I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE MY SONGS WERE DELETED FROM STREAMING PLATFORMS AND EGO COULD NOT LET THEM PUT IT BACK – Tarela
INTERVIEW Admin July 22, 2021 0 101
I was surprised to see that my songs were deleted from streaming platforms and ego could not let them put it back – Tarela
Nigerian reggae/dancehall, Afro-fusion artiste formally Squeeze Tarela, now Tarela is on a contineous musical high after leaving his formal record label ‘Just Jojo Entertainment’. You would recall that Tarela won the Akademia music awardas Best Reggae Artiste Of The Year for Hottest Thing in Los Angeles, California in 2018. Born, Tarela Henry Ekaye in Lagos, Nigeria. He graduated from the University of Benin where he studied Geology and obtained a BSc. He is recently signed under his imprint Tarela Music. We caught up with the Artist to talk about his new single, upcoming project & experience with his formal record label. Read the full interview here 🔻
🟠THANK YOU FOR JOINING US! TO START WITH, WHY THE CHANGE OF NAME IF THERE’S ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
Tarela: I had to do that, because squeeze TARELA was trademarked by Justjojo Ent and I felt I can build up what they try to destroy since they don’t understand it.
🟠SO HOW HAVE YOU BEEN COPING WITH THE MUSIC INDUSTRY SINCE YOU LEFT JUST JOJO?
Tarela: Been doing fine personally I took a little break and I’m back now. Got good music I can’t wait to share. An EP set for release this month.
🟠 WHAT’S THE TITLE OF YOUR COMING EP? DO YOU HAVE AN A-LIST ON THE PROJECT?
Tarela: It’s titled ELECTRIC and i have no one else on it.
🟠KINDLY SPOT-LIGHT ON THIS (CHANGE OF NAME) A LITTLE BIT. DOES THIS MEAN YOU HAD A FALL OUT WITH YOUR LABEL FOR YOUR INDEPENDENT MOVE OR THEY COULDN’T HOLD THEIR PART ACCORDING TO THE AGREEMENT?
Tarela: You already know that no one like to be ditched by people who are loyal in front and behind are something else. The contract I signed gave them rights to trade with my name while it lasted, not trademark my name behind me so obviously discovering that, is a solid reason to move on besides a few other things we could not agree on which I believe was not solid for an exit.
Tarela – Bigger Life
🟠I MET YOU DURING THE DAYS OF “HOTTEST THING’, UBERFRESH, BETTER AND SO ON …I MUST SAY, THAT YOUR NEW SINGLE, “HOLD ME DOWN” SOUND A BIT DIFFERENT FROM THE PREVIOUS JAMS. IS THAT INTENTIONAL?
Tarela: Improving myself is a constant thing for me. I am glad my new song is mind blowing it was designed to be so.
🟠WHENEVER YOU STEP ON THE SCENE ESPECIALLY ON FREESTYLE SESSION WAYBACK, YOU USUALLY START THE FREESTYLE WITH THE ‘UBERFRESH’ SIGNATURE. DID YOU DROP THIS AS YOU STEP OUT OF JUST JOJO ENTERTAINMENT?
Tarela: At all. It’s my signature & it’s here still …and here to stay.
🟠SHOULD WE EXPECT MORE REGGAE DANCEHALL RECORDS FROM YOUR COMING BODY OF WORK OR A VARIETY OF OTHER GENRE?
Tarela: Yea …more dancehall and some Afro fusion.
🟠ANY WOMAN IN YOUR LIFE AT THE MOMENT?
Tarela: My goals are more important than a woman at this point
🟠ARE YOU SIGNED TO ANOTHER RECORD LABEL NOW OR A SOLDIER RIDING WILD ALONE?
Tarela: I’m on my own label. Owning my process and vision is key.
🟠Currently, songs you are featured in are much out there on streaming platforms than your past records (eg Hottest Thing video not Available & Better). Do you feel bothered or concerned that these videos that Birth the brand ‘Squeeze Tarela’ are no more?
Tarela: I don’t …they are only a motivation for one to do better.
🟠DID YOU REQUEST FOR THE REMOVAL OR YOUR FORMAL LABEL DID?
Tarela: I was surprised to see them off on one faithful day while the contract was on, it was a power flex that didn’t go so well and ego could not let them put it back when my response to it was different.
🟠 How exactly did you respond to this when you discovered that your materials were taken down and how did you feel about it?
Tarela: Honestly till this day I feel in the moment it’s the best way they felt they could handle the situation at that time, no one sincerely from a good place will want to damage what they’ve built however, if they feel damaged due to past experiences they have not healed from they simply would lack understanding to handle situations they have not matured from to unintentionally damage something beautiful they have built. I’d say the fear of loosing me took a hold of them negatively rather than positively. This is from how I see it because I was serious and intentional about everything I did with them as well as assertive about the things we are doing that aren’t working, how we must find new ways of doing things better coz it’s a chunk of my life I was gonna spend with them in that contract at the given time I wanted to make sure I had the best experience with them. Unfortunately it wasn’t so I had to take a bow.
🟠LET’S TALK ABOUT “HOLD ME DOWN”
Tarela: Hold me down is an ode to celebrate strong & loyal women. It’s the first single off the Electric EP set to drop this summer. It’s premiered first on Capital Xtra Fm in the Uk and since then, it has been gaining momentum globally.
🟠TELL ME YOUR INCEPTION INTO MUSIC; WHEN DID YOU FIRST GAIN INTEREST, AND HOW DID THINGS BEGIN TO TAKE SHAPE?
Tarela: Interestingly, it was in born or naturally there. I loved music from when I was a child and I was influenced a lot by reggae, dub and dancehall and good slice of hip hop and high life when I was growing up. Music is my life I’d say.
🟠AS FOR THE IMMEDIATE, WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU, TARELA?
Tarela: My coming EP – Electric
🟠ANY “CLOSING” THOUGHT(S) FOR OUR READERS?
Tarela: Be positive. The energy you give, you get. No one can stop your shine fam and don’t stop listening to Tarela Music
