Pop, R&B, Soul, however you choose to define it, this Toronto based artist and his youthful renditions of classic pop melodies and transient synths are a subtle demarcation of shift in R&B.

After a brief hiatus following the release of his two previous EP’s, “Die For You” and “Remember When,” musician, creator, Tafari Anthony unveiled his new single “Centerfold.” “Centerfold” is a cathartic release that easily channels post break-up emotions. It's a poetic detailing of the frustrations that comes with unfulfilling relationships.

Tafari’s music has been nominated for a Toronto Independent Music Award, with one of his singles being named one of CBC's Most Influential Songs of 2016.

He’s also been hard at work for a charity called Autism Canada. In addition, Tafari helps perform for events supporting music and songwriting education for children. He recently performed for a nonprofit called Rainbow Railroad which supports getting refugee status for LGBTQI people in places where being LGBTQI is still harmful. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about Tafari Anthony.

Where are you based?
I’m based in Toronto, Canada

How did you get interested in creating music?
Both my parents were in music as I was growing up. So, it was always around and encouraged. Eventually I realized I was good at it, so they pushed me in that direction.

I often say, I feel like it wasn’t until I left home for college and stopped doing music for a few years that I found the love of it for myself. Without anyone pushing me to do it, I was missing singing and writing.

Your music really seems to embrace your personality. What are your favorite topics to write about?
I tend to gravitate towards topics of love and relationships, life’s hardships, and finding ourselves in a world that often wants us to blend in.

Jejune loves your new single “Centerfold”. I think we have all had that ex. Can you tell us the story behind this song?
Absolutely! Not that I set out to write “a relatable song”, but the song seems to be very relatable. I’ve been trying to be more open and honest in my writing lately, and not shy away from saying exactly what I feel in fear of how it will be received.

This was a situation that was so great very quickly, but just as quickly as it started it crumbled. Everyone knows by now that communication is the key to any successful relationship – whether it be a lover, friend, family member, whatever. Sure enough, the downfall of this was the lack of communication. He couldn’t express to me what was going on with him / us, and therefore took to social media (and directed me to it) to decode the problem. From there, the whole thing just went south… and now here we are.

We love the music video for “My Favourite Records”. It is unabashedly sexy and open. It is refreshing to see non-hetero love in a music video. Can you tell us a little bit about this song and what inspired the music video?
Thank you! Contrary to “Centerfold”, this is about a relationship that thrived and had very open communication. The general idea behind the song is this desire to tell someone that you love them, but maybe holding back on the actual words as to not cause confusion in the relationship, or the circumstances don’t allow it. So instead, you find other ways to express that without saying the words. In this instance, I left him some records that we had either discovered together or reflected our time together.

With the video, I really stepped out of my comfort zone in its obvious sexiness. But, I had to do that to really be authentic to the story. There’s a constant push and pull throughout the video keeping us from getting too close which I wanted to utilize to depict how it kind of felt at the time. It was a lot of just enjoying our time together in private and not really brining it out in the open, and we were happy to have it that way. Our little oasis.

Can you talk to us about your work with Autism Canada, and how you got involved with them?
I started working with the company in 2010 as a graphic designer. I had just graduated from design school, so I was eager to try my hand at being a part of that world. Through being with the company, going on ten years now, I’ve learned a lot about autism and the challenges people on the spectrum face daily. I think it has given me a lot of empathy through some of my most formative years.

You recently performed for Rainbow Railroad, a nonprofit that exists to help (LGBTQI) people escape persecution and violence. Can you tell us a little bit about this experience and why it was important to you?
This was such a humbling and moving experience for me. Often times, the kind of work I get booked to do can be un-fulfilling in its causes. Though of course I’m grateful for it, it was nice to be performing for a cause like Rainbow Railroad. We were there to help lift spirits and provide hope and joy thorough music. The energy in the room, I have still yet to feel from anything else. It was a special moment, and nice to feel like I was giving back to my community in the best way I know how, through music.

You are also very involved with groups that help bring music to children, like Beat for Beat which raises funds for musiCounts and YES Theatre. Why are these particularly important to you? Did you have something like this when you were younger?
Growing up, there were very few things like this (as far as I knew) designed to help young artists thrive and be educated on the business and music. In high school, there was a songwriter’s program called S.A.S.S. which I was a part of, and it was great in helping me learn my craft and be around likeminded people of similar age.

I definitely realize the value in programs like that and MusiCounts, so I’m happy to support those initiatives when I can.

YES Theatre is a great company I joined in my early 20s. It was a company fully run by youth from every aspect of it. It was so inspiring to see young people come together to put on a full production that rivaled anything that was happening in the city at the time. I learned so much about myself and acting / the world of theatre from being involved with them.

Music has been shown to be very important for learning development in kids. How do you feel music has helped you?
Music was always a place for me to be the most open. Especially growing up as a teen and closeted in a pretty homophobic household, it was my only outlet to get my emotions out. I kept very much to myself, probably as a defense mechanism of anyone finding out “my secret”, so writing and creating music gave me the outlet I needed to express myself and an excuse for not having a girlfriend lol.

Are you working on any new creative projects? What's in store for 2020?
I’ve got a few things in the works! But of course, with the current state we are in, I’m not sure where 2020 will take us. But I’m thinking of how to go fully digital for the time being to keep things moving! As musicians we have to constantly adapt to an ever changing industry, so I see this as being the same.

Do you have any shows coming up?
I had a few exciting things booked, but all touring has been cancelled or postponed for the foreseeable future due to the pandemic we are all facing right now.

What is your motto in life?
Live your truth. We have one life to live so you may as well be as authentic as you can, and of course your truth can change from moment to moment and there’s no shame in that.

To learn more about Tafari Anthony please follow him via the following platforms:
TafariAnthony.com
Instagram: @TafariAnthony
Twitter: @TafariAnthony
Facebook: @TafariAnthony

Preserving the arts with Tafari Anthony