Flint-based performance artist Tunde Olaniran takes the stage like an electric urban warrior, with thick simple face paint and heavy white beads, flanked by two stony-faced backup dancers. Olaniran rolls a melee of sampled beats over his message of social justice and self-discovery.
Flint isn’t even the most exotic local he’s played. Olaniran toured internationally with an European electronic artist. Impressive, considering he just recently began building his musical identity. Tunde toured internationally with European electronic artist. He’s performance this weekend at the on the Rustbelt stage at Ferndale’s DIY Festival.
Did this early exposure to culture come out in your music?
I don’t think so to be honest, I think being exposed to music recently is what has helped me more. Hearing artists like MIA, Ebony Bones, there’s a really amazing movement of people that bring cultural voices to the forefront that have been marginalized before. I think that really, encounters as an adult have given me a lot more voice. Like I wasn’t really an active, writing musician when I was younger. And I didn’t like a wide range of music as now. I think that it’s more current acts.
What are you major influences
Fiona Apple, Paula Cole, um, Lauren Hill, Timberland? Not really him as much, but that mixture. Artist like Get Low, Switch which is now half of Major Lazer. I think he’s an interesting producer and I’ve always been into more like abrasive, kind of, collage style of production and writing. Where there’s a lot of weird samples kind of mashed together.
What’s your thinking behind the artistry of the show?
Well, the face paint I kind of no something that I think about or have a reason, I don’t really know why I do it. With the dancers I definitely wanted to…I love dancing and movement and waned an element that spoke to me and could express my inner life and express some more primal or primitive emotions. It’s not all that academic as far as why I do it. But’s the goal, to expose something you can’t be.
And then also, it’s just and it looks cool. It’s just for people and it’s definitely something that’s engaging. I always want it to be a little weird or off-putting to people. Not like, turning people off, but I like it to be, just bizarre. It’s never like, completely like , fly girl, video girls kind of size. Or were never going to have like, an hour of twerking. It’s got to be weird, that’s the whole end goal.
What are themes that occur in your music?
Chaos, like, um, like social change and personal change and personal inner struggle. Trying to like, figure out who you are, trying to figure out what you’re trying to say and what you’re trying to do. And then challenging yourself and others to do that. That’s a lot of themes that, weirdly, are there. But then there’s a lot of playful stuff. I don’t really put a lot of thought and time into the lyrics. Um, most of the songs that I’ve written have been quick. Like I have the track and the music, and I’ll wait and wait and wait and then I have to go to the studio I pretty much write them a few days before if not the day before if not the in the studio while I’m trying to record. That’s not how all writers, who are really good writers, write. I’m happier when I haven’t had to try and like, focus on the turn of the phrase for weeks. That’s just not me. And really I know a lot of people that do that and I respect that. It’s really and amazing craft to hone.
What are your favorite artist working in Detroit right now?
LITTLE ANIMAL, in all caps, is really incredible. It’s a female electronic duo. It’s so good, people are really enjoying it. So I think they’re playing something called Fallout Fest at New Dodge in October, so I really encourage people to check them out. She’s really interesting, her style is incredible. It’s really a sweet, fun person, I love her. And then there’s a ton of artist, Invincible, Deepwood is my favorite rock band, ever right now. Yeah there’s a lot. I keep meeting people, who I really like see eye to eye with in terms of, I always like people who perform really well. Flint Eastwood is one of those acts.
If you could perform with any artist, living or dead, who would it be?
Living or dead…hmmm. If I had the physical capacity to do it, I’d love to perform with Fosse? I think Fosse is incredible, I’m really inspired by his movement, obviously a ton of people are. But yeah, I think he was a genius and if I was like, in way better shape I would love to work with him and learn from him.
Big shows or record releases coming up?
DIY in September, I’m also playing a show at New Wave Bar September 28th. Those will both be two fun shows coming up in the Ferndale area in September I’m also working on a jeweler line with a woman called Courtney Fisher, she does really amazing jewelry, she’s based out of royal oak and we’re collaborating on a jewelry line this fall.
