For many artists in Toronto, breaking out of the city is the ultimate dream.
However, for one singer, who’s sung all over the world, planting roots at home and focusing on the music is the real vision.
Now Toronto sat down with Nigerian French-Canadian artist TÖME to chat about all things music, her culture and what her father taught her.
TÖME shares that she got her start in music when she was just eight years old and it all started with beats in her head that she would write out lyrics to. She nods to poetry as a stepping stone but admits it was really songs she was writing.
The artist also says uploading her music to Soundcloud would later open doors to a whole new world and eventually help her get her foot in the door of the music industry.
“I had the ability to grow and understand that I love being alternative but I really love rhythm. And that’s where I started to dabble with Afro-fusion ad Afro-R&B,” she said.
TÖMErecently dropped an EP titled PRELUDE following an album just last year. To say she is booked and busy would be an understatement.
“I’m grateful to be able to share music, I think it’s taken for granted a lot for the amount of work that goes behind it, especially if you want to put out quality [music],” she said.
“I’m always working on music. I love the fact that I’m able to continue to do that.”
One of TÖME’s favourite songs on the album is “Belong” because it orbits around her world, her father.
“My father passed away earlier this year. He’s always been a part of my professional career since 2019 and he was side by side with me and became my friend,” she said.
“It was very important to me that I bring him along with me. He was a man of wisdom and he always shared that and that song is about not understanding yourself and feeling lost and not knowing where you belong. What he says at the end is to remind you to be grateful for something everyday and you will find your way.”
With so many dimensions to her identity, TÖME shares that her Nigerian roots tied with her ability to speak French has heavily influenced her sound and she would be doing a disservice to herself if she didn’t tap into it.
“French lyrics and melodies sound so beautiful on certain records. And being Nigerian is something I’m so prideful and proud of being and I love that I’m able to blend them all because it allows me to be more authentic.”
Staying true to herself and her culture has led to some incredible success when touring with some of the greatest Afro-beats artists of our generation, including Burna Boy, Wizkid and Mr Eazi.
“Touring with them was an absolute blessing because it was in my first year professionally as an artist and I’m fully aware that that does not happen everyday.”
According to her, it gave her the stage practice and a sneak peek of what it’s like to sing in front of thousands of people, and in the direction she’s headed, that could be sooner rather than later.
To stay tapped in with TÖME, visit her website here.
