Episode 24: Highlyy on being a Tik Tok sensation, owning your self worth and earning a GCSE in Beyoncé

Episode 22: Highlyy

Highlyy was just experimenting when she posted her first track “Soldier” to Tik Tok in the middle of the night. Now, it soundtracks over 185K videos, and its music video has racked up almost 5 million views on YouTube.

Born Highly Blessed Mazina, only 19 years old, the rising star comes from a long line of musicians, with a singer mother, classical musician grandparents, and guitarist father who put her and her siblings in music lessons. The Congolese gospel music that would play while growing up in her Redbridge home influenced the music she would come to make – instilling in her a love for West African melodies and lending it a spiritual grounding.

Her confidence is backed by experience – since the age of 13, Highlyy has understood how to capture attention with a song. Uploading freestyles, song covers, and singing challenges on Instagram, she discovered she had a knack for going viral. Dropping out of sixth form to pursue a music career, she joined music school East London Arts and Music (ELAM) before leaving after a short period, feeling she didn’t fit into its environment. While feeling lost in the aftermath, she went to visit a friend in Birmingham. Out of the blue, another friend sent her “Hustle” by Reminisce featuring BNXN and D Smoke, urging her to write to it straight away and send it as soon as she was done. At around 2AM, she got to work, rapidly creating a dulcet new song based around its original chorus, while weaving her own story of struggle around it.  

“Everyone was saying that this is gonna go viral,” she says. “I posted a 15 second clip on TikTok that didn't do anything but... I left it for a month, did a sped up version, and the rest is history, really.” She watched as it grew from nothing to half a million TIkTok views, to its staggering 27.5 million total now. Later, the first clip from her wholesome, intimate music video would similarly garner over 120,000 Instagram likes on her page. “We wanted the video to be family-centric, but also a vibe.” Seeking to introduce herself in the most authentic way she could, Highlyy included herself dancing in Congolese clothing, her real friends, and featured cameos from her siblings. 

Later this year, she plans to release her debut EP +243, which features five heartfelt afropop tracks that will tell the scope of her story. Motivated by artists like Tems, Burna Boy, and family friend Yung Bxne in both sounds and story, her sights are set on becoming a “G.O.A.T. of the genre” and works to inspire others to go after their dreams. 

NB: The episode was recorded before the writers and actors strike.

#hygystpod #Highlyy

Have You Got Your Sh*t Together? with Caitlin O’Ryan, is a podcast that celebrates not having your sh*t together! In each episode, Caitlin interviews guests who seemingly “have their sh*t together” - be that in life/love/work/hobbies. Throughout the conversation, the questions unveil whether they actually do, or whether the whole concept is a lie! With a mix of guests from various backgrounds, the podcast is sure to be relatable, honest, and an antidote to Instagram culture. 

Producer - Ant Hickman (www.ahickman.uk)

Artwork - Tim Saunders (www.instagram.com/timsaunders.design)

Photography - Patch Bell (www.patchstudio.uk)

Music - Cassia - 'Slow' (www.wearecassia.com)

Web: www.hygystpod.com

Insta: www.instgram.com/hygystpod

Email: [email protected]

RSS: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/644a8e8eadac0f0010542d86

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.