An Interview with Serena Ittoo on Songwriting and Inspiration
Welcome to our exclusive interview with Serena Ittoo, an accomplished singer-songwriter from Enfield, UK, whose music resonates with universal emotions and authenticity. Serena’s latest single, “Another World,” offers a glimpse into her introspective songwriting process, exploring themes of curiosity and passionate devotion. With collaborations alongside Grammy winner Gary Nicholson and notable songwriter Jeff Cohen, and performances at iconic venues like Sir Paul McCartney’s childhood home, Serena’s journey is as inspiring as it is musically enriching. Join us as Serena shares insights into her creative inspirations, the deeper meanings behind her lyrics, and her exciting future projects.
HELLO SERENA ITTOO, WELCOME TO WORLDAUTHORS.ORG YOUR LATEST SINGLE, “ANOTHER WORLD,” EXPLORES THE DESIRE TO SEE THE WORLD THROUGH ANOTHER PERSON’S EYES. CAN YOU SHARE MORE ABOUT THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THESE LYRICS?
Over the 2023 Christmas period I felt really inspired by my friend Jamie, who teaches me jazz piano, to really explore and experiment the use of tone colours in my piano chords, to see how they can spark some new creative ideas and ways of communicating my lyrics/emotions within the chords I choose and how I choose to play them.
So “Another World” was created from me testing out a new chord progression I hadn’t played before – using my keyboard instead of my guitar. Changing from the guitar to keys shifted a huge new sound for me, and “Another World’ was the first song that came from this.
The actual theme concept of “Another World” stemmed from me singing a random lyric to fit the chord progression I was playing. I kept hearing in my head “I would waste tomorrow to fly away, I would waste tomorrow to fly into another world”. And after that, I couldn’t seem to change the lyric to something else because I had repeatedly been practicing the chords with that lyric. So I decided to base the theme of the song around meeting someone who you believe is amazing in every way and now wanting to really get to see the world through their lenses so that you can understand and be everything they deserve. The aim is not to be this person’s ‘dream partner’ but to instead embrace the vulnerability in wanting to learn, understand and accept their flaws highlighting that this is not a “make believe” connection.” Because it was a free writing day I really didn’t actually have any clear personal intention as to where the song was going lyrically when I wrote it, however it ended up being a song I’m really proud of as well as showing a new side to me as an artist and what I can do too.
YOU MENTIONED THAT “ANOTHER WORLD” IS STRUCTURED TO HIGHLIGHT A SENTIMENTAL INTENTION THAT MIGHT NOT BE APPARENT ON THE FIRST LISTEN. HOW DO YOU APPROACH WRITING LYRICS THAT REVEAL DEEPER MEANINGS UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION?
I believe my higher self guides me whenever I write. So I could write a song and believe it to mean one thing, however when I listen back over a period of time I realise there’s so many other messages and signs that have been communicated by my higher self in the song. So already deeper meanings are revealed by my subconscious mind really. I feel they’re all subconscious but then on closer examination I realise so much about myself and the song etc.
That’s a very deep answer I know and probably one that isn’t the easiest to understand. My simple answer would be, I just write from the heart and I feel that naturally can reveal so much more than you initially thought it would.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE CONVEYING RAW EMOTIONS AND MAINTAINING AUTHENTICITY IN YOUR SONGWRITING PROCESS?
I believe if you are being authentic to yourself this will naturally reveal your most rawest emotions when songwriting. Sometimes not every song will be based on your life experience or will be an emotion you’ve experienced. However you can still be authentic in your writing with this and it will reveal your raw emotions as to how you would have felt in that situation/approach that situation. Another World is a great example of this actually and links to the previous question. The song isn’t based on an actual person in my life – it was just the theme that came through based on one lyric. I then took that to write how I would be if I were to have met the person I’m describing in the song.
YOUR MUSIC DELVES INTO THE UNIVERSAL EMOTIONS OF EVERYDAY LIFE. HOW DO YOU TRANSLATE THESE EXPERIENCES INTO YOUR SONGS, AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE LISTENERS TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR MUSIC?
Oooh this is an interesting question! I feel that songwriting has always really helped me to process my emotions/experiences etc. So that’s how I’ve naturally adopted using poetry and the art of music to translate universal emotions of everyday life.
