Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter Safari Anthony, who discusses his new single, “Centerfold.â€
Review Fix: How did you get involved in music?
Tafari Anthony: I grew up in a house where both my parents were involved in music. So, music was always around and working on music was encouraged. But I often say it wasn’t until I left home and went to college that I really had to find the love for music on my own terms.
Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?
Anthony: It varies to be honest. Depending on my mood and space the process can be very different. Sometimes it starts with going through some voice notes and then building an idea off something random I had in there. Other times, I may start with a lyrical idea or concept and build from that. I think it’s important to be free and open with how you start things because it leaves room for exploration. If there’s too much of a formula I find that can be stifling.
Review Fix: What inspires you?
Anthony: I’m inspired by people. I’m that friend that everyone comes to talk to about their problems, and often those stories end up being starting points for different songs.
Review Fix: What does music mean to you?
Anthony: I really can’t imagine my life without music. There’s not a moment of the day that I’m not listening to music or thinking about it. No matter what happens I think I will always be involved in music in some shape or form.
Review Fix: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?
Anthony: This would be the elevator pitch; Pop music with a soulful edge. Think if Sam Smith and Adam Lambert got in a session together and had Brandy as their vocal producer.
Review Fix: How are your live shows different from your studio work?
Anthony: Live shows are just a different energy automatically. In studio, it’s really all about me, and what I can put into the songs in that moment. There’s usually maybe only an engineer in the room and that’s about it. But in front of an audience the whole thing is an energy exchange. Different audiences will bring out different things from me live, and that’s the exciting part about live shows.
Most of my live performance work right now has been more acoustic based / stripped down as well. So that also makes a big difference in the experience from studio to live.
Review Fix: What inspired your latest single?
Anthony: “Centerfold†was inspired by someone I was casually seeing for a little while. Things started off very quickly and ended almost as fast. Even to this day I don’t really know if I got the real story. He felt it would be appropriate to start posting things about me online, not that my name was used directly but it was really fucking obvious.
The bigger problem though was that he couldn’t understand the loss of trust. After I explained numerous times and ways why posting something about me online and then directing me to go look for the reason why he was upset instead of talking to me directly would hurt me, I could see he still didn’t understand the gravity of his actions was the demise.
Review Fix: What are your goals for 2020?
Anthony: Well… given what’s going on in the world right now, my only true goal is to get through this pandemic safely and help to contribute to the well being of everyone else.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Anthony: We shall see how things turn out. I may still drop another single or two before the year is up. But all the plans I had are definitely being re-evaluated at this point.
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