“Afrobeats Is Freedom To A New World” Teni Interviewed
Afropop star Teni (Teniola Apata), known for her uplifting and eclectic sound, takes us on a transformative journey in ‘Tears Of The Sun’, her new sophomore album. With one of the most distinctive and unique voices in the scene, Teni, yet again proves that she is in a league of her own.
Known for her past collaborations with Davido, WizKid, Stormzy and more, her new 16-track album features collaborations with artists including, Tayc, Odumodublvck, Mader Kuti, further showcasing her versatility. The album also includes celebratory and feel-good tracks like ‘LANKE’, produced by the award-winning Blaisebeatz, known for working with the likes of Davido, Wizkid, Asale, Ty Dolla Sign. Combined with Afropop percussion and her warm versatile vocals, Teni creates the perfect feel-good track, creating a sonic experience.
To celebrate her new release, Clash goes into conversation with Teni and discusses her musical inspirations, battling illness and freedom (YBGFA).
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I know some of your influences across Nigeria and America are King Sunny Ade, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke. Are there any other artists you grew up listening to?
Salawa Abeni, she’s a indigenous Nigerian artist and she came up with the genre called ‘Waka’. Funmi Aragbaye. I also listen to a lot of Indian music, the music from the movies. This style of music really shaped my musical taste as well.
Which project to come out of Nigeria has inspired you the most musically? And also what Nigerian musical genres?
Fuji influences me deeply because of the melodies. I’m very melodious. I love Apala (or Akpala) and highlife as well. Ebenezer Obey and Osita Osadebe’s albums. These albums, before they start singing, the instruments will just take you on a journey before you even hear their voice. So I love the projects by Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe & Chief Ebenezer Obey.
How would you describe your creative process generally?
I love to have fun. I love when it feels natural and doing whatever just comes to my head (*starts freestyling*). Haha, you get me? For example, I just love writing music. It’s your own world, create whatever you like. With melodies, with instruments and with words. It’s just fun.
I know you recently became independent, how has your journey as an artist been since this?
It’s changed for sure. Being independent is a whole lot of work. You have to play the role of everything. You have to be on top of everything. You have to learn a lot of things. You have to know about the business because now you are not just a musician, you are also a business woman. It’s hard and time consuming but it’s fulfilling. It has its pros but also its cons. I would say to an artist, don’t go independent if you are not ready. You have to be ready and you have to want to work and know why you are doing it because there’ll be a lot of nights where you are just tired. You have to have a why.
From your debut album ‘Wondaland’, to your upcoming album ‘Tears Of The Sun’, there’s a noticeable shift in your sound and style. How would you describe this shift in sound?
‘Tears Of The Sun’ is so different to ‘Wondaland’ because ‘Wondaland’ had a happy Teni but I’m being vulnerable in my new album. I’m showing them my pain. I’m showing them my heart. I’m showing them how I’m really feeling. My ups and my downs, not just the happy Teni, but the Teni that goes through life.
During ‘Wondaland’ I was new to things but ‘Tears Of The Sun’, I’ve been independent, I’ve seen a lot of things and I’ve been sick. ‘Tears Of The Sun’ has more pain, more hope. It has more ‘I can climb the mountain and I can do it’.
How would you describe the process of creating your album ‘Tears Of The Sun’? Was your intention to make it quite personal?
I just wanted listeners to come into my world. To see what it feels like to have it all and still want more. No one ever has it all. The things you wanted before, when you get it, you want more. For ‘Tears Of The Sun’ I put my all. I fell sick, I lost my voice, I got it back. When I named it ‘Tears Of The Sun’, I didn’t even know what I was saying, until I started working on the album. But I appreciate it, because there are times in my life that have helped me to grow.
There’s no pain without growth and there’s no growth without pain. I embraced this and put it on the mic and let them feel how I’m feeling.
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You recently opened up about having a life-threatening throat infection. How did this affect you?
It was so hard because my voice is my livelihood. It’s my hobby, it’s my friend. It’s what I do when nobody is watching and when everybody is watching. When I’m down I sing, when I’m happy I sing. I sing, I sing, I sing. It was frustrating but it taught me a lesson. Sometimes our body just needs rest. Not just our bodies but also our minds just need to relax.
It taught me that the waiting period is just preparation for something better. When something isn;t going as you planned, just relax, maybe the universe is preparing you to see another side, maybe it wants to teach you something. Now I know how to treat my voice better, I know to drink more water.
What does the opening track ‘YBGFA’ mean to you?
Young Black Girl From Africa. It’s just freedom. In whatever you do, in every area of your life, you are not alone. Be free, spread your wings. Just go and set yourself free.
As an African-Nigerian female in the music industry, has expressing and navigating your sexuality ever been difficult?
I just don’t care. I just live my life and enjoy myself. Work on myself and be a better person, that’s all I care about.
What does afrobeats mean to you?
Afrobeats means freedom. It’s freedom because we fought so much to get here. It’s freedom because you can literally do anything with afro sound. There’s no boundaries, or rules. It’s jollof. You can decide to sing it this way, or that way. You can add pidgin, or speak another language. Anything you want to do inside it, you can do it.
Afrobeats is freedom to a new world. There will always be new developments. I can get a sound from Japan and mix it with a sound from Ethiopia, with a touch from Nigeria. It’s afrobeats, anything is possible and that’s the beauty of it.
You’ve collaborated with a lot of cool artists throughout your career, including WizKid, Davido, Stormzy and many more. Do you have any other artists that you dream of working with in the future?
Ed Sheeran for sure. Brent Faiyaz; Janelle Monáe, I love her.
Anything exciting coming up that you want to share with fans?
My album is out! I put so much work into it and I’m so excited that it’s finally out.
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‘Tears Of The Sun’ is out now.
Words: Yohanna Delaportas