The musician talks to DIVA about her new single Favorite Part, upcoming releases and her relationship with Cara Delevingne
BY NIC CROSARA, IMAGE BY LUCIA GARCIA
Leah Mason is a queer London-born artist and certified indie-pop darling who is better known as Minke. She’s beloved for her introspective lyrics and dreamy vocals. Ever since the success of her debut album The Tearoom in 2019, fans have been hungry for more from the musician. Today (5 July), the singer-songwriter has released her new single Favorite Part. It’s guaranteed to sweep you on a mesmerising listening journey.
DIVA: I loved listening to Favorite Part. It’s a beautiful song. Can you tell me about the inspiration behind it?
Minke: I’m releasing a batch of six songs this year but this one feels like my baby because it feels recent. It was written about that confusing time, as a queer person, where you like someone and you want to come out and it’s complicated, and it’s beautiful, and it’s stressful, and it’s scary. That was the idea behind it but it feels like it applies to lots of different things now, in a way that songs sometimes do when you write them and you look back and you’re like, “Ah, that also applies to this area of my life and I relate to it in that way too.”
And is there anything you can tell me about the other songs you’ll be releasing this year?
They’re a collection of songs I started writing around 2020 onwards. For many reasons I’ve had to take a break from releasing music, which I’ve been open about on social media. I couldn’t stand these songs sitting on my laptop any longer, I just really wanted to get them out there so they’re from varying stages of my life and of what was going on in my life at those times. The next single coming out will be about falling for a straight girl and how tricky that is and can be.
I’d love to know the origin story of how you came up with your stage name?
I wish it was more sexy. It originated in practicality and then the creative behind it was I knew that with this project I wanted to do, I would be doing different genres and I would be playing with different influences. I liked the idea that you hear that name Minke and it could be a girl band, it could be a DJ duo, there are so many different things it could be. But practicality-wise, it was like, I want a one syllable name. I wanted it to look cool. So a mix of those two really.
You recently celebrated your two year anniversary with Cara Delevingne. You’re both super talented and a certified power couple. I know that sapphics around the world went crazy when Cara directed Reneé Rapp’s Pretty Girls music video. I have to ask, do you think we could ever look forward to some sort of collaboration between you and Cara?
We are both very creative and we talk about ideas all the time for so many different things and we jam at home together for fun. You know, never say never, but obviously our schedules are always pretty manic, so there’s nothing that I can confirm as of today but yeah, it wouldn’t be the craziest idea let’s say.
The vulnerability in your music and lyrics resonates with a lot of people. What’s it like receiving feedback from people who your songs strike a personal chord with?
I do receive a lot of messages from people who are struggling or people who say that the music’s helped in some way. That’s the most incredible, powerful and gratifying thing. It feels like I make friends, it’s like they understand me through my lyrics and I can really understand them. It’s a beautiful thing that I get to do that and meet people that way and create somewhat of a community.
Favorite Part by Minke is available on all streaming platforms now. Click here to listen.
Want to read more from Minke? Keep your eyes peeled on our August/September issue coming out on 26 July 2024 where the musician will talkabout all things life, love and music.
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