From Sierra Leone to Adelaide: WaiKid is Rewriting the Soundtrack

Photo: Zane Qureshi

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Francis Wai, but they call me WaiKid. I am 21 years old, from Sierra Leone, West Africa and I'm based in Adelaide, South Australia. I'm a singer-songwriter & piano player.

When did you realise you were into music?

Well, for me, music started at a very young age. My biggest inspiration was Michael Jackson, he started that platform for me. I remember when I was a kid, I used to want to be like him, I'd do the dance moves., So Michael Jackson started my musical journey for me.

How would you describe your style of music?

For me, my style of music is like a mixture of R&B, Afrobeats and Afropop. What is the feeling or listening experience you want your listeners to take away from your music? I want my music to be something that'll make people happy. Something that'd impact a person's life positively.

Also, I just want to bring good vibes & good energy.

WaiKid and close collaborator, Truelove (2022)

What does your songwriting process look like?

Because I play the keyboard, I always start by thinking of a melody, and then I will form words that fit into place. From there, the words will come out naturally.

So you spoke a little about Michael Jackson. Are there any other musicians that inspire you?

I'm highly inspired by the Afrobeats genre. Since I was a kid, people like Wizkid, Davido and Burna Boy have influenced me and are my top three favourite artists.

Who are people in the industry that you'd like to collaborate with - whether that's writers, artists or producers?

I'd like to collaborate with Arya. I already work with him, but I enjoy it. Of course, James Bannah, that's my guy. And then one day people like Youngn Lipz, Rema & there's a lot more.

Now that you performed at Phoenix Streetwear's Utopia event, can you tell me a little bit about that opportunity?

For me, that was a great opportunity. Shout out to Isaac, Shabani, Bosco- all the Steelo boys. For me, performing at Utopia was one of the best things I've ever done. It was like a dream come true.

So this magazine is titled The Kids Turned Out Alright. How would you describe your childhood or teenage years?

For me, my childhood was pretty hard. Then as I grew up things started getting better. All I can say is, I went through challenges but I'm grateful for where I am today.

Why did you choose the name WaiKid?

So my last name is Wai and I just added kid to it. I am also very inspired by the artist Wizkid.

Finally, what can people expect to see from WaiKid in 2022?

Trust me, you're gonna expect a lot of stuff. Sit back, keep relaxed, have your popcorn, it's all cinematic. I've got lots coming out soon.