Meet Eska, the multifaceted Goldsmiths alumna who’s winning national attention for her Mercury Prize nominated debut album

You’d rarely find a situation where singing, song writing, primary school teaching, choir directing and a Maths and Statistics degree meet in uncontested harmony within one person. That is, at least, until you meet Eska Mtungwazi.

Now shortlisted for the Mercury Prize, an achievement that she describes as the “biggest pivotal moment” in her career, we caught up with Eska to talk about her journey ahead of the award ceremony on Friday. 

Eska graduated from her BSc Mathematics and Statistics degree at Goldsmiths in 1992, which may seem worlds apart from stage hopping across Europe and regular stints in the recording studio. The way Eska sees it however, they’re not quite so separate: “I think it’s great to be able to challenge myself and use a different part of my brain,” she explains. “Music actually inspires me to think about doing new things, exploring my creativity in other ways.

She adds: “The fact that you do your degree in one thing or two things at the most, it’s really quite reductive in terms of how people think and how people are.

“Human beings aren’t just one thing, mathematical or musical, human beings are a variety of things. And to be able to explore that in my lifetime, I’m very fortunate to have been able to use my brain in one particular way and in another season use it in another.”

As well as completing her degree at Goldsmiths Eska has spent time leading the Goldsmiths Vocal Ensemble.

Eska’s time has been heavily focused on her music recently, demonstrated by the national attention she’s attracted to her debut album ‘Eska’ following its nomination for the Mercury Prize. Having contributed to albums that have previously reached the Mercury shortlist though, this recognition for her first album is particularly special for Eska.

“Up until now I haven’t presented a body of work or an album in my own name,” she says, explaining that it’s taken a while to reach the point of presenting her own work as a recording artist, even though she’s been recording for many years. “For me, its pivotal in that it’s recognising me as an artist, not just as a musician or a song writer, and will hopefully allow future artistic endeavours to flourish and give me the encouragement to continue as an artist.”

The Mercury Prize is the one award that Eska has paid particular attention to over the years because the diverse bodies of work it recognises. “It just seems to be looking anywhere and everywhere for that creative spark, and I connected with that.”

Eska, who lives just around the corner from Goldsmiths in Peckham Rye, describes south east London as “a real creative hub”. As one of the growing number of critically-acclaimed musicians whose sparks grew out of the area, it’s clear to see why.

“I have to say that the universities and colleges surrounding [the area] have a big part to play in the creative revival of south east London. Because of Goldsmiths, because of Trinity Laban, Greenwich, Camberwell Art College we’re seeing these wonderful creative hubs, and also having students who then graduate and live in the area and continue their creative practice; it has really brought a huge transformation, and for me I can see that in New Cross and Deptford and definitely in Deptford and Peckham Rye.”

Nevertheless, Eska’s sights are set further afield and as you may have guessed, her plans don’t rest solely on music either. “Film is something that interests me. Film, fashion and design”, all interests that were peaked by her involvement in fashion designer Rick Owens’ show at Paris Fashion Week last month.

“It’s that whole thing of visuals in general that I’m interested in. Making moving images to accompany the music I make. Being a visual learner, when I make music I’m often seeing things as well as hearing things, so it seems quite natural to me to want to make visual things as well.” 

Musically speaking however, Eska’s plans for 2016 involve, but certainly aren’t limited to: another UK headline show and tour, some festival appearances, a European tour and finishing work on her second album. Look forward to a line-up as eclectically filled as her CV.

(Photo credits: Jaroslav-Moravec)