I would hope that listeners who feel called to listen my music would know that I’m a simple girl who is being authentic to herself and living her purpose and passion, despite the fear of judgement. I hope through me living my purpose, it encourages listeners to express their authentic self and not fear the value of their worth or let other people’s judgements stop them from embracing their unique/authentic self.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE COLLABORATING WITH GRAMMY WINNER GARY NICHOLSON AND NOTABLE SONGWRITER JEFF COHEN? HOW HAVE THESE COLLABORATIONS INFLUENCED YOUR MUSIC?
Off the backhand of the Forthlin Sessions where I was chosen to write and perform and original song in the childhood home of Sir Paul McCartney, I was invited to attend the Buddy Holly Songwriting Retreat in Lubbock Texas in August 2022.
Each day of the retreat, we would randomly be chosen to write with a writer or small set of writers for the day. We would spend the day writing with them and perform our song in the evening to the whole group. On the first day I was chosen to write with a lovely man named Steve Garry. This collaboration in itself was super special and I actually officially released the song we composed together on the retreat called “My Heart Is Yours”.
I was very privileged to write with Jeff Cohen and Hannah Jackson on my 2nd day of writing which was amazing! Again this felt super special! We wrote two songs together on the day and Hannah and Jeff really encouraged me to just “be me” and see what I do (performance wise.) This writing day really brought out my confidence that I take with me now when I perform. It really made me realise I want to be an artist as well as a songwriter. So I’m grateful they let me take the lead for one of the two songs we wrote together.
Lastly I wrote with Gary Nicholson and Jack Harris on the last day of the retreat. The song we wrote was a lot of fun and was chosen for the final showcase of the retreat. I feel this song really got me to see how collaboration can be so great when writing. Me and Jack had the melody ideas for the track and Gary worked through really powerful lyrics which complimented his guitar playing/theme of the song. So teamwork worked a charm for this song!
PERFORMING AT SIGNIFICANT VENUES LIKE SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY’S CHILDHOOD HOME MUST HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE. HOW DO THESE EXPERIENCES SHAPE YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS AN ARTIST?
It really was! The National Trust hosted the Forthlin Sessions to inspire creativity for young people and artists. So the whole experience, especially visiting the Forthlin Home and learning a lot more about Sir Paul McCartney and his childhood felt really inspiring. The childhood home of Sir Paul McCartney and Mike McCartney holds so many golden memories and the fact that it is an ordinary house on an ordinary street is so inspiring to me as a young musician. It goes to show that dreams can really come true if you follow your passions, and believe in your potential and purpose.
WHICH ARTISTS OR MUSICAL INFLUENCES HAVE HAD THE MOST IMPACT ON YOUR SOUND AND SONGWRITING STYLE?
Honestly I would say my friend Jamie Petersen who teaches me jazz piano. My vocal coach had been encouraging me for quite a while to look into jazz piano because he knew as a singer and writer, this would open up so much more creativity in me when it comes to improvisation as a singer and writing in itself.
So the tips and tools I’ve learnt in the sessions with Jamie inspire my songwriting style and sound.
YOUR MUSIC HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY SEVERAL NOTABLE PUBLICATIONS. HOW DO YOU HANDLE THE PRESSURE OF MAINTAINING HIGH STANDARDS WHILE STAYING TRUE TO YOUR ARTISTIC VISION?
I do feel privileged to have been recognised by several notable publications quite early on in my career. This is a great question actually! I feel you have to remember why you are doing what you are doing in the first place. Is it for the approval of other people or because you love what you do. If you are living your purpose and writing songs that you are proud of then you are doing things for the right reasons. For instance I know in myself, I am really proud of Believe Again and Another World and feel these are my strongest songs so far as an artist. So I don’t worry about whether it’s being recognised or not because I love listening to them haha!
WHAT UPCOMING PROJECTS OR COLLABORATIONS ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT, AND WHAT CAN YOUR FANS EXPECT FROM YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
I have a new song that is likely due to be released in the Summer. I feel excited for this one and believe it’s my strongest song so far in my career 😊 I’m also starting to think about a live band and some live shows which is exciting too!
You can connect with Serena Ittoo on Instagram @serenaittoo, TikTok @serenaittoo, Facebook @Serena Ittoo and X @serenaittoo