TAFARI ANTHONY MERGES SOUL AND POP WITH NEW DIE FOR YOU EP

Tafari Anthony (pronounced Ta-far-eye) – a name you don’t hear every day and with a talented voice to match! This Sudbury transplant with the deep tones and falsettos to knock your socks off made his way to our town the way many do, to go to school. Studying Graphic Design at Cambrian College by day and working at HMV by night, daydreaming of the day when he might get the chance to see his album on the shelf. He made a name for himself in the area performing every chance he got and most notably as an original cast member with YES Theatre. After leaving Sudbury Tafari spread his wings, relocating to Toronto and was soon travelling across the country and US as part of a touring production of Red Rock Diner. Now with a whole lot of experience under his belt Tafari is ready to show us what he’s been working on his recently released EP Die For You. You can listen to his first single Know Better here, and you’ll have a chance to see him live this summer as Tafari returns to Sudbury’s YES Theatre for their production of Hairspray! taking on the fan favourite role of Seaweed!

You’ve had some great opportunities making it to the top 25 in CBC’s Searchlight Competition and being selected for Canada’s Walk of Fame’s Emerging Artist Music Program. Tell me about that.

Tafari: Back in February of 2015 I submitted for Canada’s Walk of Fame [Emerging Artist Music Program] and put it out of my mind. I was kinda surprised when I got a call in August from them saying I was a finalist. It meant I got a little cash influx for my latest project Die For You, which definitely helped. I got to perform for the Canada’s Walk of Fame Festival at Dundas Square. Then had a sit down with a couple of the top A&R [Artist and Repertoire] reps at Universal Music. The whole experience really helped me realize that people still want honest music and I didn’t have to make music that I wasn’t really feeling just to get somewhere in this business.

As for CBC’s Searchlight, I actually hadn’t realized the competition was happening. My mother called me up a couple days before the submission deadline to put together her entry. I finished her submission with 5 minutes to spare and then I figured, I should get in on this too. I just barely got mine in before the deadline! Once I entered, I was able to check out some of the previous winners and prizes. I realized what a great opportunity it would be. Even just the chance to gain some exposure with CBC and network with other Canadian artists was a huge plus for me. It was a little crazy to see the response people were having to the song I submitted, “Maybe When We Get Older”. CBC was steadily playing it on the radio, I made Eric Alper’s Top 5 list, and probably the most rewarding was CBC listeners personally contacting me to express how much they were moved by the song.

I didn’t make the Top 4, but I met some really great artists in the competition such as Chersea, who recently got signed to eOne Music during the competition. Teo Milea, Isabelle Young & JonoJosh as well as a few other amazing people.

How have these experiences helped you in the creation of ‘Die for You’?

Honestly, Die For You was happening regardless of these opportunities. I made the decision to just go hard and start getting shit done without excuses, and that was sticking! The cash prize from Canada’s Walk of Fame [Emerging Artist Music Program] obviously helped a bit financially. These opportunities helped more with getting me amazing networking opportunities I may not have gotten at this stage. Not to mention, how cool is it to say that I got so far in these national contests run by such iconic Canadian establishments?!

What has your writing process been for this EP ‘Die For You’?

My writing process definitely varies. Sometimes I hear these one liners friends say. Other times I get a full story. It’s like these songs are right in front of me. Other times, it’s a vocal melody that pops into my head and I roll with that or something will happen personally that I need to express and it comes out in the form of a song. Though there are a couple more personal songs on Die For You, most of the album is inspired by the experience and stories of the people around me.

Tell us about recording the new album?

It was magical?! [Laughs] In all honestly, I had been doing odd recording sessions here and there for years. This time it was a different experience. I was going in knowing that I’m putting together a full body of work. I had been working closely with a couple friends on their projects for the last couple years. Notably Karen Andrew, and Sudbury’s own Ninique & Tessa. Helping them to see their visions realized really pushed me to get back to my own music.

