It’s rare to stumble upon an artist early in their career and instantly sense they’re on the brink of something big. That’s exactly how I felt when Spotify’s algorithm blessed me with Wooden Floors, the latest album from SALIMATA. A deeper dive into her music revealed a goldmine of poetic rap, soulful beats, and unshakable attitude. With GOODDAYII playing through my AirPods, I cycled through the crisp November air to meet her ahead of her performance at last year’s Super-Sonic Jazz Festival. From the first exchange, our conversation felt less like an interview and more like catching up with an old friend.
We bonded over our shared nostalgia for Tumblr—a platform she credits for shaping her creativity as a teen, pushing her to experiment with style and expression. Her journey into music started with poetry, which evolved into rapping over beats she uploaded to Facebook. She recalled working her fast-food job in Long Island when she first realized the impact of her art: fans were traveling all the way from Pennsylvania just to catch her live.
Still, it wasn’t until MIKE and Niontay—pillars of New York’s underground rap scene—encouraged her to release her debut album, OUCH, that she started to see music as her full-time path.
SALIMATA’s mom and her Côte d’Ivoire roots play a huge role in shaping her life and artistic persona. Often styling her for performances, her mom’s bold and rebellious nature inspires SALIMATA to embrace her individuality and fully pursue her passion for music. Behind SALIMATA’s vibrant artistic personality, lies a deep, insightful, and vulnerable self. She confesses to me that pre-show nerves never go away, especially when it comes to dancing on stage. But the moment she starts performing, she disappears into the world she’s created—her words and energy taking over.
As we wrapped up, SALIMATA reflected on the highs and challenges of being her own boss, excited to share the fruits of her imagination with the world. After she filled out the Friendbook, we said our goodbyes with a pact to keep nourishing the weirdos within us.
See her entry in the Aa friendbook below.
Interview by Anastasia Gviniachvili.
My name is: SALIMATA
I’m also known as: SALI
I was born on: 26 FEBRUARY 1998
My favorite color is: GREY
My favorite animal is: DEERS
My favorite food is: ATTIEKE AVEC POISSON
My favorite movie is: OLDBOY
My favorite song is: HEAVEN CAN WAIT MJ
I don’t like: PEPPERONI PIZZA
I am good at: HANDSTANDS
When in Amsterdam, you will find me at: THE PATTA OFFICE!
A quality of mine I want to strengthen: DISCIPLINE
The best advice I’ve ever received: CAN’T RATIONALIZE WHAT’S IRRATIONAL
A recent compliment that made me happy: I AM SWEET
A moment that changed me: MAKING MY OWN MONEY NO BOSS
An experience that has taught me a lot: IS SWIMMING AND SURRENDERING TO THE WATER
Who are you? A DAUGHTER SISTER GRANDCHILD AUNTIE COUSIN FRIEND SIS BRO LOVER THINKER DREAMER OBSERVER MAGICIAN
What inspires you? LIFE
What are you passionate about? EXCHANGE / A GOOD TIME
What attracted you to your craft? RELEASE AND POETRY
How do you find balance? STRETCHING
How do you practice self-care? BREATHING, STRETCHING, SLEEPING, SHITTING AND EATING RIGHT. AND IF IM STILL FUCKED I GET TO MEDITATING ← SUPER HARD TO DO
My message to all of you: SPEND TIME WITH PPL YOU LOVE. LAUGH DRAW SCREAM RELEASE. PARTY SLEEP GOOD AND STAY HYDRATED.