Tunde Olaniran’s dynamic, energetic, uplifting pop- and dance-fired R&B: The Local Spins Q&A

The fast-rising Flint phenom headlines a show at The Pyramid Scheme on Friday night, and promises a ‘beat-driven’ night with a special guest. Listen to the Local Spins on WYCE radio podcast.

 

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Many words could be used to describe Michigan’s Tunde Olaniran: artist, singer, choreographer, dancer, activist.

If there ever has been a person more befitting the term, “Renaissance Man,” it would be this Flint native.

Tunde’s name has been on a steady rise over the past few years, growing his brand out in the Detroit area and working with artists such as JR JR (formerly Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr), while also putting out a handful of EPs. Pitchfork called his latest album “incendiary.” BlackBook raves that Tunde Olaniran is “about to blow your mind.”

Friday night will mark the first time Tunde has headlined a show in a traditional venue in Grand Rapids, and Local Spins had the opportunity to ask Tunde about his creative process, his new album and what we can expect from his show at The Pyramid Scheme on Friday night. Rounding out the bill hosted by Grand Rapids’ Hot Capicola Records will be AOK, Gosh Pith and Vinyl Fetish. Tickets are $8 advance; $10 day of show. Details online here.

Local Spins: How has this past year been for you as an artist, and how has the reception been to “Transgressor” as a whole?
Tunde: Since Transgressor came out a few months ago, a lot of 2015 was me waiting to release it. The album release show was like a microcosm of a larger response to the work. Garret, who helped produce the event on behalf of ASSEMBLE, noted a really positive, warm, respectful and uplifting energy of people that attended. That’s been the reception I’ve seen. The album might not connect with everyone, but I think if folks listen, they’ll find something they really like. Larger media outlets have had a good response, too, which helps a lot.

Local Spins: Upon listening to the first few minutes of “Transgressor,” it’s clear that the album, and your whole discography really, has a strong cinematic feel. Is this a conscious effort on your part to really create a sonic landscape for the listeners to get lost in?
Tunde: I didn’t start the project with an aim to make it cinematic, specifically. The production and arrangement are pretty dynamic, with peak and valleys, much like a film, so I can see the comparison. I also wanted each song to have its own universe, so to speak. Each track got a lot of attention from me in terms of every vocal inflection and production detail.

‘BUMPING UP AGAINST SOCIETY’S BARRIERS’

Local Spins: Speaking of your newest album, I wanted to ask about the titles of your previous albums, “The First Transgression” and “The Second Transgression,” especially in conjunction with the new one, “Transgressor.” What is the significance of the album titles and the shift from transgression to transgressor? Are there plans to make a “Transgressor Part II”?
Tunde: Yeah, “Transgressor” was a way to sum up the previous ideas and themes into a complete work. The idea of transgression is still central. The idea of bumping up against society’s barriers of what is acceptable in so many areas, running your hand across the surface, testing it for cracks and weaknesses. A lot of the new songs I’ve been doing are more intimate, relationship R&B songs, and for the first time I’ve been writing full hooks and melodies before any production happens. It’s unclear where it will lead; I’m just exploring at the moment.

Local Spins: I’ve noticed how hands-on you are with everything that goes into your music, from making your own outfits to choreographing your own dance moves with your dancers. Do you find musical inspiration when coming up with the dance routines or expressing your music in more visual mediums?
Tunde: So far, it’s usually the music that influences the visual elements. Sometimes, if there’s a song I’ve written, I will get a chance to perform it before it’s actually released. During those cases, I will have a chance to re-record vocals because performing it live changes how I want some of the phrasing and melodies and ad-libs.

Local Spins: You have ties to the Grand Rapids scene, having appeared on Alexis’ most recent album and performing on that group’s album release show at Founders Brewing last year, as well as being label mates with Stepdad (Quite Scientific Records). How do you feel the reception has been to your music the few times you have played here, and do you think pairing yourself with such diverse local acts as Stepdad and Alexis gives people a better idea of what to expect when seeing you perform?
Tunde: I’m a fan of both Alexis and Stepdad, for sure! Playing with Alexis showed me an awesome side of Grand Rapids, and their fans are beautiful, open and so diverse in their tastes. Each time in the past year that I’ve played in Grand Rapids, it was at Founders, which is a wonderful spot, even though it’s not a traditional music venue. So, now I’m performing for the first time in Grand Rapids as a headliner, and I still think I have something to prove to folks in the West Michigan region who aren’t familiar with me but are curious. The Pyramid Scheme is the ideal venue to do a full performance and show them what I consider to be the visual companion piece to the LP.

Local Spins: What can fans expect from the show on Friday?
Tunde: The show will have lots of energy and moments to sing along. If you’ve got a favorite song on the new album, there’s a good chance you can see it live. I also have a surprise special guest from the Grand Rapids area joining me on stage that needs to be captured so make sure you have space left on your phone to record video. Gosh Pith and AOK are on the bill, so the whole night will be very interesting and beat-driven music. It’ll definitely be a night for dancing.

Tunde Olaniran and AOK were special in-studio guests for Local Spins on WYCE (88.1 FM) this week, with Olaniran performing on the air. Listen to the full podcast here.

PODCAST: Local Spins on WYCE with Tunde Olaniran and AOK

VIDEO: Tunde Olaniran, “Critical”

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