Video starts with Hugh’s Room Live logo fade in. Logo is white text with red accent on Live.
Behind the logo an audio engineer fade audio on mixer while trumpet music is focused in the
background. Piano players hands fade out while Priya Sams face fades in and a trumpet player
and double bass player perform. Interview cut of Tanika Charles is wearing a green camouflage jacket and black hat sitting on a stool.
Guitar finalizes the montage with a cut of Priya wearing a paisley floral print dress in soft pastels she
begins her interview.
My name is Priya Sam and on behalf of the team at Hugh’s Room Live, we are so thrilled to present this series of interviews with musicians. We are also very grateful to the Canada Council for seeing the value in this project and for funding the series.
Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Juno -nominated singer and songwriter Tanika Charles. Thanks so much for being here, Tanika. Thank you. – I’m so happy to be here. – Thank you for having me. – Yeah, it’s great to have you.
I actually wanna go way back for this first question because you grew up in a really musical family. So when did you know that music might actually be a career for you? – That’s an interesting question because growing up,
I’ve really just enjoyed entertaining my family and maybe a couple of friends here and there. Music was the furthest thing from my mind. I thought maybe I’d be a comedian or like an actress or something.
It wasn’t until I moved to Vancouver many years ago, later, and somebody heard me singing and they were like,
“Why don’t you maybe try getting on stage and doing a little something with music?” And I thought it was the craziest thing. thing Met a friend and we formed a band called Xavier Zen in BC, and we actually Ended up having a small career out there Wow. Yeah, like I’m just trying to remember all of the Path to music, but that would be the clearest one Yeah, somebody heard me singing and then you started performing and then it kind of just one thing led to another exactly There was no no, I just enjoy singing, you know, and so to be able to kind of take that leap and do it full time is really kind of a blessing, but there’s so much more that even led up to that.
Okay, and I think we might get to hear some of that in this next question because you were a background vocalist in the popular reggae ska band that went Ham Clash. How did that happen? – Okay, are you ready? –
Yes, I’m ready. – So prior to making the big move to Vancouver, I was living in Edmonton and I was living on a farm. And it was just outside of Edmonton. And there was this TV show called, I think it was The Making Of or MTV Live, something of that sort. But it was a Canadian…
Canadian broadcast and better when was You know, they were the guest artists and I remember I was making dinner and We were living in a trailer at the time because we were building a house like a trailer life so I’m watching this show and I can’t look away The food is burning burning,
I am just obsessed with what Jay Malinowski has to say. And I already knew the song, hey, oh, no, no, no, right? But for some reason,
I was completely engaged with this episode. And I thought, man, I have to figure out how to play with these guys. It was just a fleeting thought. and it was it was you know dinner was burned and everything was a mess but I could not stop thinking about this band I would say maybe a month later a friend of mine gives me a call and she says they’re auditioning for backing vocalists for bettering sound clash and I was supposed to get married I packed my things and I left And I got the job. And I have like I have to tell that story because it was just like,
I don’t know, kismet. Is that the right word? I’m not sure. It was just like this thing that happened. And I ended up touring with them for two years. And it was quite an adventure.
That is unbelievable. I mean, that just it sounds like the plot of a movie. I know. you just shared. Yeah, wow, that’s incredible. What were those two years like? Because this is really your first foray into what it looks like to be a career artist on the road,
right? 100%, 100%. So it definitely, I do love singing backgrounds because the focus isn’t entirely on you, but to watch these guys and with thousands of people, everybody knows all the songs, everybody’s singing along, we’re all in this space just enjoying really good music.
It was the most fascinating thing for me. On top of you know touring and having to kind of sit on a bus with the same people for months at a time and just think you know.
know, communicating with people that you don’t know, but then you end up becoming friends with at the end of a tour. I think that might have triggered a little something.
I wasn’t sure it was going to be me doing a solo career, but it definitely kind of gave me a little bit of life to try singing on my own. Yeah, because I mean, I was going to ask that, you know. know you go from this background role to then you know your Your center stage. So yeah, did you so when you first like I guess that first opportunity Did you just think I’m gonna give this a try or did you already have a feeling you would love it?
I honestly feel like I was kind of pushed into that position There were a couple of moments where I was asked to do a solo on stage,
and you know, during touring, it’s like, “Tinny Kitaros, come on out,” and you sing your little bit and go back to your job. And I’d been doing that for quite a while,
and a few people would come out to the show, and they’re like, “Why don’t you try?” doing this on your own? During that time, I was also working on my very first EP.
And so when it was completed, actually, Jay kind of gave me an opportunity to open up for him at this venue called Black Betty, I think it was, closed down now.
