Getting to Know… Tete Essien

Reading Time: 6 min read

On the 102^nd interview on The Musical Hype, we get some great, in depth insight from rising British musician Tete Essien regarding his craft.

“What drives me is a verve to be the best I can be, and to make the best music I possibly can… I’m constantly trying to hone my craft.” What a mature, thoughtful musical assessment that Tete Essien, the subject of the 102^nd interview on The Musical Hype, makes. Obviously, with so many interviews published here, we’ve had the chance to learn about a variety of musicians, with many being overseas as opposed to stateside.

The Bromley musician does a marvelous job providing insight into his art: “I have complete belief in the songs that I have and perform, so as I see it, I just have to be the best at playing them.” If you were totally unfamiliar with Essien going into the interview, you definitely come out of it excited about the great potential that his musical future holds. So, without further ado, here is Getting to Know… Tete Essien: Interview #102.

Let’s get this started off right. For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes you unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

For me, it’s more or less solely about the songs. I have complete belief in the songs that I have and perform, so as I see it, I just have to be the best at playing them. That’s what I’m always working towards. When it comes to taking my influences and interpreting them, along with my personal style and leanings, they’re all personal to me and that means the end product of that melding is unique to me. Before anything else I’m a music fan and that informs my view of all of it. As a fan, you want to see the artist enjoying what they do, that energy is infectious. That’s what I want to imbue performances, because ultimately, if I find yourself performing before an unmoved crowd, best believe I’ll still be hyping myself.

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did your project start and what were some of the goals or the visions you had early on?

My main goal was always to get some proper recordings down and then see what they could do. I felt that, until that moment, there’d be a question mark over how good the songs were or could be. Once they’re tracked though, there’s no disputing what they are, for good or for worse. And with all that being said, that’s how I got my start really. I had some songs, some demos and I wanted to get them out with quality to satisfy the feeling in myself that really might be something, you know? Any aim after that is to see it through until the end.

Let’s talk more about goals. Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

What drives me is a verve to be the best I can be, and to make the best music I possibly can. That runs through everything I do, and it doesn’t let up. I’m constantly trying to hone my craft. It’s all an attempt to achieve that.

Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

I always say that the biggest influences on me are artists who are fans first and foremost and the people who are unashamedly themselves. I love Frank Ocean, Jamie T, Tyler the Creator and Tame Impala for that very reason. I love Arctic Monkeys for never missing a step in their evolution, they and Alex Turner especially can do no wrong for me. Then there’s artists like Kano and Dave who have me hanging over every lyric like prime, nuanced storytellers. I love that Jungle have all those enthusiasm for what they create, the music through to the videos and artwork, that radiates through to me as a listener. And then people like Barry White and Otis Redding make me excited to sing, even if I can’t match their prowess, it’s about passion and character and you can replicate that.

Ah, the fun stuff. What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance? Feel free to be creative.

I remember playing this gig in Dalston, I think we were second from the top billing wise. Like a song into our set, this guy heckled that, “It’s no Ed Sheeran”, which still tickles me. He wasn’t wrong. When we finished. The band that he’d come as a party of played their set and I would’ve gone upstairs for some air. I’ve come back down; they’ve finished their set and we’re all in the backroom grabbing our gear. The Lead singer from that other band turns to me as asks if I was the guy who was flirting with his mum throughout their set. I was taken aback but when I added it all up in my head I realised he would’ve been referring to my brother, who’d come to watch us. I let him know but I’m not sure he bought it. I’d had my missus there anyways, so I let him know I was more keen on impressing someone else that evening. Brothers man, see the troubles they cause?

Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

I’d probably go for “Somewhere Better”. It took me ages to settle on a version I was happy with, and I’ve since gone on to change it again since it was last played anyways! I always persisted with it because it started as this song about the people I grew up around, but it’s kind of grown into this ode to growing up in one place. It’s something a lot of us are molded by and I felt drawn to the topic. Writing is sometimes like supporting a football team, you don’t pick one, it finds you and that’s how songs appear sometimes. I don’t argue with it, I let it unfold in my lap when it wants to.

Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

I actually did a lot of fencing when I was young. Competed a bit and was Kent champion a couple times over. Qualified for a few national championships ‘n’ all. Feels like an age ago, sometimes I miss the guy who did those things. Oh well, you’ll have to settle for me instead.

Closing things out, what are you currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure.

The next thing on my agenda is getting a video ready and out for my last single. That’s in the pipeline right now and I’m excited to get cracking on that. Beyond that, it’ll be more of the same: Eat, sleep, write, repeat.

Thank you so much for sharing taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward.

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