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'I wouldn’t even say I’m a rapper. I would say that I’m an artist' - Tahir
RnB/Hip Hop | Monday 20th March 2017 |
Tahir aka the ‘calm before the storm’ is a new up and coming young artist seeking to bring a new voice to millennials.
Recent success from his first public appearance at the Forge, to the preparation of his debut EP expected to drop in August, Tahir lets us know why his 'moment' is fast approaching.
How did you get into music?
I started out experimenting and downloaded logic pro about 2 years ago. Then I started messing around, making beats on logic and just playing loops and trying to find what I like in music. Music is quite a personal thing and I wanted to find my niche, I wanted to find my sound.
I was playing around and then I released a project called 'music therapy'. And that’s what it was to me therapy, just getting all my emotions out into a vessel that could reach other people. I wanted other people to listen to it as well, and for them to get something from it like I did. I wanted to reciprocate the energy that I was feeling to the universe.
When did you start taking music seriously?
After I released my first ever song 'Problem'. I wrote it in a day, and I didn’t know how I wanted to vocalise my sound but I just started writing rhymes. Everything I write about is about me. Everything.
It’s all relatable to me. I would never want to give anyone anything that was false or fake. Even if I’m working with someone, A I need to like you, B we need to have a good musical chemistry and C I don’t want anything to be false.
So definitely after the response I got from 'Problem' I started taking music seriously. I had people on my timeline retweeting my lyrics, so I was gassed about that.
What is your writing process like?
My writing process is random. I heard something that was very inspirational and that stuck with me. 'Creativity is like a surge of energy, it comes whenever it wants and you have to utilise it. Then once it’s goes it’s gone.' Using all the inspiration and imagination is key in what I’m trying to do in this world. I’m always making sure I put as much feeling and energy into what I’m producing. I love to be honest.
In your twitter bio you say you are the ‘calm before the storm’. How does that relate to your music?
The calm before the storm is me right now and how I’m prepping my take over. I don’t even want to sound cocky or anything, but seeing the way my music has been going and the energy I feel in the air. It makes me think that this is definitely my time. It’s the 'calm before the storm' so you better get ready. Brace yourself!
Who inspires you musically?
It changes all the time because I listen to so many people. Amy Winehouse definitely. It’s the sorrow in her voice, the story she told and the relatability of it. “You should be stronger than me”, who makes lyrics like that! It was so raw. She’s a singer so that helps.
I would like to sing. I wouldn’t say I’m a singer, I wouldn’t even say I’m a rapper. I would say that I’m an artist. I’m an artist trying to be raw and uplift people through my bad experiences. I will always try and turn a bad experience into a song. Just so that song can resonate with other people and just so they know that they’re not alone. There are 7 billion people on this planet and if I can just get my song to even one person will genuinely make me happy.
What impact do you want your music to have on other people?
I want a connection, I want them to feel like my family. I don’t think that the people who support me understand how much I value them, maybe because I’m not very vocal in my appreciation of other people sometimes. And without the people there would be no music. I just want to make people happy even if it’s through a sad song to get closure, because a lot of my songs are about closure.
What is the worst thing you have reputation for?
Oh God where do I begin, I’m always late. I look in the mirror far too much. I’ll be fully dressed then decide that somethings wrong. Also I’m very honest and blunt, you can see it in my face. If I see something I don’t like I’m going to tell you, you’ll know.
Sometimes I feel that people are intimidated by me because I don’t smile much. It’s not because I’m sad, it’s just because my natural face is not to smile.
What ideas have changed your life?
My whole EP and the process of making my debut project has changed everything.
Who is Prosecco Boy?
He’s like my alter ego, because when I drink I’m a different person. I’m the complete opposite to myself. I would say I’m quite reserved when I’m sober, while Prosecco Boy is the life of the party but he goes through some stuff, and he likes to tell you what he’s going through.
Where did you get the name Tahir from?
Tahir means pure. It’s kind of a running joke I have with myself, I’m chasing purity. I know I’m never going to be, but until I die I want to make sure I can be the best version of myself. This goes past music. It’s my whole entity as a human being?
You’ve worked in the past with artists such as Keyah Blu, are there any collaborations in the near future?
As debut artists I do feel like it’s good to be alone so people can get to know you. The only reason why I’ve done two songs with Keyah Blu is because she’s my best friend and our music relationship is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and I worked with a couple of people and its’ just not the same.
Of course there are artists I’d love to work with like, Conrad Mundy the whole Neverland clan. There are so just many people.
You used to go to the Brit school, is drama something you still want to pursue?
Drama has been with me since I was a baby. I’ve been acting since I was a child. My mum forced me into drama school and when I got into the Brit school she was ecstatic. But I still act, last year I was in a music video for ‘Go Tell The Man Dem’ by Half Brother and I was just playing one of the man dem.
It was a great experience since I haven’t acted in ages because I’ve been so focused on music. But I act every day, I work in retail so I have to act.
But one day I’m gonna get an Oscar and a BAFTA, I know this. But I think right now I’m focused on music 100 per cent, but hopefully I can get to a point when I can balance it all together. Acting will always have a very special place in my heart.
What can we expect from you in the next up and coming months?
I’m hoping in summer August the 18th, my birthday to release my EP. It’s going to be called ‘81 Debden’, that’s where I grew up and it holds a lot of memories for me.
Where can we find you?
You can catch me on Twitter and Soundcloud.
