We recently sat down with South African-born, London-based singer-songwriter Bobbi Fallon to discuss her upcoming release, “I’m Not Coming Home,” a deeply personal track created in collaboration with Dutch producer Isam Hadjih. With a rich musical journey that began at age 11, Bobbi has evolved into a powerful voice blending jazz, pop, and electronic influences. In this interview, she opens up about the inspiration behind her latest work, her love of 1950s jazz, and how her move to London shaped her artistry. Get ready to explore Bobbi’s creative process, collaborations, and what’s next for this rising star!
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1. ‘I’m not coming home’ is described as your most vulnerable work to date. How and why is that?
B: When I initially wrote ‘I’m not coming home’ I was going through a personal breakthrough. I realised that I was feeling unchallenged and very much in my comfort zone. It was a difficult moment of introspection because I knew that change was bound to happen and I knew that it was not going to be easy, but this song was the admittance to myself. The only way for me to grow and essentially live the life I have always dreamed of, would mean that I would have to push myself out of my comfort zone, break boundaries and go farther than I had ever gone before. So I did. I moved halfway across the world and started a new chapter in my life that brought with it the most integral lessons that I carry with me to this day. This song was a letter to myself and an oath to “feel the fear and do it anyway”.
2. You’ve collaborated with Dutch producer Isam Hadjih on it. How did this come about, what was the creative process like?
This was one of the most random yet serendipitous moments. I wrote ‘I’m not coming home’ three years ago and never really did anything with it. It stayed safely in the vault of all my song ideas. One day I received a DM from Isam saying, “This is a ballsy move, but I have a beat for you”. I respected the confidence, so I asked him to send me the beat. The moment I heard it, I knew that the marriage of his beat and the melody and lyrics of ‘I’m Not Coming Home’ were a match made in heaven. By the end of the day, the two became one, and Isam’s magical beat became the new home for my topline. We worked back and forth via video calls and messages on the track and managed to make something we’re both so proud of.
3. Your journey began at a young age with the saxophone and piano. How have your early musical influences, particularly 1950s jazz, shaped your sound today?
This question makes me warm and gooey inside. My first love was jazz. It’s actually a funny story: I first fell in love with jazz when I was very young, and my dad used to play the Robbie Williams “Swing When You’re Winning” concert at the Royal Albert Hall for me. I knew every song by heart and knew that someday I would be up there with a huge jazz band… and Robbie Williams! From that moment onwards, I dove into studying the sounds of Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis. I fell in love with the bending of notes, the soulful melodies and the honesty that shone through in the lyrics of jazz. There’s something about a swung rhythm that really makes me feel like all is right in the world. I decided to focus on the education of jazz from about 14 years old. By 18 years old, I moved to Boston to dive even deeper into my passions at Berklee College of Music. If you listen to my music, no matter what genre I sing, you will always be able to pick up these fundamental influences that drew me to make music my life.
4. You’ve worked with artists like Black Coffee and featured on his album Music Is King. How did that influence your artistic growth and sound?
When Black Coffee featured my first-ever release on his album, my whole world changed. I remember waking up and seeing the message on my phone and not knowing if I was seeing it correctly. I was in college at the time and ran into my roommate’s room shouting about not even having a proper artist email yet. That one song opened many doors for me in my career. I began collaborating with extremely talented artists in the Afro House world in South Africa, which was something that happened organically and by happy chance. I gained a lot of attention for my songwriting skills and the unique sound I was adding to dance music beats. My sound has never changed, just the environment in which it is found changes. Many of the toplines I write for dance music tracks will often start as ballads on the piano and make their way onto dance floor beats. This is something I absolutely love because these songs can translate to any environment. I love to dance, so having my stories told in a way that makes you dance is a dream come true for me.
5. Your new single is an empowering self-love anthem. What message do you hope listeners take away from this track?
I hope listeners find the courage to get out of their comfort zones. To realise that their life is theirs and they have the ability to create something that they are excited about, a life that inspires them. I know that in my life I want to look back and say that I lived it to the absolute fullest I possibly could. This takes courage and resilience because living life to the fullest often comes with challenges and growing pains, but my word! It is worth it. We often find ourselves stuck in mundanity and repetition because it is safe and dependable. But “life begins at the end of your comfort zone”. That was a fridge magnet my mom always had up! I guess it manifested itself in my life… and into this song! If you listen closely enough, your heart will tell you what it wants. Listen to that voice.
