Koffee ‘excited’ for the release of ‘Gifted’

Koffee says she is feeling grateful, excited and ready ahead of the release of her debut album, Gifted.

“I feel that the timing feels most perfect, working on lockdown for a minute. So I feel very refreshed and ready to just go back out into the world, hit the road, and let everybody hear what we’ve been working on,” the 22-year-old Toast entertainer told Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1.

As the world reopens after lockdown owing to the coronavirus pandemic, Koffee says she feels the release is happening at the right time.

“To be honest, I had to kind of console myself into seeing that nothing happens before the correct time. I don’t know what the setbacks would’ve been if it had happened earlier. I don’t know what all the setbacks would’ve been, but one would’ve been like not being able to tour immediately. I’m just grateful,” said Koffee, whose tour begins in April in the United States.

Gifted features 10 tracks and, notably, has no features. This was a deliberate move by Koffee, who shared that she is still finding her footing. “What I’m trying to do is make the music space my home, really; like settle in on a thing, find all the right things that help me to thrive in my part, and also give me the ability to invite other people in the right way to collaborate,” said Koffee.

She shared that she’s taking her time and looking forward to manifesting these “genuine” musical pairings.

“I’m just kind of sending out into the universe that I’m open and ready for the right people to come my way,” she said.

As for the album’s title, Koffee doesn’t quite remember when she came up with the name, but she remembers the reason behind it. Like many creatives, Koffee said the pandemic left her feeling doubtful of her abilities and purpose.

“I wanted to remind myself, encourage myself, and just bring back that energy of being talented and reminding my fellow creatives that look, no matter what the setback is or how down you may feel like in a certain time, trust me, don’t forget your gift that you have within you. Just remember that once you have life and you have the ability to execute a gift, just use that to the fullness of your ability,” said Koffee.

Born Mikayla Simpson, Koffee burst on the scene in 2017. She signed with Columbia Records in 2019, the next year her EP Rapture won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.

Gifted is set to be released this Friday, March 25, by Sony Music UK and RCA Records.