#tunde

These two are the hottest couples i have seen in a gay movie.

Tunde x Soren

INSIDE THE CASTING OF H50 - Episode 10.05

Say "hello" to H50's female version of Top Gun's Maverick aka @katrinalaw  and mermaid Tani aka @MeaghanRath. The team rejoins with John Wick aka Dr. Max Bergman aka @MasiOka & his (adopted) son Tunde (played by cute Jonny Berryman - pic 3) to solve a Halloween murder mystery. Who is ready to trick or treat this FRI?

“Hi, it’s Tunde.”

Tunde Olaniran’s sold out performance on Saturday, September 29, 2018 at UMMA was the second leg of a tour mostly situated in the Midwest, but the University of Michigan was one of the last venues in his home state before heading to close out in places like DC, Philadelphia, and New York. This wasn’t his first time at the University of Michigan. One of his most notable appearances being an hour-long interview and performance with Tracy Clayton and Heben Nigatu, the popular hosts of the favored podcast Another Round. Tunde’s known for his striking presence, sharp intellect, and many rave about his live performances and from what I hear—UMMA was no different.

“I wanted to set myself up to have the most fun on stage,” he reflected. After traveling through the U.S. and eventually Europe with the headliner “Namesake” from his debut album Transgressor, Tunde described understanding his music in greater context. Live performance is a core aspect of his musicality. By honing the aspects of his sound which resonated most with his diverse audiences, he was sure to craft unforgettable, captivating experience. Tunde breathed a sigh of relief as he remarked on the release of his new album Stranger. He explained the value of resisting the pressure of needing to create emotional depth in order to stay relevant to audiences. For Tunde, his passion is echoed by his commitment and the secret: enjoyment.

Tunde was invited to perform at UMMA in conjunction with the opening of the exhibition Beyond Borders: Global Africa. By blurring the map lines, the exhibit challenges our understanding of the ways in which borders are thought to dictate the exchange of cultural and artistic influence. The exhibition highlights how histories of colonization and globalization has not only impacted, but distorted the creative image of the vast continent. In the city of Detroit, Tunde calls attention to black women’s many artistic and cultural influences in the music scene, but the problematic lack of visibility of black women artists in venues. In refusing complacency, Tunde chooses resistance through visibility: honest and vulnerable.

Before the show, I had an opportunity to speak with him.

Mari: So your performance on Saturday is in conjunction with Beyond Borders: Global Africa exhibit at UMMA. I’ve had an opportunity to go and see the exhibit and one of the key themes is exploring the relationship between place and identity. And further, how power dictates an understanding or a person’s relationship to a place. Does the theme speak to you to you in your process or your artistry?

Tunde: You know I think there are so many ways you could talk about that subject. One of the things that has been on my mind is the idea as an artist: Do I belong? Do all artists belong? Do artists belong in a place where they are booked to perform, but don’t necessarily feel welcomed? Or do you live in a city and you are an artist of color, but the spaces don’t feel like they are for you? For my album release, the line-up is entirely black artists from Detroit. For me, it’s important, not like because it’s like a checklist, but I want there to be women on the bill. I want there to be trans women on the bill. And you would think that this wouldn’t even be a talking point in a city like Detroit, but it is actually rare. And so many spaces have benefited from black women’s contributions to culture in Detroit And so few bills have prioritized putting black women on them. So I’m thinking about what spaces do you take up? What spaces use your influence, but don’t need you there.

As the conversation continued, Tunde spoke to how the harmful dynamics in the minute interactions offstage can have a palpable effect on the artist. He cited his own encounters with individuals within the industry, such as sound engineers (who are largely white men), that generate discomfort for him and other artists of color. “I deserve to be here and you need to be respectful to me as an artist,” he remarked. In his process, he works to prioritize an expectation of consideration by making vocal and visible the norms that can negatively impact the performance on stage. “It makes you a better performer and you are better able to connect to the audience and I wonder how many people have had bad performances or bad shows because of [the things] that happens to them before they get on stage.” Tunde’s focus is investing in an understanding of what it means to make artists of color feel welcomed, respected, and comforted in the industry. Building an infrastructure that centers the margins.

Tunde’s growing recognition is not accidental. Enjoyment is at the core of his artistic process and Tunde’s unquestionable talent is equally matched with a fervor surrounding his work. Getting an opportunity to speak with him, for me, was a peek into his process. I’m thankful that for folks who have not had the privilege of meeting him, reading this will be an introduction to his joy: Tunde’s music.

T: “You know it is such a grind. You can get tired. You can feel like you don’t want to keep doing certain things over and over again. In my experience, a lot of artists can get into a really small clique, especially in place like Michigan, where there isn’t a huge industry. You get your circle of friends who agree that you are great. And you don’t really move beyond that or try something to do something new or breakout of that circuit. It was seeing that and you don’t want to be complacent in your art. You want to keep going, not just for financial achievement, but to be a better artist. To be a better human. And that idea spoke to me.”

Click the box below to hear the full interview:

Beyond Borders: Global Africa is on view at UMMA through November 25, 2018.