6. Being born in Johannesburg and now based in London, how have the two cultures influenced your career?
Johannesburg will always be my favourite place in the world in terms of the energy and vibe of the people. There is nothing quite like going out with people in Johannesburg. There is a warmth and hospitality that is engrained in Johannesburg culture. When I think of the people in Joburg, it makes me smile. Johannesburg epitomises what it means to enjoy life, to welcome in the good times and to celebrate. At least, that’s how it always feels to me. I think this culture has shaped me and the way I perform because I always want people to have a good time; that’s a very ‘Joburg’ thing. The culture in South Africa in general, is also so rich and diverse. The sounds, the fashion, the art, and the way we interact with each other are special and something I always recommend people experience. South Africa is wildly creative and innovative; you can hear it in the music created by Afro-House pioneers. The music coming out of South Africa is shining brightly at the moment. I am proud to say that I am a product of that as well.
London culture is a whole different experience. I will say that I am totally in love with London. I have always been drawn to London and dreamed of living here. You can never get bored. There are so many pockets of wonderful experiences and places to see and visit. There is so much inspiration around at all times. The vast range of cultures that fill London all co-exist and borrow from each other. I love how the world is your oyster in London. There are opportunities everywhere. Music and art is such a big part of London’s culture, and there is huge emphasis placed on them. As an artist, being in London is like being in a candy store. I am able to work with some of the world’s greatest musicians and perform at wonderful venues every single week.
7. Can you tell us more about your songwriting process? How do you approach creating music that resonates so deeply with listeners?
One thing I really pride myself on is my ability to introspect. I am a thinker, maybe an over-thinker as well (I think most artists are). I am in love with words and the stories they create. I love how I can use words to paint a picture, to hide a meaning, to create an experience. I also love sounds and how they make you feel something so deeply so quickly. When I write songs, I merge all of these aspects into one. I am thinking and spewing out information whilst simultaneously vocalising how it feels as a melody. When I am writing, I go deep into meditation, and sometimes, I don’t remember how I even wrote some songs. I write exactly how I feel; I think people can hear and feel that. A lot of the time, I think I write too specifically about myself for people to resonate with me. Still, I always find myself surprised at how many people will approach me at my shows and tell me how much they connect to the lyrics. So, I have learned that the more honest I am in my songs, the more relatable they are. I always want to create music that is didactic, that has something positive to take from it. Even if it is an emotionally charged song about heartbreak, I want to portray the beauty of the human experience and how lucky we are to have it.
8. Receiving a scholarship to Berklee College of Music was a huge milestone in your journey. How did your time there refine your musical craft and help you grow as an artist?
Berklee was my dream University. For the first time in my life, I was able to study and perform music all day long. This didn’t seem real to me. I remember waking up in college every day and pinching myself because I was living my dream. Going to a school where all the best musicians in their communities come in one place was wildly inspiring. I felt like I was growing and learning at four times the speed because the calibre and level of musicians were astronomical. My professors were all industry giants, and I was being mentored by people who had been in the music industry for longer than I had been alive. I performed all the time, and I recorded, wrote, and learned for three years straight. This experience shaped me to be a well-rounded musician and artist. I will draw from my time at Berklee for the rest of my life. I gained so many of my friends and mentors from my time there.
9. You’ve been open about wanting to connect with your audience on a deeper level. How do you create that emotional connection in your music and in the club?
The lyrics that I write very often depict emotional or deep moments. If you listen to the story being told, you’re bound to feel emotional. I think the way I sing the melodies with soul and emotion portrays a lot of what I am feeling. When I start to sing, I get transported to another dimension and I hope to take people with me on that journey. When it comes to the club, If I am performing live, I will make eye contact with my audience, check in with them, and feed off the vibes and energy. If my song is just playing, I can only hope that the message is being received through the speakers. Either way I hope people feel a little something every time they hear my songs. It often happens in the breakdown sections when I start to build up the vocal and belt and really push that emotional drive forward. I think that’s perhaps what I’m remembered for—the big notes.
10. What can we expect from you next? Any exciting gigs coming up?
You can expect a lot more music. I have been spending most of the year writing and creating and I am so ready for the music to be released into the world. These new songs are pieces of work I am so proud of and really have been dreaming of releasing. I have a wonderful performance coming up on release day, September 19th, with Trackside Session, where they are raising funds for the Young Urban Arts Foundation. I will also be performing ‘I’m Not Coming Home’ and some of the newer songs! I hope anyone able to join will come and support this fantastic charity and opportunity to connect.