Teezle T Is Ready To Move Into A Lane of His Own With “Addiction”
Teezle T recalls his passion for music as beginning as early as 8. He would later go on to open for Burna Boy and Davido-two of the most impactful artists to come out of West Africa in the last decade.
Teezle T makes it clear that he is ready to move out on his own, and proves this in the making of his debut project, Pulsar. “It is a 5-track project with a collection of songs which talk about love and relationships. It has songs like Addiction that talk about my infatuation, other songs where I am more assertive and dance with the theme of love for a dangerous object, hence the name Pulsar,” he explains.
The first single, “Addiction” released last week and is produced by fellow Nigerian artist Jess ETA.- a perfect pairing for the wave of Afro-fusion emerging from the continent in recent months.
Teezle T speaks more on his musical journey and how important it is for him to craft his own identity in this industry in our full interview below.
This interview has been lightly edited for the purpose of clarity and context.
Jade Kelly: Take me back to the beginning of your journey with music.
Teezle T: My journey with music has been an interesting one if I do say so myself. Many people have this early conviction that they want to be artists, but I had no idea I was going to end up following this path. Growing up in my high school, King’s College, I met a group of friends who were really into music; Mus, Tip OT, and Tobi. We came up with a plan to create a music group and just have fun. After our first performance at our prom with Cruel Santino, Yemi Alade, and LOS, we gained a bit of traction and people liked the music we had out. This gave me an inkling that this could be something I could do at a higher level, but I really didn’t pursue it because I still had to go to school and get a degree, as this is a major requirement coming from an African home.
After getting a degree, I started working, and I think at this point I was more open to pursuing the passion I had developed for music. I went to Nigeria for a Christmas vacation in Dec 2018/Jan 2019 and I met Burna Boy, we vibed at the club and then I got to watch him make a few songs on the African giant album, and I think this really served as my aha moment. After this I put out a few songs with my friends as part of our group, Zero Recession Boys (ZRB) I got to open for Burna and Davido during their tour stops in Toronto in the Summer of 2019 and Spring 2020 (before COVID hit) respectively. That has all led me to this point where I have finally decided to put out music on my own.
When did the shift happen-when you went from thinking about doing music to actually putting plans into motion?
The shift from thinking about doing music and actually putting plans into motion happened after a conversation with my mother in late 2019. We were discussing my childhood and my yearning to do something different from the traditional, college, job and then retire. She reminded me of an incident that happened in grade three, that wasn’t even in my conscious memory. She showed me one of my report cards which she had recently come across while arranging her room and said the teacher had told her I was a very good student but I was always singing in school. At that point, I knew this was something that had been my calling even before I consciously knew it was. This gave me the drive to start putting things into motion at the end of last year.
How would you describe your sound?
I would describe my sound as a fusion of old school/new school. By this I mean, I pay homage to legends like Wande Coal, and yet I infuse more modern beats in the style of Melvitto and Gabzy. I hate putting myself in a box but if I had to pick a genre to classify it under, I would say it’s a blend of Afro-Pop and RnB.
What was the process behind your debut single and how did it come to life?
The process of making “Addiction” was a very pleasing one, I discovered Jess ETA whom I think is a phenomenal producer and musician, and we worked together to bring a vision I had in mind to life. Addiction describes my deep love and feelings for my muse; and gives the perception of my inamorata being a femme fatale. The song summarizes my obsession with this beautiful celestial being that I’ll have to eventually keep at arm’s length.
Is there a full project in the works anytime soon and what does that look like for Teezle T?
Yes, there is. this debut single is off of my upcoming EP; Pulsar which will be coming out just in time for summer. It is a 5-track project with a collection of songs that talk about love and relationships. It has songs like Addiction that talk about my infatuation, other songs where I am more assertive and dances with the theme of love for a dangerous object, hence the name Pulsar (“a beautiful celestial object that can be treacherous”).
Who would be your dream collab?
I would love to work with a lot of people in the industry, and I am sure with time I will get to do this, if I had once choice though, it would be Wizkid for me. I think the way he came on the scene and shot to the world stage is phenomenal. Other people I’d love to work with include Burna Boy, Wande Coal and Melvitto.
Who or what has inspired you as an artist?
The rise of the African Giant (Burna Boy) really has inspired me as an artist. I have always been a huge fan and I followed his story, right from when he was rejected in his country and had to pursue music in other African countries and is now critically acclaimed. His story motivates me to keep doing what I love and has also given me a sense of purpose.
What do you hope to achieve with your music?
I hope to create beautiful songs that will last forever in people’s consciousness and help people at trying times. Songs that can help feed a soul and make people happy, or that someone going through heartbreak or yearning for a crush can relate to. I really just hope to make an impact for a really long time, eternity even.
How do you feel about entering the industry during a time where the opportunity to perform live is so small? How do you plan to combat this to grow your audience?
This is an interesting time to enter the industry, especially because of the dearth in chances to perform live. However, this has also meant people are looking for ways to stay occupied and for things to capture their attention. Essentially, things have moved to the virtual sphere, and since we are in a digital age, I plan to use this to my advantage. I have a great team behind me, and we plan to grow my audience virtually, as I put out music, we will continue to grow my audience with social media strategies and virtual performances. I still believe performing live is one of the major ways of showing your art, and so once we are in a post-covid era, I plan to show my fans the best of me live, and this will be all because of the work I would have done in the virtual sphere. I am in this for the long haul though, so I am excited and look forward to this challenge.
