Tagging him an overnight success would be a bit of a stretch, but things have certainly accelerated at breakneck speed for Tonade Oladapo Adetunji since he embarked on a professional music career in 2019. How many people can brag about going from an Instagram cover sensation to 41,956 monthly listeners on Spotify and an accumulated number of streams comfortably running into early millions, all within a space of 3 years? Oladapo certainly can, and if the pace of his growth continues at even half the current pace, he would have a whole lot more to beat his chest about in another 3 years.
One can attribute Oladapo’s success to a number of factors but his immense skills as a vocalist and songwriter have to come first on such a list. Right under that will come his understanding of music, which is considered above the experience level one would expect from a 22-year-old. “Alone”, the lead single off his debut EP is a song where the aforementioned qualities are best exhibited. On the back of a P.Priime Afrofusion special, he is able to create a track that simultaneously puts listeners in contrasting mental spaces in just under 3 minutes of its run time. If you listen to it lightheartedly, “Alone” is Oladapo’s invitation to you to dance and be merry. On a closer listen that focuses more on the lyrics, the perspective changes and you are likely to find yourself getting into your feelings, yearning and wanting to love and be loved. To do that, to strike that balance, takes careful skill that cannot be taught. And that perhaps explains why he made the shortlist of EmPawa be Africa’s inaugural class in 2019, why Complex magazine listed him as one of 10 artistes to watch in 2020, and why Sony Music did not hesitate to sign him up in 2021 despite his scanty discography.
His debut EP is titled “Blind” composed of 5 tracks that showcase his brilliance in different ways. Using English, Yoruba, and Pidgin to vocalise his thoughts, he is able to create a smooth blend of many styles and sounds. He has previously cited the legend that is Lagbaja as being one of his biggest influences and the contagious energy present in his songs certainly makes that ring true. There are more contemporary influences to be heard in his music but what matters most is that he retains his identity and uniqueness in the midst of it all.
There’s a natural fear that consumes the mind upon seeing a young artiste hit the ground running as fast as Oladapo has. You wonder if they can justify the hype and handle the pressure that comes with such a quick start on subsequent releases. As normal a feeling as that is, you feel it less so with this particular artiste. There can be no doubts whatsoever about his skill level, and with the backing of a label as big as Sony Music, he will not be in short supply of resources with which continue making outstanding music. It feels very safe to say we are witnessing the early days of a star that will shine bright and last long. So stream “Blind”, but see for yourself why Oladapo is here to stay.
