What brings a self-described reserved, laid-back young man the most happiness? For T Solo, the answer lies in creating music.
Born in 1999, he grew up on Music Africa after school and Michael Jackson CDs at home, and never planned on making music for a living. But once the singer in him emerged, he couldn’t leave it behind. With his newfound passion, he built toward THAT ‘99 KID, a five-track project that blends R&B with Afrobeats and tries to bring back the soul, substance and storytelling he felt music had lost. Made with his producer and friend Dsho, it opens with “Fefe Ne Fe (Twice Fine),” which samples a Tony Tetuila classic, and is held together by the focus track “Good Girls.”
Here, T Solo talks about a first performance he’d rather forget, a failed relationship that became a song, and why there’s no peace of mind for an upcoming artist.
Let’s start simple: who is T Solo, and how did you end up making music?
I’d describe myself as reserved, cool, and someone who genuinely loves making music. I’m pretty laid back; I enjoy my own space a lot, and at the end of the day, I just love creating. That’s literally who I am.
Okay, so the second part is quite interesting, because I never thought I’d end up making music professionally. I attended boarding school, and I think that just has a way of bringing out talents in you. I started singing when I was in college, and let’s just say I couldn’t leave it behind when I left school. I later realised it was a huge part of me, and so I continued. I had to learn a lot about the process over the years, and now here we are.
You were born in 1999, so you were a kid in the early 2000s. What’s your earliest memory of music from that time?
Wow, I actually loved watching music videos on TV channels. I remember as a kid coming back from school and tuning in to music TV stations, especially one that aired continuously (Music Africa). I always loved watching that, and my parents would always play a Michael Jackson song every now and then. Got familiar with the CDs and everything.
Take me back to the first time you performed for people. What do you remember about it?
If I’m being honest, it was actually embarrassing. It’s hard to forget that day. So yeah, it was a Hall Week event, and I begged to get on stage. It was not even a stage, lol. It was a cooking competition, but I had a few people watching. To be honest, I just wanted to do my thing for the first time. The song wasn’t all that great, but I tried my best, and when I was done with the performance, I noticed people were overly encouraging me, and that made me feel bad because it just confirmed how terrible it went. But well, I definitely did better the next time 😂.
Who believed in you early, before there was anything to show for it?
My mum. She literally paid for my first studio session, beat and everything. She’s my biggest investor. She just wants to see me win, and I can’t wait to make her proud big time. Shoutout to my mum for real.
Which R&B artists or records from that era shaped you, and what did you take from them?
Well, recently I sampled a song, “Fefe Ne Fe” by Tony Tetuila. I’ll start there first. It’s not an R&B record, but I really love that one. Also, I listened to a mix of Nigerian and foreign music. I love Styl-Plus, Paul Play Dairo, Michael Jackson, 2Face, Nelly, Akon, Mario, Ja Rule. The list is very long, but yeah, these are artists I respect a lot.
THAT ‘99 KID is a love letter to growing up in that era. When did you realise that was the story you wanted to tell?
Okay, so I’ve always loved listening to classics. Over time, I just felt like we lost an element they had in that time: the soul, the substance and the storytelling. There’s just a way the music back then made you feel, how it became a huge part of your world. I wanted to bring that back and make it mine, so of course I tried. I told my producer how I was feeling and how I wanted to do records like that, but still retain a modern feel to it. It was quite challenging, but shoutout to my producer, my brother, my friend Dsho, for helping out with the process. We made this project together, and this is a true part of myself I’m putting out. It’s authentic to me, and I’m proud of myself for doing this.
You’re blending R&B with Afrobeats at a time when Afrobeats dominates. Was it risky to go against the grain, or did it feel natural?
At the time I made this project, I really was exhausted and bored of making stuff that sounded familiar to me. I needed to feel something new and exciting. So, yes, of course it was risky, but I just felt it was the right thing for me to do, so I went on with it.
The project talks about teenage butterflies and late-night crushes. Are these your own stories, and is there one memory that made it onto the record?
The one song that felt personal to me was “LTR to My Ex” featuring Fimi. I literally was going through stuff in a failed relationship at the time, so it just came naturally, and I wrote that. Every time I listen to the record, it still reminds me how funny the whole experience played out.
“Fefe Ne Fe (Twice Fine)” was the first taste of the project. Why did you choose it to open the story, and what does the title mean to you?
Okay, so initially I was done with the project already and “Fefe Ne Fe” was the last song that was added to it. Honestly, I just felt “Fefe Ne Fe” had to be the introduction to the project, ‘cos it gave a feeling to what people were already familiar with, and I needed people to listen to the music and get it. As for the title, “Twice Fine,” it’s just a song that appreciates the beauty of women.
You mentioned that the project has already earned co-signs. What was that moment like, and who was the first person who reached out?
A lot of people reached out, but I had a few ‘wow’ moments in my head when I realised people like these guys were paying attention to my music. Shoutout to Bizzle Osikoya and DJ Neptune; they engaged with some of my content and reposted. That’s massive for me, and I really respect and appreciate them for putting the boy on.
“Good Girls” is the focus track. What’s the story behind it, and why did it feel like the one to lead with?
To be honest, there’s really no story behind the song. It was really experimental. I remember making the song and not even liking it enough. Someone else came by the studio while we were trying to finish up the song, and the person was vibing like crazy and so happy. That made me realise there was more to the song than I imagined at first. I finished the record, played it for a few friends, and got the same reaction; so I just knew it was the song. “Good Girls” basically holds the project together and defines what THAT ‘99 KID is all about.
What’s the hardest part of being an upcoming artist right now that people on the outside don’t see?
Being sane, to be honest. It’s actually a lot of work, but the love for the craft just keeps you going. The realest stuff I can say is I’m not sure there’s really any upcoming artist that’s not anxious about putting out music or content. Sometimes, it’s really disappointing; sometimes it’s really exciting. But the fact is, there’s really no peace of mind if you’re upcoming. You just have to keep pushing and hope it gets better, and that’s the process.
What’s something people get wrong about you when they first meet you?
I actually can’t tell what that is exactly. But most times it’s just the surprised look I get whenever someone finds out I don’t smoke or drink.
When you’re not making music, where can we find you? What do you do to switch off?
I love football; I watch football a lot. I’m always active on Premier League weekends and Champions League nights. I actually support Manchester United, and yeah, video games. I also love watching series.
The project is tight, at 5 tracks. How did you decide what made the cut, and what do you want someone to feel by the last song?
Fun fact is, I didn’t actually have to pick songs out. I made five songs, and that naturally became the project. It just came together that way.
As for how I want people to feel by the last track, I’d say drawn in and captivated. I want every listener to feel like they’ve been on a journey, like they’ve experienced something from start to finish. Not just listened to a bunch of songs, but actually connected with a body of work.
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