Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Seye Adelekan
THE RELEASE
Seye Adelekan, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer living in London, is a musical force to be reckoned with. Born in Nigeria and reared in London, Holland, and Ecuador, his cosmopolitan background has instilled a vast range of influences in his work. While best known as the bassist for the innovative Gorillaz, Seye has worked with a diverse range of musicians, including Paloma Faith, KT Tunstall, The Noisettes, Ellie Goulding, Mumford & Sons, Baaba Maal, La Roux, The Very Best, and Africa Express. His own solo projects, such as the current Super 8 film-infused 'A River,' demonstrate his ability to create boundary-pushing compositions. Seye Adelekan's latest track, 'Homerton Ocean View,' welcomes listeners on a mesmerizing audio trip that showcases his broad musical tastes.
"Homerton Ocean View," pulls you into a serene morning scenario as sunshine gradually bathes the bedroom, highlighting your lover's face via tendrils of coffee vapor. This engaging tune mixes an exciting bossa nova beat, emotional lyrics, and Izzi Dunn of Demon Strings' gorgeous strings. It's a change from his prior work, which was described as "a captivating sonic journey" by Plastic Magazine. The song is a sincere ode to lazy mornings and the magic of waking up with your loved one, conjuring the sense of a sun-drenched beach in the style of Astrud Gilberto. Adelekan's composition, inspired by personal experiences, embodies the potential of love to infuse a cold moment with the warmth of summer, giving "Homerton Ocean View" its name.
THE INTERVIEW
If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?
Well a major influence would be Damon Albarn, i have had the pleasure of working with him for the best part of a decade playing in his solo project bands as well as Gorillaz. He has embodied the benefits of collaboration to me.
John Mayer was a big influence when i was younger. I had a band when i was a teenager but then moved to Ecuador to finish high school and didn’t have a band anymore, John Mayer showed me how to write songs and perform them solo with as much depth as you would or could a band.
Ryan Adams is one of my favourite song writers, i know he has had a fall from grace but the albums Love is Hell and Rock n Roll are probably both in my top ten all time.
Nina Simone is one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful voices to come out of the USA in the 20th century. Her musicianship and just how she channeled that through the lense of her time and turned it into enduring art has always had a great effect on me.
Were there any specific experiences or events in your life that influenced the song's lyrics?
Days ahead of heading to Iceland to start writing these songs i moved from south London, where i mainly grew up, to Homerton in east London. The song is sort of a collection of imaginings as well as real moments with my partner in our little flat, not wanting to go outside in winter cus its warm in bed.
Can you share any interesting anecdotes about the song's development with your co-writers or producers?
I wrote this song, along with the other songs from this EP with my dear friends Charlie Morton and Yves Fernandez just outside of Reykjavik last November. It was amazing watching the sunrise around 11am over the water and facing a mountain. All the songs seem to exist in this space between dreams and reality.
What was the biggest takeaway or lesson you learned while creating this song?
Not to think too hard about it ahead of time. I advise all musicians when writing to just hit record on their phone, or recording software, as early into the session as possible so as not to miss any magic. Most of my songs nowadays starts from just pressing record and opening my mouth and letting my fingers move. or Charlie will play some chords and a melody comes to mind and we just follow the thread as far as it will go. Nothing is a bad idea initially, its all just an idea. allow yourself to have as many as possible.
How has your recent growth as an artist influenced the direction of your future work?
I realise that you don’t need to define yourself as any certain genre or style. I feel confident to go in any direction in the future as i think i have the right approach to making music now. when i was in my early twenties and had a record deal that didn’t work out, my process was way more contrived. Now i have both the ability to craft and fine tune, married with a healthy ability to just let go and let songs happen naturally. Im gunna keep heading down this road and see whats up ahead!
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