Welcome Qbanaa. With her first EP set to release this summer, the Cuban Irish songbird gave a glimpse into the creative process, her background and what more is to come. 

Swinging her chair slightly on its wheels, Qbanaa (real name Ellie) has covered her shoulders in a chunky blanket. In her lilting Dubin accent, she explains that the studio is always cold. Growing up in Ireland she admits she’s used to the weather but originally born in Cuba, aged only three, her parents emigrated to Ireland as refugees. When speaking about the transition from Cuba to Ireland, Qbanaa said ‘It was a struggle while my parents were settling in. The Legion of Mary took us in and fed us, introduced us to mass but they also really nurtured my interest in music. They saw a little girl who loved music and would teach me the guitar or encourage me to sing.’  

With her loose curls and a patchwork of different tattoos, there is something innately artistic about Qbanaa. When speaking about her work her words are poignant, it is clear she has spent countless hours working on her upcoming EP. She jokes ‘If it all goes to plan it’ll be out end of June.’ Within six tracks Qbanaa has encapsulated a bracket of her life that she describes as, ‘beautiful for what it was, but I’m ready to let it go and put it out into the world.’ With songs on the EP such as Shrink that talk about past battles with addiction and bulimia, there is an inextricable link between Qbanaa and her music, almost as if it is an extension of herself. The bond between art and the artist is clear in the process of her creating, ‘We started producing it (an unnamed song on the EP) in Cuba and then brought it back to Ireland to finish the production. It makes it special because it’s a bit of a mix. We even had a saxophone player from Cuba to play on the track.’ 

Her creative nature is evident when she laughs about finding inspiration in procrastination. ‘When I’m trying to do something that isn’t mentally stimulating for me, I’ll end up on the piano or the guitar. Or I’ll be on the bus seeing people chatting and start wondering what their story would be.’ Whilst Q is currently based in Dublin with her partner, she lived in Southeast London for a year and credits the ‘jam scene’ as a huge influence. ‘You just open your eyes to all the different types of musicians that are out there.’ Having lived in so many different cities and countries the subject of home is deeply engrained in the songs Qbanaa writes. ‘I always struggled with the idea of what home was. I grew up running away and then searching for a home with different people, and different relationships and I’ve realised home has to be within me. I had to heal myself and make sure that the safety and security of home is always within me.’ 

Qbanaa has had a jam-packed first year of her music career. She opened for Mahalia last October, has appeared on RTE’s ‘Other Voices (Amy Winehouse, Hozier and Sinead O’Connor have all also appeared on the show in the past) and has self-directed the music video for her song ‘Shrink’. She is understated about her achievements, ‘I wasn’t sure if they wanted me to come on the show! I had to triple-check they were sure I was the right person!’ But with the release of her EP coming soon, you’ll certainly be hearing the name Qbanaa more and more often. 

To tell you what you really want to know, Qbanaa answered a few quick-fire questions: 

Who are your dream dinner party guests, dead or alive? 

‘I’d love to get Erykah Badu, Doja Cat, Amy Winehouse… Jesus? I’m joking. I think I would like to invite MF Doom. He might be too stoned to talk though.’ 

Who is your dream musical collaborator?

‘Doja Cat. She’s such a queen. She has so much confidence but I think it’s not even confidence because I think she’s just a weirdo. I resonate with that.’

Lyrics or music first?

‘It depends. I write all the time, if something pops into my head, I’ll just put it down. But if I’m in a session I like to hear the rhythm first and I work from there. It depends on the mood I’m in.’ 

What are the favourite lyrics you’ve ever written?

‘I’ve written so many songs and have so many demos that it’s like picking between my children. It’ll probably be from an unreleased song, it’s ‘You brought me inside, Made me feel so part of life, While we danced around a homicide.’

Where will you be in 5 years?

‘I’m going to dream big. Hopefully doing a world tour, three albums out and I’ll be a Latin pop queen. Working with the best artists out there and getting to spend time with them and absorbing all the knowledge I can.’