Moses Ideka is making pagan synth-folk from the heart of south London

Moses Ideka is a bit of a nomad – the kind of intrepid traveller who feels short-changed if a car journey takes less than half an hour. Thanks to a mother who worked in the UN, the south Londoner had lived in Malawi, the Philippines and Switzerland all before the age of 18, and this footloose upbringing is writ large across his soul-searching music. Haunting vocals yearn for connection across vast soundscapes that stretch from R&B to electronic and beyond, speaking to the robust world that kept Ideka company throughout the countless school changes and lost friendships during his childhood. 

Moses Ideka’s EP, Wind Songs, is the latest instalment in his voyaging career. Despite the three spirals on the cover and the 23-year-old’s nomadic upbringing, Ideka insists that any reference to the cartoon series Avatar: The Last Airbender is accidental. Rather, the project pays homage to the summers Ideka would spend visiting his grandad in Cornwall, packaged in a fragile sound that Ideka loosely describes as “Pagan synth-folk”.

Indeed, many aspects of Moses’ identity don’t fit neatly between the lines. He’s one of south London’s most promising prospects, but says he’d much rather go on a walk than hit the nightclub; he is surrounded by a strong friendship group, but feels very comfortable alone. Still, it was by leaning into these eccentricities that Ideka’s artistry became truly special. 

Below, the singer-producer breaks down the experiences that led up to Wind Songs, from selling MP3s in Malawi to walking the hills of Bodmin Moor.

I see the mic setup next to you. Is this where the music’s made?

Moses Ideka: Yes, this is the bedroom where the majority of the stuff gets done. There will be days when I will just sit in front of this computer. I can isolate myself very easily because I’m very comfortable being alone. Because there was so much moving around growing up, I’m just very self-reliant and comfortable being by myself, even though I also love the company of my friends. If I isolate myself for too long, I’ll just kind of wear down and spiral, so it’s important to find that natural balance.

Do you enjoy going out?

Moses Ideka: It’s funny because I didn’t go out properly until I was 20. I’ve never been pulled to drinking and I get very overstimulated in clubs. You know, I love a concert. I love knowing the set time. I love knowing what songs will be played. I’m all for fun, but I’d much rather a relaxed environment, either at home or a not-incredibly-loud place with a group of friends where we can just talk. Me and my friends are literally going to a pumpkin patch this week.

Speaking of your friendship group, you’ve worked with a lot of other rising artists.

Moses Ideka: I feel like I met a lot of really good friends in 2022, it’s like found family. [Producer] Phil was the first person I worked with on music. There’s an interim network between singers and rappers, which I find cool. I can’t wait until I get accustomed to doing verses and working with people. I got lucky because I didn’t have a lot of friends in that realm, but it was comforting to come into that world, and everyone genuinely cares about one another.

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?

Moses Ideka: It is literally an indescribable feeling for me since birth, before I was even aware of it. There is footage of me downstairs in this house from 20 years ago, when I was three years old, dancing to Lemar and singing every lyric. I don’t know if my mum’s gassing me up or not, but she was like, ‘You’d always harmonise in the car from a young age’. I’m someone who gets distracted easily and I have a lot of hyperfixations, but I will be on FL Studio every single day. I had production software on my DS and I used to make money Bluetoothing people music when I lived in Africa from like 2013 to 2016. 

You’ve got a track called “The Beast of Bodmin Moor” on the EP. What’s the connection with Cornwall?

Moses Ideka: My grandad used to live in Cornwall and we would do the road trip from Slough, west London, very often. I remember every time you enter Cornwall, you go over Bodmin Moor and it’s just this very sparse landscape and rolling hills. There was this hill called Cairn Math, it’s really beautiful. Back then, because of all the folklore and the Pagan and Celtic stuff there, it just felt magical. My mum would tell me about the beast of Bodmin Moor, which was like this rumoured puma or panther roaming the hills, but it almost felt spiritual to me. I was like, ‘If this was a big cat, surely it would’ve been caught by now…’ 

So, the similarities with Avatar were unintentional?

Moses Ideka: It was definitely a coincidence, but it’s funny because I really love Avatar. I watched it as a kid, and now I’ll do a yearly rewatch. I love King Bumi, he’s lit. He’s just one of those people who fell into power but doesn’t care. But, the triskelion [symbol] in the cover is what me and my friend Koko call Troave-pilled – anything archaiac and representative of the ‘old world’, almost like a tea stained map. I want to continue to travel and incorporate global influences within my work.

Finally, who’s your dream collab?

Moses Ideka: When I was younger, I would always think, ‘I wish I could pick up my phone and collaborate with anyone’. I know it’s a cop-out answer, but I feel like my dream collab is everyone. But, if I was to do any more songs within Wind Songs’ realm, in terms of folk, I love Cara Jackson. She lives and breathes the most incredible folk.

Wind Songs is out now