HTP REVIEW By Max Puhala Teni - Afrobeat, Jazz, Funk - Lagos, Nigeria There’s something alluring about music that transcends the sounds and hearts of just one city, state, or country for that matter. Teni, a soulful jazz singer currently based in London, has spent much of her life living in Africa, specifically Lagos, Nigeria, and from her travels across numerous continents, she has gleaned influences and styles reminiscent of places all over the world to help create her own unique blend of Afrobeat, Funk, Soul, and Blues music. Armed with a tight backing band, The Afro-Renaissance, Teni is now ready to make her mark on the rest of the world. “Afrodisiac”, Teni’s debut full-length album, is an up-close-and-personal 10-track journey into the heart of African soul music. Lyrical topics have a wide range, encompassing everything from emotional longing (“When will I see the face I long to see?” from “When Will It Be?), to being in love (“Love came and shot me / Just like a gun” from the chorus of “Like A Gun”), and even politics. “Africa” tackles the country’s issues head-on, beginning with Teni’s heavy question: “Africa, what are we gonna do?”. She has watched the corrupt governments exploit and steal from African tribes for years, and she won’t take the poverty anymore. By the track’s conclusion, you cant help but feel inspired and motivated to stand by Teni, in hopes of ending all of the hunger and sorrow. Tenis intriguing and unconventional vocal delivery really makes her standout. Her voice, while definitely strong, also has a certain aged fragility to it, as if Teni has been through a lot in her life. Her lyrics float through the songs, reverberating off of the catchy basslines and drifting high up into the clouds, all while whisking you away with them. You feel like you’re standing right next to her in “Lionheart”, since her less aggressive delivery draws you in, rather than pushes you into submission. Moreover, dance number, “Your Love is the Key”, has an interesting, yet eerie vibe, thanks to her skillfully soft singing. A master of repetition, Teni has a fantastic understanding of how to embellish repeating vocal lines. In the slow-burner, “Why You Do”, she repeats certain words over and over again, and while this could definitely be a problem if handled by anyone other than her, Teni proves just how well-practiced of a professional she is here. By constantly revoicing certain lines with higher notes and harmonies, “Why You Do” becomes an exceedingly interesting subdued ballad that serves as a nice contrast to other, more energetic tracks like “Revolution”. We can only hope that Teni finds a way to make it over to other parts of the world someday. I know there are endless jazz nightclub crowds in America that would welcome her and the Afro-Renaissance with open arms. For now, though, Teni is going to continue her inspiring singing in Lagos, hopefully convincing others to stand by her in the struggle to restore the glory to Africa. Music really can be a vehicle for social change, and if you want to get involved, listening to Teni is a great way to start! Listen to Afrodisiac on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud/teni Check out Your Love Is The Key Official Music Video: https://youtube/watch?v=2dqgA0zTOAU Facebook: https://facebook/Tenimusic Official Website: tenimusic.org/
Posted on: Mon, 02 Dec 2013 18:30:17 +0000
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