Back in Toronto, I had the honour of working with some amazing musicians and so many of them were excited to play on the record when I called. Alex St. Kitts (Ed Sheeran, Francesco Yates, K-Os), brought so much life to the record with super funky bass lines. Alex played on the majority of the record, except for Fuck which had Saya Gray on bass, and damn did she kill it! She brought the right darkness and playfulness I was looking for on this song. Fuck also features my very good friend Marc Funkenhauser on Sax. I wanted this song to feel like this love triangle between the three of us, intertwining parts, stepping on each other’s lines a bit too. Marc executed it perfectly along with Saya!

I was able to get Dan Trapp (Senses Fail) to play drums on the record. He really just got what I was trying to do and executed my vision of this Soul/Pop/Funk/Rock thing to perfection. The record also included work from Phil “Philty T” Tessis and Andrew McAnsh.

Golden Child featured work from a long time collaborator of mine, Vaughn Bramble. Vaughn was there from the early stages, back when I was 16 and producer-less. He really helped shape my sound and opened my mind to always trying new things. I’m so happy to have him included on this record. Another long time collaborator, Ava Kay, gave me constant support and lent her talents to Maybe When We Get Older.

Tying everything together is producer Jon Mychal. Working with Jon has been such a great experience. I was truly able to be myself in the studio and he really believed in me and what I was doing. It was exactly the environment I needed to get these songs out in the most authentic way.

How would you describe this “Soul/Pop/Funk/Rock thing” to people who don’t know much about your music?

The music has this overall dark tone to it with a bit of optimism. These songs are stories written in the way only soul music usually conveys. But we’re doing it in this sort of way that combines the aggression and excitement of rock with that rhythmic swagger of funk. It’s the kind of stuff you want to blast in the car or in your room after a hard day to unwind.

What other recording artists inspire you?

I’ve always been a fan of music and love taking in all sorts of styles. I’m definitely inspired by artists like Prince, Amy Winehouse, Brandy & CeeLo Green. All of them truly are and were themselves. Their music isn’t the standard when you think of pop music. But it’s honest in a way that has major pop appeal. They all bend the rules on what you are “allowed” to do in a certain genre and they just say “Fuck it! This is what I’m feeling today!” and they make it happen.

Review:

Upon listening to Tafari Anthony’s latest album “Die for You” I was struck by how raw the emotions are. Let me just say this….Taylor and Tafari both sure know how to write a song that will make you regret getting on their bad side. Stand out songs for me where “Know Better” and “Maybe When We Get Older”. Know Better is a song for anyone who’s ever found themselves in a situation where they keep going back to someone who is no good for them. You know it’s not a good idea but somehow it just happens and you get to enjoy that overwhelming sense of regret afterwards. We’ve all been there. When I first heard Maybe When We Get Older I was whole heartedly convinced it was a cover written by the Queen of all soppy love-torn ballads – Adele. And I mean that in the absolute best way possible. Imagine my surprise when upon looking for the original I found absolutely nothing…

Where can we follow you as you continue your musical journey?

TafariAnthony.com has all the ways to listen, interact and find out what’s going on!

Thanks so much for taking the time to talk with us about your work!

Thanks, Jess! Sudbury has been so great to me and is a big part of my life. I’ll be back in July for another show and plans are already underway for a Sudbury release party for Die For You.

Die For You is out now you can purchase your copy on itunes, google play or a physical copy here! To follow Tafari as his career unfolds check him out on Facebook, Instagram, Soundcloud, Youtube, Twitter and Spotify. Keep an eye out for performances from Tafari Anthony coming up in Sudbury this summer!

Jessica Lovelace

Jessica Lovelace is a Public Relations and Communications grad, musical theatre enthusiast, lover of live music and part-time unicorn tamer. Some have said that the Big Dripper from Sub City is a regional delicacy and the perfect end to a Sudbury Saturday Night – Jessica is definitely one of those people. No, the hair is not a perm.

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