beyond.
Musician Andrekza spends most of her days looking at a screen. The self-declared workaholic doesn’t just use her phone to keep track of song ideas or mark architectural details in the cities she visits. She also runs multiple side gigs from the handheld device — including a fashion venture and successful production company. When it comes to her main creative endeavour, however, Andrekza prefers the quiet surroundings of her studio — or, as she calls it, her “house of inspiration and creation”. There, she can usually be found in the company of her pet bunny Benni. A closer look at the artist’s creative process reveals a longing for emotional connection and presence that explains her prioritisation of the quiet moments. Here, she talks to us about how she keeps track of memories, finding inspiration in other disciplines, and why it’s good to take selfies when you’re sad.
What kind of phone do you have and how many images are on it?
I have an iphone 13 and 26,000 pictures.
Where are you right now?
In Miami.
What's your morning routine like?
I wake up and drink tea, then usually read for 40 minutes. After that, I grab my phone and start working. I'm kind of a workaholic, so I basically don't stop until I have to sleep.
Tell us a little bit about your background and journey.
I was born and raised in a small town in Venezuela called San Antonio de los Altos. I come from a humble family — my mom did everything possible in her life to show me that dreams can become a reality. It was her encouragement that drove me to start expressing myself artistically. I had to leave Venezuela when I was 15 and moved to Toronto. There, I started writing rap and turning poems I wrote as a little girl into melodies. That process was always very personal, until 2 years ago when I decided to share my music after moving to LA to study cinematography. Looking at the art world in a different way through my studies gave me that security. I was able to sign with Dim Mak En Fuego and start this journey that has been so beautiful, despite launching my music during the pandemic. I had the opportunity to give people a little bit of magic during dark times. It has changed my life being able to inspire others.
Could you talk about some of your inspirations — like Toni Morrison and Haruki Murakami — and how cross-disciplinary thinking might allow your creativity to flourish?
I think that what all artists have in common — across different fields, whether it be writing or painting or music — is that they bet on creativity and discipline by always wanting to be better. That’s always inspired me greatly. The desire to surpass oneself is paramount for them, as well as the desire to create their art for themselves first before it moves on to inspiring others. For them, as for me, everything is connected. I first got into music because I wrote poems and I was always curious about how I could express those feelings through melody, so my creative process kind of took a cross-disciplinary approach from the beginning. These days, I almost always start with a drawing and everything develops from there.
Do you experience pressures to make art that isn’t exactly what you want to make?
I don't pressure myself with these things. I don't share anything with the purpose of getting to a place, I share it because I feel it. I grab the tools I need to grab. I'm not out there comparing my art because I believe art is subjective and each person can admire it in a different way.
What do your days look like?
Normally, I am working. My life isn't just music. I have a lot of other things that keep me busy, like my company Lotus Visual Arts, my partnership with Playboy, my new partnership with Twitch or my clothing line Unikorlandia. A lot of things are happening in the same universe, so I am focused on creating every day. Connecting with myself and being more present with my family, my friends, and my love is my mantra every day — and understanding that everything is going to be alright.
any advice for aspiring musicians?
Determination is even more important than talent. If you have a dream and feel that you don't have the tools to realize it, you can still learn how to get there. The most important thing is to be loyal to what you want and believe in. To have the discipline to do it everyday. I think that’s the best advice, or at least what I apply and have tried to do so far with my life.
What excites you most about the music world, and what do you most wish to see yourself help change?
What excites me most about the music world is being able to open doors for other people who are wanting to express themselves, but don't have the tools or don't know how to do it. I also want to help get rid of the illusion that success only happens through connections or having amazing budgets or being signed by a huge record label. In reality, artists who are genuine and able to express art from the heart will always find a way to connect with people.
tell us about your first phone and what you remember about it.
I was 13 years old and my grandpa gave it to me. I remember I didn't have a phone and he would have to call my grandma when he wanted to talk. So he gave me one to be able to reach me directly.
how do capture and remember moments of your life?
When I'm experiencing important moments with my friends or family, I take pictures of something random like a thing we are eating or the smile of someone I love. I like seeing moments that happened through those details. Sometimes I don't share them, but I love going back through my phone and remembering. I also like to save places on my maps. I write them down like “I really like this view” or “I really like this yellow wall”. I love tracking the city I am in. In my notes, I have everything from songs, things I have to do, things I have to buy from the market. When I'm sad, I film myself or take photos to remember that moment and when I get over it, I go back and delete it. I believe it's not good to keep memories that don't generate happiness. Life is too short to live in those.
Tell us about one of the images on your camera roll?
I have one of me sitting down in my studio with Benni, my bunny, she is super cute. I was listening to music that I liked. It was a moment of pure relaxation in what is otherwise my house of inspiration and creation. Having the company of Benni means the world to me.
can you tell us a bit about your stylistic approach to taking photos and videos?
I don't really have a uniform stylistic approach. Mostly, I take photos and then edit them on this app called VSCO.
What apps on your phone do you use most?
What are you watching?
Normally, I like to watch a lot of anime, but I recently got into Stranger Things and I love it.
What are you reading?
Right now, I am reading a book of Ikigai and Inward by Yung Pueblo.
last thing you googled on your phone?
Craigslist, lol.
What are your favorite accounts you follow on social media?
I really like Langston Amadi’s profile.
Favorite thing you’ve bought or come to possess in the past year?
My favorite thing I’ve bought in the past year is a Totoro figure.
images provided by andrekza, interview by marina sulmona