Interview: Tomi Agape talks London, her new project and surviving 2020
London-born Tomi Agape was coming out of a gap year she took to focus on her mental health when coronavirus hit the world. Before that, she turned heads with a sultry-voice and a unique R&B-fused Afro style, opened big stages for Davido and Mr Eazi in the UK and tilted towards an undeniable Afropop divadom. In the years since she broke out, she has racked up collaborations with frequent collaborator, Juls and West Africa's prized alté provocateurs Santi, Amaarae and Nonso Amadi. Though the pandemic forced her back indoors to re-strategise, Agape is grateful for the reset. In May of 2020, she released "London", a beautifully-written track about personal resilience and gritty tribute to the real-life city. By October she had picked up more steam, performing to a global audience at AFROPUNK's virtual festival alongside Ari Lennox, Common, Tiwa Savage, Moses Sumney, amongst others. The following month, she released, Never Gunna Be The Same, her debut body of work, featuring guest appearances from Juls, Amaarae, DRB's BOJ and others. ARTISH recently caught up with the singer to talk about her new project, lessons from her gap year and her hopes for 2021.
Opening Words: ARTISH
Image Credits: Tomi's Instagram
Hi Tomi! Happy new year, and how are you?
Happy new year. I’m fine, I’m fine
What was growing up in London like?
Growing up in Landon was good, I grew up with three other siblings while I was younger. I do have another sibling now that I’m older, so we’re five in total. I had a great childhood for the most part. Loving home, we travelled a lot. My parents tried their best. It (London) was very multicultural, my schools were all very mixed. I went to like three different secondary schools.
Word on the street was that you had a rather colourful run in that city as a teenager
One of the secondary schools I went to (chuckle) definitely changed me a bit and made me who I am now. I feel like growing up, I was still finding myself and I was a lot more chill and relaxed, but when I got to that school it was tough. It was, you either stand up for yourself or you get picked on. I remember, in Year 7, I was getting picked on and then, I just changed. I got into a few fights and was suspended from school many times (laughs*). And that came from that thing where you got picked on and you just became someone new and it’s like you’re never gonna let that happen to you again. So I became very confident, very strong like I wasn’t gonna let anyone walk all over me.
Ha-ha!
I’m not that girl anymore. I don’t like violence, I don’t like fights. I choose love - mostly. But yeah, don’t cross me! (chuckle).
What three nostalgic songs perfectly soundtrack these respective stages of your growth; childhood, teenagehood and Tomi Agape now?
I can’t think of three songs that defined those stages. But I can define them. My childhood was just me being what I was taught to be. My teenage life was me finding myself. And then, my adult me is just me being authentically me no matter what - I’m just myself. It’s like; like it or lump it, obviously, I do strive to be a better version of me. But nobody else. I know who I am.
If you could put it down to three things - what major events in your artistic journey would you say led you to create "Never Gunna Be The Same"?
I don’t think there are any major events. But what led me to create Never Gunna Be The Same is just that, honestly… 2020 was one of the craziest years for all of us. I just felt like whatever I created during that time, It’s like no matter what, moving forward, after I put it (NGBTS), out it can’t be the same. The things I wrote, the feelings I felt, everything, I just put all into words and music. And for me, it just felt like it’s never gonna be the same - the world isn’t gonna be the same, I’m not gonna be the same. It wasn’t necessarily pointing to my career. I realised during the last year and while I was working on this project, that you can’t watch anybody’s journey, you can’t focus on anything else, you can’t second guess yourself. You just have to do what you have to do. I have to do what I have to do - which is to write beautiful music.
R&B is traditionally one of the black sounds defined by emotionality. Keeping that in mind, where and how does your Nigerian identity come into play when you write songs - especially since most "Afro" sounds are often more about partying and having a good time?
My afro sound comes in because most of the producers I work with are African, mainly Nigerian. So there’s always elements of the Afrobeat sound, whether it’s the beat or the melodies I use. I might be singing a song that’s not an Afrobeat song, but I do have elements of Afro inside the song. It doesn’t ever feel forced and it not with every single song, but when you hear it, it’s because it’s meant to be there.