And it was nerve -wracking because I was playing the track and it was just me on stage. And it was just me playing the track and it was just me on stage. and I believe that first experience was wonderful because I had a lot of friends in the audience so it wasn’t as scary it was terrifying but it also allowed me to kind of like take the next step yeah so once you got that first one out of the way then it was kind of easier after that it it’s never easier but it’s it’s you know less butterflies. Okay Yeah, that’s a good way of putting it. That’s a good way of putting it Let’s talk about the songwriting part of the equation because for soul run the album that really put you on the map You either wrote or co -wrote every single song on the album So did you always have an interest in songwriting as well as performing?
I’ve always loved songwriting for sure What I’m not not a fan of is writing alone. I find that, you know, the process of collaborating with others and speaking of, you know, lived experiences or shared experiences, the process of working together on a project I think is a lot easier for me. And I have friends that can probably express how I feel better than I can express how I feel. feel. So I’m a huge fan of co -writing. – That makes sense. And I mean, yeah, feeding off of each other’s energies. And then, you know, I mean, I think as an interviewer too,
I see sometimes something in someone else that they don’t see like you’re describing. So yeah, that makes sense. – For sure. – So did you find on that, in particular, I guess that for the Soul Run album,
is that where were you collaborating a lot before? that or was that the time when you kind of realized that you enjoyed that process? That’s exactly it. It was it I would I’d be given music and I’d sit and I’d try to write like I felt that perhaps maybe my writing was so basic.
I love you you love me happy family kind of business and I did not want to express myself in that way so So I have a really good friend who is a writer and he is like,
okay, let’s, we’re gonna sit down together and we’re gonna work on this. And it just felt easy and comfortable. So I normally work with people that I know and they won’t laugh at me when I’m trying to write a line that might sound weird to me.
And, you know, it’s like, like for just a little bit of support. – Yeah, definitely, yeah, I like that. Okay, I know it’s hard to play favorites with your own music, but is there a particular song that stands out to you because of the writing process that went into it?
– Yes, it is rare that I write my own song. – Tell me something. off of the gumption was really interesting, the way that happened. I was washing dishes, and I’d received a folder from Kevin Henkel, who was one of the producers that I work with, on everything. And I heard the music,
and the lyrics– I’m washing the plates, and the lyrics are just coming out. Easy, no problem. I stopped washing, I sat down with my manager. manager and just started writing this song.
It took an hour. You’re stringing me along I couldn’t believe it.
I was like something’s come through me. Jesus. Thank you. Here we go. You know, it was it was amazing and that happened with one other song called darkness in the dawn on Soul Run.
It’s just like a moment or I was just in the right place At the right time I guess yeah, oh, that’s really beautiful. Thanks – Thanks. – Since Soul Run,
you have released two more albums, The Gumption in 2019 and Papillon de Nuit in 2022. How would you say your music has evolved over the years? – This is an interesting question.
I suppose when I started writing, it was more me trying to kind of get ideas out of my head. Each album is a moment. Soul Run, I was listening to it.
to a lot of hip hop and I wanted to kind of incorporate this hip hop kind of Motown -esque sound. Just something new.
The gumption I was listening to a lot of Americana, a lot of Iraq, a little bit of country, some Turkish funk. It was just another moment. And same with Pepin,
I was kind of going back to like my favorite genre of music, like classic soul, R &B, excuse me. And I think with the first creation,
even with my EP, what, what, what, with the first creation, it was just trying to get these ideas out. And now I feel like I have a little bit more of an understanding of what I want to create and who I want to hear.
It actually doesn’t matter who hears it. I want people to be. to be relatable. Also, when I first started writing, I didn’t know who was gonna hear it.
I just wanted to put something out. I did not expect it to be picked up by a label in Italy, which absolutely,
you know, jumpstarted my career. So, I think that’s what I wanted to hear. it evolves in a sense that I now know kind of how to navigate each creation.
That makes sense and it sounds like there’s also maybe a different kind of confidence that that came with each album and knowing others believed in you and your music as well. Definitely.
I would would, I, it’s funny because I always have this thing where you know you’re proud of what you’ve done and so many people are proud of what you’ve created and then there’s that one person that says something that might not feel good and then you kind of dwell on that.
That is something that I’m also kind of like in terms of evolving not only for the music but for myself it’s just trying to react differently. differently to criticism and So I I suppose with each album.
Yeah, it’s a little bit of growth with myself That makes sense. Um, I have heard wonderful things about your performances at Hugh’s room So let’s talk about that Hugh’s room.
Yes. Tell tell me you got a big smile on your face I said it so Hugh’s room 30 30 That was my first performance back after like,
you know, the dark times. And it was a sold out show. And it was like the stage was set up beautifully. There was delicious food that was being served.
