Few artists, anywhere on the planet, can lay claim to the path taken by Tay Iwar, a path wrought with widespread critical acclaim right from the age of sixteen and his debut tape, Passport. A decade later, he’s still setting the pace for sonic artistry within and beyond the Nigerian music industry. Grammy nominee, Alte-pioneer, and a genius with writing and production, but on most days, he would rather just be called Tay, living through the music.
In this interview with WeTalkSound’s Eriomala John, Tay speaks about his passion for experimentation, the ‘genre’ debates, musical influences in recent times, and his growth as an artist in the past decade. He also touches on new music with Le Mav, the Alte movement, and what to expect in this new era.
How much has changed in the ten years since Passport?
A lot of the change that’s happened is with the situations around me. I still feel very much like the same type of artist I was when I started, but all the situations around me are different. I’m in a different space mentally. There are a lot more juicy bits in my career. I’m trying to summarise all that has happened, but it’s been a lot.
To narrow it down, between Passport (2014), Summer Breeze (2023), and what you’re working on now, what has changed in your creative process?
The major difference is I’m collaborating way more than ever before, and it’s fantastic because I started music in a very isolated situation. So, the main difference now is that I’m collaborating more. I’m reaching out to people more and trying to explore rather than this solo situation I always had. I’m making more songs and meeting more people than ever before. Also, back then I wasn’t writing for anyone and now sometimes I write for people.
What makes songwriting different for you?
For me, everything in music – these different jobs and positions – is for one thing; to make great songs. So in a lot of sessions that I go into, I go as an artist, as a person who respects music and the process. I don’t stay stuck on terms like songwriter. It’s just music and everyone is doing their best to make the best songs. Sometimes, that song is for someone else, sometimes it’s for me, and sometimes, for no one. Sometimes, it’s just having fun in the studio.
You occupy a unique space platforming new talents, forging massive collaborations, and doing all that at your own pace. How would you describe it?
It’s just me being myself. As I said, everything is about the music. A lot of collaborations I’ve had weren’t exactly planned. It wasn’t like I specifically set out to put people on, but we just happened to cross paths and that worked and then it grew into something. I try to keep the music very fluid which might explain my several involvements since everything is all for the same purpose; great music. That’s why I can put on new talent, work with people who have been in the industry for a long time, and still work on my stuff, movie soundtracks and all of that. It’s because I see no difference. We’re making great songs and great sounds.
Is it safe to say you’re not a genre advocate?
Honestly, I don’t even understand that stuff these days. Back in the day, when genres were clearly defined, it made sense. But right now, I could hear a song that’s Trap for one minute and then switches into Soul. What do you call that? You could describe it as fusion and that brings up an entirely new argument altogether. That’s why I don’t get into the business of genres. They just don’t make sense anymore. It’s everyone’s individual marker to understand what’s going on, but in the end, it’s all just music. I think I get that mentality from the jazz musicians because I was raised on jazz a lot, and when jazz started, a lot of the musicians couldn’t even write music. They didn’t understand the theory part of it. They would just come together, jam together, express, freestyle and move on. That’s the mentality I keep for my music.
So, could we expect a Rock or EDM Tay Iwar record?
I can’t tell you what to expect besides beautiful music. That’s my goal, to make beautiful songs.
My fingers are crossed for an Amapiano Tay Iwar jam.
It exists. It does, a hundred per cent!
When asked about the Alte movement in a previous interview, you said “it would over time be a vague description of something vague and unique”. Do you still stand by that?
I think that’s it because I’ve never really understood what Alte is. We were making music that was different from most of the Nigerian mainstream, and that was called Alternative. And then one day I woke up and it was Alte. I guess what happened was, that all the music outside the mainstream was just put together under a vague description. That’s just how I feel. It wasn’t like we got together and said, “Oh, we’re going to call this Alte”. When I released my first project {Passport}, it was Afrofusion and R&B. After that was Renascentia and then, Gemini which people called Alte but it’s all the same. I didn’t care about genres or anything. So whatever anyone wants to call my music is their business.
Are you still in touch with the folks you worked with on Passport?
I worked with four people: Sute, Guche, a rapper called Shiz, and my eldest brother. And I’m still in touch with all of them. I try to keep myself available. There wasn’t any heavy collaboration besides my brother and that’s someone who will be close to me forever. That’s blood.
