Tanika, the Brixton-born and raised creative architect, returns with a new serendipitous single, ‘Fast Fwd,’ featuring Kida Kudz and produced by Naughty Boy. This slick, velvet offering is layered with come-back striking energy and Tanika’s undeniable talent to shake up the scene.
‘Fast Fwd’ marks more than another release. It represents a career-making shift, with Tanika being the sole puppet master of her destiny. As a culture-shaping songwriter responsible for many of the UK’s hits by artists like Sam Smith, Ella Eyre, Emeli Sandé, Wretch 32, MNEK, and Idris Elba, Tanika possesses the magic key to take over the nation’s charts, this time around as the main character.
Following her 2023 EP, ‘333,’ Tanika serves a reborn magnetism with the 1990s Brixton flair, reembracing the solace she once found in music. Working alongside her now fiance Kida Kudz and long-time friend and collaborator Naughty Boy, ‘Fast Fwd’ is a result of the stars aligning.
For Noctis, Tanika opens up about what she misses the most about Brixton, things coming into place for ‘Fast Fwd,’ working alongside Naughty Boy, and the love-at-first-sight spark with Kida Kudz.
You were born and raised in Brixton. What do you love the most about Brixton?
Everything, the culture mostly. The butchers, the fruit & veg market, the African women selling their jewellery on the corner. The men selling incense outside Iceland.. the music playing
Are there any new spots you would recommend? Were there any places you were sad to see gone?
I miss Woolworths. I miss the HMV. I miss a lot of the early markets that were there. I miss my old home.
Could you share with our readers how you got into music and songwriting in the first place?
I started making up my own songs at age 8-9 years old.. I started recording music at 10 years old, on Brixton Rd @ Denny’s studio.
How did you and Naughty Boy first link up?
I met Naughty Boy in 2012, I was introduced to him as they needed someone to cover Emeli Sande at a show. We started working together and I I did two records on his album. “Pardon Me” & “Get Lucky”.
What is something you would like to shed light on about songwriters who are behind the biggest hit songs?
Some of them are just not artists, and some are artists who are told to stay songwriters. I think deep down, you know where you fit either way.
How did you come around to make a decision to step out from behind the scenes and embark on your own artist journey?
I’ve always been an artist, I’ve always obsessively been in my own world and that looks like inconsistency to some.
Have you ever received any advice from the people on your list of collaborators such as Wretch 32, MNEK, Idris Elba and Stofmzy, about being an artist?
Idris Elba has given me loads of gems that I’ll cherish forever, he helped install another level of confidence I never knew I had. He was very sure of me and my talents and that reiterated what I already knew. MNEK- is my baby! But no.. he hasn’t taught me anything, we collaborated effortlessly together. Stormzy was new when I was working with him so it was more of me giving advice.
You also starred in Idris Elba’s first directorial movie, ‘Yardie.’ How was your experience wearing a hat of an actress?
I was so nervous .. every minute I was asking myself, “Tanika are you really going to act in front of Idris”, but he was so sure I was a natural born actress .. that I had to believe him because he would know. I trusted him and myself and I just did it!
Is acting something you would like to do more of?
I would love to, but I really wanna focus on putting out consistent music .. if an opportunity comes by I would love to cast, but I’d love to sing/write the soundtrack more than anything.
You and Kida Kudz met on a trip to LA. What do you think it was about your connection that you knew ‘this is it’?
1st look. I knew lol, he offered me a drink .. I then asked him what country was he from..from that day we never left one another alone.
How did your song ‘Fast Fwd’ come about and what is it inspired by?
I saw Naughty Boy at my friend’s funeral for her son. I hadn’t seen him in nearly 10 years. He asked me and Kida to come to the studio and we went the following week. He played us the beat and that was it.
‘Fast Fwd’ is produced by Naughty Boy. Could you tell us more about the serendipitous moment that led to you two being in a studio together?
Naughty Boy is a good friend to me, so if he says come to the studio that means he has magic to play you… & FOR YOU. It’s like he knows what you wanna hear, he knows what you need .. it’s weird to explain.
How does the creative process look like for planning a music video?
Sometimes it’s hard, but Fast Fwd was an easier vision for me. It was really meant to be. I sent across my references to the director and he sent back a treatment. I knew exactly how I wanted to look so I styled myself. I knew exactly how I wanted my hair to be and I knew I wanted to move a little which was something alien for me to do in front of a camera. I usually whine and have a dance off camera.
What is the main emotion you wanted to encapsulate in the music video for ‘Fast Fwd’?
Love & Confidence.
How was it being on set together?
It was magical. I’ve seen Kida in his element many times, but it was his first seeing me as Tanika the artist. Not your fiancé or mother of your kids, but the Artist. I loved it. I’ve been waiting for us to shoot something together as artists.
What is on your agenda for the rest of the year?
To share as much of myself as I possibly can for the rest of the year. New music for you.
Follow Tanika on Instagram
Words: Karolina Kramplova