In a time of internet discovery, there is no secret that talent exists on every cruck and every surface across the world. The era of internet discovery has led to incredible talent simply by the right people discovering or coming across the right talent at the right time. Endless examples exist, but for today's conversation, BNXN, formally known as BUJU's discovery of 20-year singer/songwriter Taves's cover of his track 'For Days' led us to one of the latest musical talents.
As you press play on his brand-new EP, 'Are You Listening? You are met with smooth R&B vibes perfectly fused into Afrobeats as the opening track 'Bad Romance' plays. This is just one display of what is available throughout the eight tracks that comprise the project. Taves shows his musical range throughout the EP, which he wanted to ensure he got across with the EP. "I don't want people to put me in a box regarding the type of music I make. Because honestly, I'm an Afrobeats artist, but I'm also a pop artist; I'm an R&B artist. Sometimes l like I'm different things. My music is not one genre." And this is very apparent as you take in everything from him.
His musical beginnings started in his childhood, as tends to be the case for most musicians. His musical influences are apparent in the way he makes music: "There's a lot of music that I listened to when I was younger, and most of these artists most definitely influenced my music one way or another." From the likes of Aṣa on the one hand to Khalid, Ed Sheeran and Bryson Tiller on the other. "Aṣa was because of my dad; when I was younger, we used to go on longer trips, like as a family. He would play many artists, but just Aṣa stood out to me. I was more into R&B artists like Khalid, Bryson Tiller, The Weeknd and Ed Sheeran, people like that". This combination has brought a freshness and something different to what would be expected of an artist like himself. This, of course, is something he is very much tapped into and very much leaning into with this latest release.
As we speak about the EP, very little is revealed about the music, as I have not heard anything beforehand. All I have is a title with some brief context to a number of the songs. However, a few days before its release, a secured stream is sent my way, and I embark on listening through the tracks. It is evident how much of his musical influences have been brought through on this project. Coming a long way from his first EP, 18, dropped in 2021, Are You Listening? has a cohesiveness and an element of confidence that has elevated from the first project. "The EP I'm making now has been coming for a long time, and the songs have changed so many times because now I'm working on a bigger scale. When I was making 18, I made that project for me and my friends to listen too. But now I'm working on a bigger scale. So, it has to be more intentional than just picking songs and saying, okay, this feels right. I have to consider a lot more of the things I did compared to the last project."
2023 was undoubtedly one of the most significant years for Taves thus far, from penning his deal to Atlantic Records to appearing on BNXN's debut album, Sincerely BNXN. All that has happened in recent events has not been lost on the experiences that have since changed his life and, in turn, adjusted his mind and how he has navigated everything. "I'm more confident in myself. The music is way more intentional now than it used to be." As he shifts into a space that is quite intense when you think about the current musical landscape and the pressures that it puts on new artists with the unbelievable amount of music that exists in this space. He has recognised this in terms of how the changes that have taken place have impacted him and how he has been able to navigate and come out of the shyness that he experienced as a child and has since come into his own. "I'm more open as a person, like the people on my team; I share everything that's going on with me with them. Because I don't want it to be a situation where I'm going through something nobody knows. But, like, affecting my mood or my behaviour. And then people don't understand what's happening with me. So, if I do something out of pocket, they know where it's coming from. I feel like being open is something I've had to work on, but now it's improving. And it's helped like the whole team dynamic as well."
Within this new generation of talent representing Nigeria, he is doing it in a way that expands the range of what that sounds like. From the neo-soul sounds, his R&B cuts, and his alternative flares, he pushes the sonic boundaries, all present on Are You Listening? The project has journeyed from its initial concept to its final delivery. It has been something that has been in the works for some time. "When I came up with the concept, this was in December 2022. So, it's been coming for a long time, and many things have changed about the project, the name of the project itself, and the cover art. The songs on the project are so different from when we first decided to make it and the songs on it now. It was originally set to be released in February of 2023 and titled Homecoming with a hashtag and social media teasing that let fans know it was on its way before shifting gears and creating the final version. It seems that it was well worth the wait. "I'm very grateful that I've had to wait this long to put out this project because now I think it's coming out, and it's the best it can be."
Self-assurance and trusting in oneself are themes that come through in the conversation, especially in relation to the process and getting to a point where he feels confident and trusts himself in where he is going with this body of work. When entering a space that boosts a lot of opinions and thoughts, whether via social media, online or even from people around you, one's inner voice and inner self are the most important. Although only 20 years old, having this awareness has already served him so well against the outside noise within his space, and such was the case in arriving at the point where he is now. "I think the most significant change from when we first came up with the idea to now would be that I stopped looking to other people to tell me what is going to happen or what is supposed to happen."
Confidence and a level of elevation happen within an artist's career, where they take control of the wheel—entering the music space at a young age where you are guided by people who are older than you and seemingly know better than you is a gamble that every young artist takes in that they trust that the people in these positions know what they are doing and understand what they are trying to achieve. However, too many times across the board, we have seen that that has been a failed mission and led to some tragic career downfalls. However, it is a learning curve that, once established and understood, the need to lead the charge and take control allows one to shine in the way one wants. However, it is also a journey that comes with time and is something that Taves has just now come to grips with throughout his creative process. "It took me a while just to get to the fact that it's me. Well, not only me; I have a whole team, but it's me, my vision, and I have to be sure of what I'm doing every single time. I have a team I can bounce ideas off, but that final decision is me and me alone. And it's something that as time has gone on, every single time, I'm getting better at it."
As highlighted, there is much to take from Are You Listening? From top to bottom, it's a great offering from Taves and displays him as a next-generation artist who is not scared to try unexpected things outside of what one might expect of him. There is a seamless moment where his influences weave throughout the project and show how his rich musical exposure has allowed him to become the artist that he is. His life experiences and situations that have taken place have also contributed to the lyricism and melodies that bridge together a solid body of work, which is a strong introduction to him for anybody who may not have encountered him, showing that his creativity and music know no bounds. This is something he is hoping will also reach people far and wide. "I don't want people to put me in a box regarding the type of music I make. Because honestly, I'm an Afrobeats artist, but I'm also a pop artist; I'm an R&B artist. Sometimes l like I'm different things. My music is not one genre."
There is also an element of having something to say and letting people know that underestimating him is not an option and that, despite whatever is being said, he will continue his path and forge his way the way he chooses to. "It took me a while to realise I had something to prove. Some people feel like making the type of music I make means I can't go far in Nigeria. I've heard that so much of this music is good, but it will never do anything in Nigeria. Why don't you try doing this or doing something different? However, what I've come to realise is that good music is always going to prevail. That's one thing I'm trying to prove with my project." As you take in the EP as a whole, it's clear that his intentions have been set out, and everything that he wants to put across is apparent in its offering, so there is only much higher he can continue to elevate as he continues on his career.
