We talked to nigerian grammy-nominated producer TMXO
INTERVIEW
TMXO is definitely an artist to watch. The Grammy-nominated Nigerian music producer is behind Shiwawu from Odunsi (The Engine), Hello Africa Riddim from Sarz and Different from Burna Boy among other tracks. His debut album TMX001: Alàdélobà was released in March 2020 and it’s hot!
We got the chance to chat with TMXO, here’s what he has to say.
On what’s going on following the death of George Floyd and the anti-racism and police brutality protests
“It’s quite weird, we just have to watch what’s going on. We need to pay attention to everything going on. And I think that we need to step back and think and see how can we make a positive impact so everything can come together to be one big thing. With the coronavirus, the police brutality, racism and everything, it’s really a time to think and take proper actions anyway we can. And that start from direct conversations in our immediate environment, our immediate family, our friends, our colleagues, everything. It’s gonna be a long way, it’s a trying time definitely.”
On the place of Africans on the global movement against racism and police brutality
“It affects all of us, maybe some people more than the others (Blacks in Diaspora, Blacks at home) but the moment I’m in Los Angeles, I’m simply a Black man , it doesn’t matter where I’m from. If they see my skin, if they see me, I’m a Black man so I can be in Los Angeles and you know, experience racism, even when you encounter non Nigerians in Nigeria I can be anywhere and experience racism. So it really doesn’t matter as long as your skin is Black then you’re African. You’re a Black man, you’re a Black man no matter where you are. So it affects all of us .”
On growing up in Lagos
“Fun. Everything is fun and challenging at the same time . You have to work more than your colleagues in the western world. We have to do times ten the work as a musician, as a music producer as opposed to someone who grew up in America. A music producer is a music producer anywhere, but it’s just different challenges.”
On new Nigerian music scene international success and whether it was to be expected
“I think that it’s all a cycle . So there was a time in the 80s, 70s when we had different majors here in Nigeria, in West Africa. We had Philips, Parlophone, we had Sony, you know all the labels down here. At some point they went back and now it’s our turn again. Same thing happened with Jamaican/Caribbean music. Patterns do repeat themselves, so I’m not exactly surprised.”
On his music influences
“Obviously a lot of Fela Kuti, a lot of house music, a lot of grime. A lot of hip hop, a lot of Jay-Z, Kanye West, a lot of traditional Nigerian music you hear at parties. It’s a big mixture of influences if I’m being honest, from all over the world, like everywhere.
I’m a very huge Kanye West fan, I’m a very huge Black Coffee fan, Black Motion from South Africa, Freddy Da Stupid from Mozambique. I listen to so much music, so many people have influenced my music. From Jamaica to London, it’s a big mixture of influences.I listen to everything.”
On what made him start to make music
“I was curious as a kid, I’d listen to everything. I was a very creative kid. I’m still really creative I think so I always wanted to recreate what I had, like “how did they do that?” and I just found myself. One day I got a software from a friend and I just never looked back. I’ve been lucky enough to build a career out of just that curiosity.”
On his journey from a studio intern to a Grammy nominated producer
“I believe in God so let’s say I’m blessed and I think also I’m always working, I’m always on the move. To get your blessings, you need also to be on the move. It’s just being always open to collaborations. I’m always open to people giving ideas and giving ideas to people and that’s how it started. I know we are more likely to achieve things together as opposed to just want to do everything on my own. So when I met one of my producer with an idea, I picked up the idea, worked and actually sent it to someone else and we got to Burna Boy. So from there Angelique got on the track, Damian Marley got on the track and the track made the album. We could not believe it. So that’s it just being open to collaboration, curiosity. I just work, I think that’s what’s gotten me so far, coupled with my beliefs and everything.”
On his debut album
“It’s great because I released it in March and we’re in June and I still get messaged everyday telling me how great the music is. Considering the fact that music consumption has changed and people don’t dwell on music anymore, people are giving me great feedback about the music and I feel like I’ve done something right.
On his favorite song from the album
“It’s a one play type of album where you play first track and it leads you all to its end. So everytime I listen to the album myself I end up listening from beginning to end. It’s really hard to think but I think one I really like a lot is ‘Yano Oworo because people in South Africa resonate with it, people in Nigeria they resonate with it. I feel like I did something right, that’s how it makes me feel.”
