Self-described as “Evil twins on a rap star mission”, Kulturess are establishing themselves as one of the most exciting artists in the local scene. Sisters Tabitha Jade and Eliza Mai were both cultivating their own solo careers pre-Covid, with acclaim from BBC Introducing Merseyside and BBC 1Xtra. After the lockdowns hit, the sisters began to work together for the first time, writing, producing and live streaming — and through all of this, Kulturess was born.
What inspired you to start making music as a duo?
As we are sisters, we have always done music together, helping each other on our own solo projects. But when lockdown hit, we had to move back to Liverpool from London and after being in this creative space with no distractions, writing & producing music collectively, we thought why are we not a duo? We always create together. Let’s become a duo! It was a light bulb moment. Growing up our parents always said we should become a band, as we complement each other so well.
Which artists or sounds have influenced your style the most?
Growing up I (Eliza), was influenced by Lauryn Hill’s rhythmic rap style. I loved how she blended rap and melody over a cool hip-hop beat. Being one of the first female artists to perform so well in a predominantly male genre was iconic and so inspiring.
For Tabi, growing up, I was deeply inspired by Amy Winehouse. Her ability to weave her personal experiences into her songs was incredibly inspiring, and her soulful, raw vocals really resonated with me. She also motivated me to pick up the guitar.
Another huge influence for us was Destiny’s Child. Their ‘girl power’ energy, sass, attitude, and fashion were absolutely amazing and left a lasting impact on us.
How would you describe the Kulturess sound to someone hearing you for the first time?
When people ask us this question we find it so difficult to answer as we believe our sound is so unique.
We would describe our sound using this term, “The 3 Rs” which is: Rock, Rap and RnB — incorporating our live instrument playing with trap, rap beats and RnB harmony layers within our sound to create something uniquely us.
Can you tell us a bit about your songwriting and creative process?
We write all of our songs together. We start off by finding a beat or creating an instrument chord progression that really resonates with us. We then write some melodies — anything that comes to mind — and record them as voice memos. Then we piece together the melodies and write the lyrics last. We get inspired by life experiences, films and relationships.
What themes or messages do you try to bring out in your lyrics?
In our lyrics, we focus on themes of love, relationships, and life experiences. A big part of our music is female empowerment, and we strive to uplift women and be a voice for those who might not have the confidence to speak out. Our lyrics encourage boldness and courage, and sometimes they express what we can’t put into words otherwise.
What can the crowd expect from your live shows?
They can expect a lot of energy, attitude and a different flavour for Liverpool.
Is there a particular track you’re most excited to perform live?
It’s a tough choice because each of our tracks has its own unique flavour and sound, making it hard to pick just one. But we do really like “Rude Boy” by Rihanna because it’s fun and flirty, with sweet harmonies.
What’s next for Kulturess—any new releases or projects in the works?
Yes!!! We have a 5-track EP coming out in winter. We are so excited to finally get music released — a body of work that we are proud of! We can’t wait for the world to hear what we have been working on for so long.
What goals or milestones are you aiming for over the next year?
Our EP release is a huge milestone for us and by next summer we would love to be performing at some iconic festivals, sharing our music with the world.
Follow @kulturess on Instagram for updates.