"London", one of most defining standout tracks off your new EP, though is a tribute song to the real-life city, is actually a go-getter's anthem about personal resilience. What life events led you writing such a contemplative song about the city you grew up in?
Just being born in this country. I have lived elsewhere but living here for most of my life. This is where I have cried, where I have laughed, where I have been excited, where I have been disappointed, where I have been angry, where I have been happy. I have gone through most of my trials in London, so it just felt right. Actually, when I wrote the song, I didn’t know what it was gonna be about, but as I was writing it, it became clear that it’s actually about London and everything I am going through in London. The grind, the happiness, the prayers - everything I have been through. It just felt natural to write that sort of song and It was very therapeutic. I feel like people relate to the song, even if you’re not from London. It’s like anyone on a grind that’s hustling can relate to that song, no matter where they’re from.
Before COVID, what were your favourite spots in London for a good time?
Definitely Shoreditch, I was there a lot. I record there, I have friends that stay there or have stayed there when they come from Nigeria or wherever. There were always parties happening. Shoreditch is a creative hub and it’s a nice place to chill and a lot goes on there. I also like being in Central London when it’s not so busy, like SoHo and stuff. Just going to eat or going shopping with my friends when it’s not so busy because when it’s busy it gets crazy and it’s hectic.
You have a distinct sense style, what three popular fashion trends would you not be caught dead jumping on?
That’s a hard question because I can’t think of things off the top of my head. Because if I don’t like it, I usually just block it out. I’m not a fan of dirty trainers — like trainers with mud and stuff on it, that whole vintage look on trainers. I don’t- I don’t like it. I like my trainers looking clean and brand new. But yeah, that one really does get to me. I can’t stand dirty trainers.
We have caught on a few videos of you rapping, are you ever going to make a transition or at least a fusion with your Afro-R&B style?
I am actually a rapper (chuckle), people just don’t know it yet. I am still thinking about how I am gonna do it. But I know I’m gonna come out with some rap songs. I’m trying to decide in what format, should I say, I'm going to release those songs on. Maybe I'm going to do it as an alter ego, or If I’m just going to slide it in between singles or maybe on an EP. I’m not sure yet, but Lil Kim is one of my biggest inspirations, icons everything. She’s just (moans), my everything, she’s iconic. I think a lot of my rapping style comes from her. Uhm, but yeah, you guys will be hearing some real rap songs soon.
In a recent interview, you extensively discussed taking a year from music to take care of your mental health. What three lessons did you learn about yourself during the gap year that you would pass on to other creators and artists?
During that year, I spent a lot of time honing my craft: writing. That’s one of my crafts, that’s one of my talents and skills that I hold very dear to my heart. So I would say, honing your craft is important, take time out to work on what it is that your skill is. Secondly, even more, than I already have, it taught me to be more authentically myself. I can’t stress enough how important it is to be yourself, because there is only one you. You cannot be that person over there, you have to be yourself. I think a lot of people are trying to be what people want them to be, instead of being who they really are. And its like, there’s only one you and that’s what’s special about yourself. Number three is that God’s timing is the best time; patience is a virtue. You must be patient and work hard, and face your front and not allowing people that gas you up and people that are naysayers to get to you. It’s like you have to find a balance, you can’t get too ahead of yourself, and you also can’t let people bring you down. You just have to face your front and keep going and keep working. Set a goal and work towards it.
It's January so obviously, 2020 is still very fresh in your memory, what are your major highlights from such an uncertain year?
Of course, releasing my project towards the end of the year. My favourite aunt gave birth for the first time and that was amazing, she’s 50, so that was a miracle. It made me not take things for granted. It was a year of serious looking-inside myself and just reflecting - I am very grateful for that.
What are you looking forward to in 2021, after such an uncertain last 12 months marked by COVID?
I am looking forward to growing more as an artist, a musician, a songwriter, a human being, a daughter, a sister, a friend. I am looking forward to more music and sharing that with my fans. I feel like they have been so patient with me, and I am just so grateful for everyone that supports me. And I’m just looking forward to all the opportunities that are going to come my way; things I don’t know about and things I do know about. I am very grateful and happy and I am at peace.
Stream Never Gunna Be The Same via Spotify and Apple Music below: