Tempoe – from his aunt’s laptop to African hit maker
Tempoe is one of Nigeria’s most successful music producers. He co-produced the biggest African hit of last year Love Nwantiti, which went viral on social media and charted internationally, reaching number one in several countries. But Tempoe says he stumbled into music production.
Quote Message: Back in the day I always wanted to be close to the music, and the church was the one place I could be close to the music at that age.”
Back in the day I always wanted to be close to the music, and the church was the one place I could be close to the music at that age.”
He was learning to play the drums and the keyboard, but he had a head full of ideas that he wanted to express. Being the youngest in the band, he wasn’t given the freedom to do that, and felt frustrated.One day, he went out to buy software for computer games, and came across some for making music. He realised this would give him the creative freedom he craved.
Quote Message: I didn’t have a laptop at the time so I had to use my auntie’s laptop! To this day she has no idea that I was using her laptop to learn all of these things.
I didn’t have a laptop at the time so I had to use my auntie’s laptop! To this day she has no idea that I was using her laptop to learn all of these things.
Quote Message: I didn’t learn from anybody, I just figured the entire thing out, and I’m still doing that to this day. I’m just thankful that I’m able to do achieve all this while doing it.”
I didn’t learn from anybody, I just figured the entire thing out, and I’m still doing that to this day. I’m just thankful that I’m able to do achieve all this while doing it.”
When creating a song Tempoe doesn’t have a formula.
Quote Message: It’s just as the spirit leads. If I start with vocals it’s fine; if I start with the keys or the drums it’s fine.”
It’s just as the spirit leads. If I start with vocals it’s fine; if I start with the keys or the drums it’s fine.”
On his latest hit Alcohol by JoeBoy, Tempoe made the beats, added the bass, and added different layers of percussion to create the overall vibe.But the biggest success to date is Love Nwantiti, which he co-produced with fellow producer and artist CKay, and which also featured JoeBoy and Ghana’s Kuami Eugene.
Quote Message: CKay, he’s my guy. We always send one another ideas and Love Nwantiti was one of those ideas.”
CKay, he’s my guy. We always send one another ideas and Love Nwantiti was one of those ideas.”
CKay sent him the idea for him to add his creative touches.
Quote Message: I didn’t really think anything about it at the time, I was just making another beat.”
I didn’t really think anything about it at the time, I was just making another beat.”
But Tempoe doesn’t see himself becoming an artist.
Quote Message: It’s not for me, I have more fun this way. I’m working with emotions and seeing people going crazy over my stuff – it’s an amazing feeling. It’s like a drug.”
It’s not for me, I have more fun this way. I’m working with emotions and seeing people going crazy over my stuff – it’s an amazing feeling. It’s like a drug.”
Tempoe speaks with passion and sensitivity about working with different artists.
Quote Message: I love my creative space so much. For me to allow you into my space and see me be vulnerable while making music like that, there has to be trust.
I love my creative space so much. For me to allow you into my space and see me be vulnerable while making music like that, there has to be trust.
Quote Message: People put so much of their life experiences into their music, so if I’m making music and I’m pouring out my feelings – there has to be some form of love. There has to be, because I’m giving you me.”
People put so much of their life experiences into their music, so if I’m making music and I’m pouring out my feelings – there has to be some form of love. There has to be, because I’m giving you me.”
