An Ipswich priest has released his first full length hip-hop album – with his tracks tackling challenging issues such as the effect of trauma on young people.
Revd Kiran Lotay, 36, of Triangle Church on Triangle estate, Ipswich, has been interested in music and spoken word poetry since he was young, and already has two self-released EPs and a mixtape published on his YouTube channel.
Kiran, who grew up in Wembley in London, said he wanted his new album “Recovery” to open conversations about the issues young people face.
“One of the things I love most about poetry and rap music is how you can compress meaning and express complex ideas in just one or two lines,” he said.
“The music I make looks to speak to the experience of the young people I’m working with, as well as my own journey and spirituality. The album covers topics including trauma, healing, spiritual growth and how the local community can help support people through it. I want people to be able to engage with my music and for it to help people talk about things they find difficult to talk about.”
To create the album, Revd Lotay received a grant from the Church of England in Suffolk, which was put towards studio time and mixing the tracks at South Street Studios.
Revd Lotay, who performs under the name Hybrid, said he wanted the album to impact the lives of those living in the area he served, to act as a safe space to encourage discussion.
“I’m an estate minister in my bones,” he said. “I care about the things that serve the place I’m serving in.”
“I’m not trying to create an online community outside of Ipswich, though I’m happy if others benefit. I’m really looking to impact the community I work with through my music. I love this area of Ipswich, it’s a special place. It’s like the area in London I grew up close to and faces many of the same challenges.”
To hear Revd Lotay’s new album “Recovery” visit his YouTube page here.