I feel lucky to have studied music – Tony Njoku

Tony Njoku, is a musician, visual artist, single song writer, music producer whose song ‘As we danced,’ continues to serenade audiences. He has two albums ‘In Greyscale’ (2016) and ‘H.P.A.C’ (2018) with 25 songs between them. Weekend Magazine cornered the London-based artiste who was in Nigeria recently, for an interview.

WM: At what point did you decide it would be music?

Njoku: From day one I knew I was going to be an artist. I did a lot of visual work when I was a child.  I wanted to be a visual artist. I was very interested in that but later changed to architecture at some point. Then maybe at age 12, I decided to take music seriously and have been in it since then.

WM: Was there anything in particular that defined that moment at age 12?

Njoku: Yes. Back then we used to download free music on software like limewire. That was how I got all my music. I remember downloading an album by Radiohead called Kid A, which is a great record. I just found the cover and downloaded it without knowing anything about it. What was funny about this is that it was the fake version of the album.  Basically someone has layered each track on top of itself a few seconds after it starts playing. That was how every song was. Now after hearing the original version I really appreciate the album a lot more, however I loved that bootleg version so much at age 12. Having that experience is why I experiment with sound now, why I want to ‘mess’ people up with my music.

WM: I saw your video ‘As we danced.’ Could you tell me about the creative process that went into it?

Njoku: It was loosely choreographed, I am not a professional dancer but I have a friend who is and she helped a bit on that project. Basically the movements with the ropes are based around the theme of the lyrics. It is quite a romantic song, and is full of love, I wouldn’t say it’s just that because there is a spiritual limit to it but it’s mainly a love song. So, we just wanted the video to follow it. The main theme in the love song was: being manipulated by a lover and them trying to make you into whatever they see fit. That is why there was a rope with me being pulled around.

WM: Was it born out of personal experience?

Njoku: Yes, absolutely! I don’t need to get into all of that, but definitely, yes.

WM: Could you share with us what your creative process is like?

Njoku: I’d say 90 percent preparation and 10 percent execution. So, I like to just meditate on an idea. If am coming out of a state or period of rumination where I have dealt with some personal things that may be negative, that often seems to be a good starting point. Those moments always lead to clarity and of course positivity comes after clarity. I hate being in a negative state of mind when working because I will never get anything good. But if am in a positive state then I tend to find good material.  When I get the idea, I talk about it with friends, before I start writing, to see how I want to present it in sound and in lyrics. I like to be very proactive.

WM: You studied music. How different it is from class room to reality, what is the transition like?

Njoku: I don’t think my school was like, where people go study and you give them an instrument and tell them to go learn an instrument. Mine was about the artistic development and creative practice. I felt very lucky there, it was more on the thinking side of things. Also, I was allowed to do experiment as much as possible, when studying. The difference is that when you are studying, you do not think about the financial side of being an artist so much. For me it has been a hard transition into the real world. Thinking about making money and the market I can fit in, I’m always advised not to worry about that too much. But it is very difficult not to worry, when you’re engage with the actual business.

WM: How difficult or easy was it convincing your parents you would study Music?

Njoku: It was totally difficult. I pretty much pressed on them a lot. Now, they are very proud of me because it paid off.

WM: Who or what has been your most source of inspiration?

Njoku: I like when I see artists being free, say and be able to do what they want. Sometimes they have to fight for it… like Nina Simone is a big inspiration, Bjork is another artist I am into. She is fantastic and a musically brilliant mind. Nobody can sound like her. Like her music is so unique. The topics she speaks about, the costumes, the artistic choices are just great, she’s the full package.

WM: In the cause of writing a song, do you some time experience a conflict of personality or interest?

Njoku: Yes, for sure. Sometimes, my skills don’t match the idea. Sometimes I wish I could play something or the sound of my voice is not what I want. But then I consider making music as problem solving, so I welcome conflicts.

WM:  What does music mean to you?

Njoku: Music is a big deal for me, it’s a necessity now. I enjoy the feeling of performing to a crowd. I enjoy the feeling of finishing a really good song. With music, I get a really great high, it’s the best kind of high. It feels like the only space I really get to analyze and talk to myself. Like when I am writing a song and I am going through the process, day by day engaging in a track or an album.  Also, I consult with a higher power just to really engage with myself. That is what it means to me. It’s a spiritual practice.

WM: What themes do you like to sing about?

Njoku: I am very interested in psychological themes which have to do with mental health, trauma. I had an interest in studying Psychology. No exclusively though.

WM: Why this theme?

Njoku: It is a combination of many things but mainly it’s just a keen interest in documenting my own self-development. All the emotions I go through, my patterns, my life experiences, they’ll all infinite sources of inspiration. You know, it’s also about the music that hits me the most, like the music that I don’t totally understand how it’s formed. Like when I first listened to that Radiohead album, it was a psychedelic experience, it felt like it was opening my head up to a new world of sound and experience. It made me feel like there is more to life than what I has previously perceived.

WM: What gets you in the mood for work?

Njoku: Summer! I like working in the  Summer. I just go out in the world, experience nature come back in my little studio space at home and take a track I’m working on and there you go. I open up all the windows and allow the birdsong come in, it’s the best time to write music about the winter. Everybody is happy and soaking up vitamin D.