Are there any creative Geminis you look up to?
Prince. Kanye. That’s all I can remember right now, but I feel like there are a couple more.
What’s your favourite project out of all you’ve put out?
The project I like the most is Summer Breeze. It might look like a cop-out but that’s just reality. Why would I release music I didn’t feel was better than the last? Why would I release new music that I didn’t prefer? It doesn’t make any sense. Maybe when I stop making music I might say something else, in hindsight. But as of now, my latest project among the ones that are out is my favourite. If I had to include unreleased projects, it would be the one about to come out.
With regard to your tour…
I ended up cancelling that tour. It just wasn’t the right time. So, we’re rescheduling possibly for this year. I’m trying to do more shows in Nigeria, but it’s just way harder to do shows out here that are of a certain standard. So if I’m doing that, I’d want to make a difference, and that would take time.
What projects do you find yourself going back to?
I’m always listening to old records. That’s a constant for me. There’s this band that I’ve been following called Triste de Janeiro, a not-so-popular band from the seventies who make good music. They’re from California, but they play Bossanova-style music. Heavy South American influence, too. (Let me check what’s on my Spotify) There’s this guy called Farka Toure. He’s a guitarist, a legend. I’ve been listening to him and his son, very historical Malian musicians. I’ve also been listening to Genuwine, SWV, and a lot of 90s RnB
Has this influenced your production?
All the music I listen to influences me. What I really like about Farka is his style of playing the guitar.
You’ve previously mentioned being at odds with your classical music upbringing. If you could go back in time, would you change it?
I’ll do it again. When I speak of that time, I mean that as a child, spending your weekends learning to sit upright and play the piano is not the most fun thing to do. But It’s one of the main reasons why I have good ears when it comes to sound and one of the main reasons I respect music so much. Those schools put the perspective of music in you that can’t be gotten anywhere else. There’s a lot of respect in those rooms. You have to be quiet when you’re in the hallways like in Muson Center where I learnt. You couldn’t make noise. You had to sit up straight and read what you were playing and all of that. So I appreciate the amount of respect that gave me towards music and art. But at the time, I was a kid, and I was trying to play. That was. That was all that was on my mind. I wasn’t trying to learn on the weekends, spending hours on the keyboard when I could be playing PES with friends. But I’m grateful for it and I’ll do that over and over again.
In recent times, what instruments have you gravitated towards?
No new instruments right now. I’m still playing my guitar and keys. It’s like the newest thing, honestly. And I’m actually happy you said Amapiano because the new music that I’m about to drop is upbeat. Let me put it that way.
Is it a collaboration or just you?
It’s on a project with Le Mav, the producer I worked with on Gold. It’s a duo, with me singing and him producing. I produced some of the songs, but he’s the main producer.
Speaking on Abuja, do you think the potential there is underexplored?
Hundred per cent! And It’s always been that way. A lot of creatives in Abuja, don’t have a system where they can express themselves and be heard without having to move to Lagos. That is a drag. But It’s growing.
Who are some of your favourite artists from Abuja at the moment?
Bloody Civilian and Twelve XII.
What are your plans for the next couple of years?
I have goals for the future that I will not be sharing here, but I am working towards them, and I pray to reach them. More beautiful music, more collaborations. You’re probably going to be seeing me more. I’m becoming this kind of introverted extrovert. It’s weird. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m out here way more than ever before, so that’s cool. There should be more understanding for introverted artists. Often, people don’t want to understand how that is possible and that’s just weird.
How does it feel to be a Grammy nominee?
It’s weird because before you get some certain accolades, you think, it would be a switch. “I’ll get this Grammy nomination, and suddenly live the dream”. But it’s still a reality. You get the certificate and you realise it’s actually real. This is not something that was just a fantasy in your head.
Did it change people’s perceptions and dealings with you?
I guess so. But I’m a person that doesn’t pay attention to a lot of external things. What I noticed was my family, my parents, in particular, were really excited about it. And that was just the highlight for me. It felt like I had done something they never imagined was possible.
What’s one thing people still do not know about Tay Iwar?
I’m good at voice-acting.