And it was just a room full of friends. And it is so wonderful to go on these massive tours and then come back home and be loved,
you know, like really, truly cheered on. It was such a great show, so much fun. That’s wonderful to hear. His room has got my back,
like I love it. Yeah, everyone we’ve spoken to for this series, they just get a look on their face when we talk about it. It’s certainly such a special venue. You mentioned Italy earlier and being picked up by a label there.
You toured across the US, Europe, Canada. How is it different when you get to perform in Canada in front of the hometown crowd? – I would have to say that it was Toronto that actually allowed me to kind of hone in on my skills.
It was like meeting amazing producers in Canada. singers and songwriters that were more than happy to kind of help me work on my craft. So it’s very special for me to come here or to perform here.
You know you’ve got a crowd full of people that you know so it’s like a lot easier to kind of navigate your behavior on stage. You could crack more jokes. People that know me understand you know and so it’s just that warm comfortable safe feeling of being on your home turf and singing to a bunch of friends.
Just simply allowed me to grow. Love that. So we’ve really taken this journey through your career. What are you most excited about when you think about this next phase? So first of all I’m really excited to go on this tour this year.
I’m heading the West Coast. A few shows here on the East Coast as well. well I am excited for the next album release can’t say much about that but I am excited about it and of course you know working on music all the time and just kind of enjoying this life yeah it’s been a journey for sure I mean and great to hear that you know you can go on tour again right especially a after the last few years.
So well, thank you so much. Love the teaser. I mean about what’s to come. So we’ll be following along for sure. So can’t wait for that. We wish you all the best on tour and thank you so much for being here Tanika.
An absolute pleasure. Thank you. It was great to have you. Thank you everyone. Please welcome to the stage Tanika Charles and the world ♪ You might think by now my heart would be heartache ♪ ♪ Oh,
don’t let you be shuffling ♪ ♪ So don’t doubt you, baby ♪ ♪ Can I show you, let me show you ♪ ♪ Now that you remember them things ♪ I told ya ♪ ♪ Told ya ♪ ♪ Because I can’t forget ♪ ♪ Baby,
no matter what, I’m getting over you ♪ ♪ I’m with you now ♪ ♪ Baby,
I’m just a love who ♪ ♪ ♪ Now could it be you fell and bumped your head, child? ♪ ♪ Well, I drunk the night,
turned right, not left out ♪ ♪ Did you lose your foot in find her bed now? ♪ ♪ Boy, tell me, can you tell me? ♪ ♪ ‘Cause I’m sinking beneath this wave ♪ ♪ You can’t save me ♪ ♪ Jump back and forth ♪ and take me or I’m shaking Baby,
no matter what I do, there ain’t no getting over you I’m with you now, baby I’m just a love fool When you left to hurt me in my heart,
it worried if a love doesn’t hurry I can’t, I can’t, I can’t take this ♪ ♪ Don’t you know by now, boy, if you say, “Stay” ♪ ♪ I won’t go, you say, “Yes” ♪ ♪ Won’t say no,
just let me know ♪ ♪ Can you feel me, boy, ’cause I’m reaching out ♪ ♪ Ooh, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ And I just need your touch right now ♪ ♪ And so much more,
yeah ♪ ♪ Love, ooh, love, ooh ♪ ♪ Don’t you know by now, boy, if you say, “Stay” ♪ Ooh ♪ I’m gonna buy a bigger – Is this light? ♪ Silly Little Love Ooh ♪ Gonna buy a bigger – Is this light?
♪ Got money to buy soda ♪ Yeah ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ We’ve got a situation ♪ things ain’t looking so good you’ve been putting me down and getting real things are getting ugly think you have me baby misunderstood ♪ Just wanna love you but can’t you see ♪ ♪ Fuss and fight but you know that your heart belongs to me ♪ ♪ Now you hear me oh yes I ♪ ♪ You say I’m a liar I’m lazy crazy ♪ ♪ Don’t have a sense of reason ♪ ♪
I don’t have a sense of reason ♪ you Say that I’m selfish at all So I’m willing so far now But you know that it comes down to just one thing That your love is good And you’re young want to love you but can’t you see yeah we might fuck cuz I am a Said I need you baby In my body else No more,
and you know I need you And you need me too too ♪ ♪ Said I need you ♪ ♪ I need you ♪ ♪ Said I need you baby ♪ ♪ In my life ♪ just wanna love you,
boy Oh, baby, can’t you see? Yeah Might fuss and fight, but you know that You’re hard, you’re hard Hey,
ooh Thank you so much for tuning in to this Hugh’s room live green room session.
We will have 10 interviews in total in this series, so stay tuned for the next one.
