Up and coming young artist TETE ESSIEN has soulful vocals with witty over the top grooves and gritty guitar work that makes a great mash up combo! Hence forth, he has released a couple of single's with another all new single underway. All he plans to do for the time being, is to just get more recording's out there for people to like them and spread the word. Tete himself goes into talks about all of this and more below.
1. Please tell us about the history of you as an artist.
I had been in a band from when I was 17 for about two and a half years. A friend of mine wanted to put something together, knew that I played a little bit of guitar and asked if I might contribute some to his idea. That eventually mutated into a line-up that had me go on to be a singer for it. When we eventually disbanded, I was kind of hanging about with not a lot else to do, even tried convincing myself that music wasn’t something I really should do anymore in order to focus on other things. But I had these songs knocking about that I thought I could still do justice with on my own, and that’s what helped to persuade me to go it alone. Getting in touch with The Animal Farm only spurred me on more; their enthusiasm for the demos I had let me know that I might be onto something and that’s how we’ve gotten to this point now.
2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?
3. Where are you based out of and what is your music scene like there?
I’m from Bromley, Greater London. I couldn’t really say that there is a local music scene here. I know and I know of a couple artists and their output is as varied as you’d expect from a big city. Being so close to central, you’re a stone’s throw away from a hotbed of the UK’s music scene as a whole. Big artists in grime, hip-hop and pop have come out of the city, from all ends and that brings a sense of pride with it. It also fosters a can-do ethos in Londoners to encourage us to seek out the things we want and want to do. I think you can definitely see that in our mentality.
4. Are there any local bands you could recommend?
I‘m a big fan of Baby Husband. Played in a battle of the bands alongside them once and they stuck out for me. They’re from Kingston so they’re not local as such, but I always find myself returning to them. Was just well impressed from the get-go. I’d recommend them to anyone who’ll listen.
5. How would you describe your style?
Beat and groove are essential to it. There’s quite garagey guitars over the top of some of the songs but I see them as being textural. If that basis isn’t there in the foundation of the track then I don’t want to finish making it. Strong rhythms and pretty melodies probably make up the cake of the songs, and then the icing would be the genres I love that I’d be evoking in them; whether that be soul, hip-hop or indie rock.
6. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?
I currently have two singles out, "Aviator" and "Runaway". They were recorded and released through the help of The Animal Farm. Those two songs are examples of the more guitar-driven music I make. I’d written them a few years ago, and so when it came to picking tracks to be my first released I felt they’d be a good example of a certain side to my music. But I’m keen not to pigeonhole myself. I’m certain people who’d be expecting that from the rest of my output will be thrown a couple of curve balls in the near future.
7. Do you have any new music in the works?
I’ve got another single recorded and ready to be released, it’s just a matter of finding the right time to let it out. I’m always writing and organizing my songs into mini projects. I’d waited so long for any outside influence to pay any attention to what I was doing I knew I wanted to be prepared for when someone did, not to be caught flat-footed, and be ready and armed with the music when it was needed. I have a few ideas of what I want to do after this next single comes out, but I don’t want to give away all my gold for free. We’ll have to wait and see for now.
8. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?
Well given the current climate It’s kinda hard to predict when I’ll next be able to play any gigs. My focus at the minute is to be ready for that green light, though, so we can hit the ground running. I’ve not played live in over a year now so I’m really chomping at the bit to get to again. I spent some of lock down finding people to play in a live band with me, people who were excited about what I was coming up with, and I think I’ve settled on a line-up for that. So when they release the traps, whenever that’ll be, you can bet on us being ready to put on a good gig for you. That or your money back.9. What plans do you have for the future?
Right from the start of me making music, I just wanted to get good recordings out to the people who might like them, and my attitude is the same now. It feels like I’ve got to earn the right to call myself a musician, or songwriter and I’ve got every intention of doing so. I’m completely committed to this. To keep releasing, making a healthy back catalog of music to perform for people is my approach. There’s nothing technical to it, but I have belief that the energy we put into it will receive the same back. First and foremost I make music for myself, but I want people to be receptive to it too. You have to earn the right for people to enjoy what you do, but I think I’m on that track.
10. Where can we listen to you and where can we buy your stuff?
All the usual suspects really. Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, Soundcloud. Should have a video for the latest single out for you in the coming weeks as well. Currently working on some merch too so keep an eye out for that also.
11. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
It gets better with every listen.
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