Urban Vault caught up with London, UK-based recording artist Tana to ask her some questions about her recently released track RITUAL & more…

Tana is an artist & songwriter with charge and a unique flair for lyrics and melody. Her tracks have been championed by Sean Kingston on Instagram, played on BBC introducing, and featured in numerous publications, as well as writing for artists such as Jike Junyi. Her rich and diverse views on gay culture, have strongly influenced her musical and personal journey.

“I’m queer and I want to use my platform to be real and be a voice for others”.

Tana’s music is unapologetic, revolutionary, and liberating, and she places diversity at heart.

‘Ritual’ is an upbeat Hip Hop/Pop/Trap song about wanting all the finer things in life and manifesting it through what
sounds like a Mantra.

What is your name?

Tana

Where are you from?

I’m originally half Italian half Nigerian but born and raised in North West London.

How old are you?

I’m 25.

How long have you been making music?

My musical journey began when I was 8 years old, first learning to play the classical guitar as an extracurricular activity at school which stuck around and became a lot more important to me as I grew up. Professionally speaking, I only started taking music seriously when I was 11 years old, writing and recording my first song, and the journey never stopped.

How many songs/albums have you released to date?

I’ve released an EP years ago before becoming ‘Tana’ and embodying the artist that I am today. However, after finding my identity and really taking ownership of it, I’ve released 8 tracks under my new artist project, and have done some co-writes and features too.

Can you tell us about your new track ‘Ritual’, the background, and the inspirations behind it?

When I wrote ‘Ritual’, I imagined the kind of lifestyle I want to lead. Ritual is about money, wealth, and success, and through the lyrics, I feel as though I’m manifesting all the things I want in life. I think it’s a really catchy song that makes you feel like a BOSS, and the instrumental is inspired by BIA’s ‘Whole Lotta Money’, which is an absolute bop. The bass-line sounds really loud and dirty, exactly how I wanted ‘Ritual’ to be….in your face!

How have you ended up in the music industry?

I’ve been singing and playing instruments since I was a kid, but in order to build my skills and confidence, I reached out to people on social media, attended networking events, and went to University to study music, which ultimately helped build my knowledge and network. Over the years, I’ve worked with so many different people which lead me in the right direction in finding my tribe and who I work best with.

What do you think of the music industry?

I think it’s really interesting to see where music is going, but for now I’m trying to get into NFT’s so I can sell my music through that platform. I guess it’s the future in terms of how we communicate with each other and transmit information.

What have you got planned for the rest of 2022?

Lots more music and lots more travelling.

What inspires you when you make your music?

It’s usually things like heartbreak, love, people, conversations, friendships, or writing from someone else’s experience and imagining what they’re going through.

Who have you collaborated with so far in your career?

I’ve mostly collaborated with emerging artists and songwriters from London, most of them being from University or just meeting in a random studio session. But I’ve got this track featuring an artist from South Africa called Ava like Lava. We haven’t officially met yet (just over zoom), but I think it’s one of my strongest tracks and I can’t wait to release it. I’ve also co-written a song which got signed to a major Chinese artist called Jike Junyi, and have also had some songs signed to some major labels too.

Who would you like to collaborate with in the future?

I’d love to work with Labrinth, Rosalia, Wizkid, and H.E.R. I think they’re all amazing in their own way and we’d make sweet music together.

What’s your favorite track at the moment?

‘SAOKO’ by Rosalia.

What do you do when you’re not making music?

Travelling, working on other creative ventures, going out with friends, meditating, and working out.

Which do you prefer, Facebook or Twitter, or Instagram?

Definitely Instagram.

In a few words sum up your thoughts about Urban Vault and what we’re trying to do?

I think Urban Vault is a great platform for supporting up-and-coming talent, and I’m honoured to be a part of it. I think it’s super important to have these kinds of channels that showcases underground artists before they blow up, so thank you for having me and being a part of my journey.

Thank you for your time and may you carry on making dope, fresh music…

Tana – Ritual via iTunes/Spotify

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