09 November 2024 |
4:46 am
Chocolate City’s emerging star Tariq is back with his third EP, Okada Airlines, a project inspired by his nomadic upbringing and infused with his signature emo-pop sound. In this exclusive interview, Tariq takes us behind the scenes of his creative journey, reflects on his musical influences, and reveals the personal story behind his latest release.…
Chocolate City’s emerging star Tariq is back with his third EP, Okada Airlines, a project inspired by his nomadic upbringing and infused with his signature emo-pop sound. In this exclusive interview, Tariq takes us behind the scenes of his creative journey, reflects on his musical influences, and reveals the personal story behind his latest release.
Tariq is an exceptional Afrobeats’ new school vocalist. With his African R&B/Soul and Pop fusion, the Chocolate City singer has been edging closer to the limelight since his 2022 debut, Son of The Moon. His velvety vocals, moody melodies, and deep-rooted Indigenous influences have carved out a distinct space for him in Nigeria’s emo-pop and soul soundscape.
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After last year’s All I Felt extended play, the talented young artist, born Tariq Oluokun, is back with his third project, Okada Airlines. Infused with African dance music samples and duets with label mate Young Jonn on Bus Stop Remix and Nigerian singer Khaid on Jigga, the EP marks a new phase in Tariq’s artistry.
Having grown up in Edo, Lagos, and Delta states, Tariq’s nomadic upbringing shaped his music over time. His earliest influences varied from the defunct E.M.E. All Stars to American rap icons Drake, J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar. Starting out as a rapper under the moniker Driew World, he transitioned to singing and found his big break in 2020 when a viral Instagram freestyle attracted the attention of Chocolate City’s talent scouts.
Tariq’s music stands out for its metaphorical lyrics, relatable storytelling, and feel-good vibe. With Okada Airlines, he explores his state of mind and the influence of his peripatetic upbringing. The title is a tribute to his late father, who worked as a station manager at Okada Airlines, owned by Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, in Benin City before it ceased operations in 1997 after nearly two decades of operation.
In this Guardian Music interview, Tariq shares the backstory of Okada Airlines, reflects on his creative process, and talks about his mission to create a catalogue of timeless hits.
What inspired the Okada Airlines EP?
The whole idea came from a couple of situations I found myself in growing up in Delta State. Okada Airlines is an actual airline station in Benin City where my dad worked as a station manager back in the 80s. I was born there, but we moved to Delta when I was a year old. Moving frequently between cities felt like a never-ending journey, and I channelled those feelings into this project. The EP reflects the people I met, the things I saw, and the lifestyles around me. It’s all about the movement and the journey.
From Son of the Moon to Okada Airlines, how do you describe your sonic shift?
For me, it has always been a trifecta. On my debut, Son of the Moon, I was in the dark about a lot of things about myself. All I Felt was me coming to terms with exactly how I felt about certain situations, about even myself growing up as a young kid. Okada Airlines represents the journey and movement.
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Tell us about making Livin Soul and sampling Zule Zoo’s 2005 hit, Kerewa?
I already had Okada Airlines but as a couple of songs. I didn’t have a project. That’s how I work. I just create a lot, and then I assemble a project from the songs that stand out. I started with something cultural. That was where the Zule Zoo sample idea came from. It was at first a freestyle, and I got so much love from it on social media that I wanted it to be the first song on the project. I wanted the project to start with something that makes you feel alive and feel better when you feel down. And that’s one thing that I’ve had constantly in every different place I’ve been and lived in.
Tell us about the song with Young Jonn.
I am so grateful to Young Jonn because the collaboration was impromptu. He saw a video of me making the song on my Instagram story, and he texted me saying that he loved it. I asked him to be part of it and, even though he was on tour, he still came through for me. He even came for the video shoot, and that’s a big deal for me because he’s a legend. I’ve been following him since he was producing for Olamide and I’ve always had huge respect for him.
How do you feel about your alternative sound?
I’m grateful that there’s no limit to my sound. It’s so easy for me to think about getting a Grammy right now because of the way I make my music and the kind of things I like to sing about. Soon, more people would catch up to it.
Tell us about your typical creative process.
I’m unorthodox with how I record, to be honest. Most of the best songs on Okada Airlines were made out of nothing. The project was a lot more about movement and experiences, so I didn’t need to be in any certain mood to write. I made one-half of Okada Airlines in a camp. I made the other parts in a home studio, my producer’s place, and a different camp. I got Living Soul from a freestyle, I got Step and Italy from normal sessions that weren’t even recorded with Okada Airlines in mind. Zuko was the first song that was made strictly for Okada Airlines, but it was almost left out until we decided it was essential to complete the narrative.
What’s the most random place you have ever gotten an idea for a song?
It wasn’t really about the place, but a thing. It was food! I had a meal of eba and vegetable soup at my first music camp this year. The food was so hot I was sweating, but I was enjoying it. Next thing you know I was freestyling about how great the food was. After washing my hands, I had this sudden urge to work on the freestyle and that’s how Zuko came about. It’s probably the weirdest thing because we were all having fun making videos of me freestyling while eating, and it ended up sparking an actual song idea.
What’s your lifestyle like when you’re not making music?
I can’t lie. I’m a boring guy. I love to spend time with my family and hang out with my friends. In the future, I would love to travel a lot. If I don’t experience life, how do I make relevant music? I love to argue about football with my brothers; I have three brothers and we all support different football clubs. So, every single time I go to the family house, we spend like two hours every morning just arguing because we all love football. I also love to speak to people who mean the world to me. I’m still introverted, so I’m sort of an indoorsy guy.
What is next for you?
I’m working on a Western meet-and-greet for the end of the year, and then hopefully next year we do other parts of Nigeria. I’m also working on my first East African tour, and later this year, I’m going to have my first festival. So, I’m going to be on the road, and there’s an album coming. I’m gonna have to lock in on that. I can’t wait for the beauty that is going to be the album. I took a lot of time with Okada Airlines because I had to make sure I didn’t make any more stories about it. So, now I have to think of the motive for the album. For me, every single project I make needs to have motives. Once I have a motive, then it’s album time, and then we’re gonna go crazy. But right now, I’m on the road to different schools and different parts of Nigeria. I have my For Keep Festival, which is just my idea of youths coming together to have a good time and be free. And because I see life in black and white, the theme of the whole show is black and white. That’s my idea of the festival, and I cannot wait for that to come to life. I hope that, by God’s grace, this moving around and just being this guy who loves to tour around the world, I experience it to the brim.
Finally, what’s the vision for Tariq?
I just want people to feel happier. I want people to listen to my music and either feel happy, feel better, or feel understood. I’m so lucky to be this kind of artist who makes timeless music. I want to go around the world and to perform at and sell out in stadiums. I want people to understand the things I stand for.