Review Fix chats with Tete Essien, who discusses his origin in music, goals and more.
Review Fix: How did the project start?
Tete Essien: I was umming and ahing about whether I still wanted to make music. It felt like, at the time, I’d put a lot of time and effort into something that didn’t go anywhere. Kind of like after a breakup where you go into protective mode and you tell yourself you want to avoid feeling that way again. It wasn’t until a couple of people suggested I try again with a different project. I had some demos that I sent to The Animal Farm, fortunately they liked them because that spurred me on to continue having a crack at it all. Without those people in my corner originally, though, I don’t know where I’d be. Certainly wouldn’t be doing this interview, so they deserve praise for that. Kind of helped me out of a hole.
Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?
Essien: A song usually comes in a spark, in a single moment. Whether the catalyst for the idea is a lyric or a bassline, in that moment it feels like I can already hear the full song in my head. From there, it’s a matter of unearthing what’s already there. I’m just digging out the bones from the ground, know what I mean? After that it’s all about getting the track to where it feels it should be. I know when I’ve cracked it because when I demo the song, if I’m really on it, I’ll rinse that tune in my headphones over the next few days. My remit is to make music I’m a fan of, working on the things I’d like to listen to. If I manage to impress myself, chances are I just might impress one or two more people.
Review Fix: What’s your standout song? How was it written?
Essien: I always mention “Burn†when this question comes about. It was born out of this really simple idea, I had a two note riff and it just went off from there. I started building it up to be this song that moved and changed as it progressed so getting the dynamics right was of paramount importance. There tends to be a lot of words in my tunes, but this felt like an exercise in tapering that a bit whilst still getting my point across. I love it when people can be assertive without ever having to shout, always reminds me of my favourite teachers to be honest. As a concept, that’s what `I was going for and I’m pleased with how it turned out.
Review Fix: What are your goals for 2020?
Essien: I’d love to have had something played on BBC Introducing by the time the year ends. That would be a milestone for me. I don’t know how possible it’d be, but playing gigs again would be a huge thing for me. I’m excited by the prospect of getting back on that horse, whenever that’ll be.
Review Fix: How do you want your music to affect people?
Essien: You want your music to sit with people and to mean something to them, in the way that other people’s music does to you. Grabbing attention can be hard enough and retaining it is even harder, especially with the desire for quick fixes of distraction and entertainment that we’re being pandered to with. If you can create something that is emotive and affective to the extent that listeners want it to live with them, so that they can continue uncovering the elements that keeps drawing them back to it, I think you’re doing something right. And if that encourages merch sales, I wouldn’t mind that either.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Essien: There’s a new single on the horizon, a video for “Runaway†too. It’s all about getting my music out to the people who’ll appreciate it, and working on an approach to achieve that is high priority. I don’t think stardom is anything I’m turned on by, but if it gets me some free Fred Perry threads I’ll play the game as well.
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