Tawiah chats to UpRise about Music, Messages and Special Moments
Tawiah chats to UpRise about Music, Messages and Special Moments
Tawiah has spent the last few years writing, recording and polishing her own brand of alternative soul. She has already worked alongside Mark Ronson, Corinne Bailey Rae, Cee Lo Green, The Guillemots and Gilles Peterson, but it is now Tawiah’s time to shine her own light on the world.
Her upcoming release, ‘FREEdom Drop’ is Tawiah’s second collaboration with Jodi Milliner on production following the 2008 independently released debut EP ‘In Jodi’s Bedroom’, which quickly became a cult favorite on Britain’s underground music scene, ultimately winning her Gilles Peterson’s Radio 1 Worldwide Award for Best Newcomer.
FREEdom Drop features Sam Beste of Hejira, Ghana hip hop sensation Wanlov and vocal talent Muhsinah (The Weekend, N.E.R.D, Common). It is a melodic reflection of the past few years of Tawiah’s career and is worldly and soulful. Not only a representation of her life but a representation of the listeners, people and followers that have grown to appreciate her music. When you take the time to sit back and absorb these new tracks, be prepared to feel, think and reflect.
Ahead of her free download release of ‘FACes’ on Fri 12th April in support of International Day for Street Children and Street Child Africa, UpRise caught up with Tawiah to speak about her music, her mission, her message and her special moments.
UpRise: Hey Tawiah we’re very excited to hear the tracks from your ‘FREEdom Drop’ EP and hearing what comes after!
Tawiah: Thanks for being interested.
UpRise: How does it feel to move from collaborating and working with other artists and into recording and promoting your own songs?
Tawiah: It feels so exciting to be putting this project out. I’ve collaborated with a lot of wonderful people, it’s always daunting as well as exciting to step out on your own. I’ve been through an epic journey to be fair, it never stops, still in it.
UpRise: Does your musical and personal journey intertwine as the EP appears to be from your own life experiences?
Tawiah: This project is a Freedom drop for me, I’ve written so many songs in the last couple of years and felt they needed to go on a journey and leave the confinements of my laptop!
UpRise: Well we’re certainly glad you’ve made the move to share the songs! ‘FACes’ is the second track from your EP and you’re releasing it as a free download on Friday 12th April in support of International Day for Street Children and Street Child Africa. What drew you to these important causes?
Tawiah: Yes, I shot the video for ‘FACes’ in Ghana. we went to Old Fadama (aka Circuit City). This is one of the worlds largest electrical waste dumps on the planet! Children are risking their lives to just make it by. The people there are the poorest in Ghana yet they make it work day by day. It was an emotional experience for me to see this side of Ghana. As a Londoner born to Ghanaian parents I have been to Ghana a few times. But this was my first time seeing this side of it, thanks to the director of the video, Manste. When we spoke I told him I wanted to see as much of Accra as possible. I met many people there, adults and children with such beautiful energies. That sparked thoughts of myself as a child and how far I have come. So Street Child Africa just made so much sense to me. Anything I can do to raise awareness, I’m all for it. This is an organisation that listen to the needs of street children in Africa. They offer services and a voice for children in need in Ghana. International Day for Street Children are hoping to encourage the UN to make April 12th a recognized day for the cause and representing Street Children around the world. So support!
UpRise: Sounds like an amazing trip and thanks for the heads up on what’s going down in Ghana and Circuit City. We’re all about supporting these vital campaigns. Creativity and art have always been closely linked with social causes and the human spirit. Do you think it’s important that artists use their voice to share knowledge?
Tawiah: I do, I think music is powerful and we as artists have the biggest opportunity to reach millions of people with one line, verse or chorus. What better vehicle is there to influence the masses? It’s up to us to choose the proper message.
UpRise: For sure. Talking of reaching people, you’ve traveled across the globe with your art. What and where has been your most memorable performance experience?
Tawiah: I have…hmm. I’ve had so many amazing gigs. One I will never forget is the first gig I had with my friend Mark de Clive-Lowe, it was in Estonia. Summertime, and we were on at midnight, but it was still light! I’ll never forget that, there was probably only two hours of darkness that night! It was a trip!
UpRise: Ahhh… those long days, short nights. What do you hope your music will achieve once it is out there in the ether, do you hope it will affect people in any particular way?
Tawiah: I love music because it makes me feel. If people feel, I’m happy.
UpRise: Beautifully simple and pure! It’s been great sharing your thoughts and journey. Thank you taking time to talk to us and for supporting the UpRise movement of equality. We’ve got TEARdop’ and ‘FACes’ on a loop and can’t wait to hear more!
Tawiah: Thank You!
Download FACes for FREE at http://bit.ly/YyybiE and ADD your VOICE to making APRIL 12th officially INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR STREET CHILDREN
Watch the video of ‘FACes’ by Tawiah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkpgFk6ZHTc
Shot in Accra, Ghana.
Directed by Mantse Aryeequaye for REDD Kat Pictures
Produced by Sionne Neely for ACCRA [dot] ALT
Written and Produced by Tawiah and Jodi Milliner
For more info on Tawiah, gig dates and music releases visit:
For more info on International Day for Street Children and Street Child Africa visit:
www.streetchildafrica.com and www.streetchildrenday.org
Read more about Circuit City, Ghana – the worlds largest electrical dump – here:
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/ghana804/video/video_index.html
