The Malian-French singer and songwriter lives in Lisbon with her family but was on stage at the largest NFT conference in Europe, Paris NFT day, 12 April 2022.

The Portugal News was at the event and interviewed her.

"Why did you move to Lisbon?" I asked her in the hallway before her event. We were on the second floor of the old Paris Stock Exchange. It was now full of people, booths, and energy, all devoted to Blockchain technology and the fantastic innovation it can bring.

"I love the country and the culture," she said, smiling politely at a few fans walking by. "I love Paris and travel here regularly, but Lisbon has a certain magnetism. I love the culture, and the people are so welcoming. My husband is also an artist, and Portugal was a great place to nurture this."

"You are a Land Ambassador for the UN and a huge proponent of using NFT technology for Climate and Humanitarian benefits. What is the biggest challenge you have seen to entering NFTs?"

Inna replied: "I was a musician for 15 years and a photographer for ten years. The NFT space moves so incredibly fast. Even the experts in the field are learning—all simultaneously. Everyone is learning.

The point is to support climate activists, refugees, and gender equality. I've been fundraising for over a decade, and the idea is to continue and use this new technology."

"You support NFTs for climate action. How do you respond to the argument that NFTs are bad for the planet?" I asked.

Inna explained: "We have to understand the energy consumption in the space. It is such a new industry. We have sectors that have been around for 100's of years and have no climate activism! Meanwhile, NFTs have only been here for two years, and we are supposed to be perfect. The space is a fantastic novel way to better the world. It's not perfect, but we just started. It is a space I believe in, and I will bring my contribution to this space”.

But just how did Inna get into NFTs?

"I discovered NFTs through my husband. Diving into what it was and what it meant. I'm an activist for gender justice and climate justice. As a builder, what can I do? How can I empower them to go on a sustainable journey for everybody?

“I was obsessed with NFTs and became head of Philanthropy of World of Women. We are harnessing the power of creativity and community to make an impact on complex cultural issues”.

"And how are NFTs changing your industry?" I said.

"In the music world, the artists were kept separate from the fans. There are many middlemen. But now, for new artists, there are no gatekeepers. No one needs to approve your work, and you can mint your work yourself using a smart contract. It really is a beautiful time for artists. Extraordinary people are building the future. Special projects, women, and minorities are working hard to be present and in the space”.

And finally, I asked: "What advice would you give to new artists?"

"Start building before trying to sell anything. Find your tribe and like-minded people you can build with. As artists, it is important to make sure you create with the people. It's all about community, and you can't do it alone. It has to be completed by the artist and community together. Collectors help artists they like as feedback. The music industry has not changed, unfortunately. But for art, auction houses have done an amazing job creating fantastic success stories that show artists we can do it, and we can reach the stars."

What do you think of NFT technology? Can we use it to better the world? Or will it be used just for profit and overly expensive cartoons?

We love to hear from you at The Portugal News!

Check out my YouTube channel titled "Chris Lehto" for NFT-funded DeSci info.

Author

Chris Lehto, ex-F-16 pilot, and YouTuber, combines aviation expertise and passion for the unexplained to investigate UAPs. He founded the UAP Society, funding decentralised research into alien existence using NFTs.

Chris Lehto