HEART AND SOUL
Musician Tanika Charles gets personal
For her latest album, Soul Run, Edmonton-raised artist Tanika Charles not only bares her, well, Canuck soul, but her infectious energy, which she’ll be sharing all across Canada on tour this month.
Soul Run is heavy with heartbreak and heat, from a woman who has been wronged and has a lot to say about it, from the streets of Toronto to those of Vancouver. Charles recently sat down to talk about the man she ran from, what inspired her to go solo, and the pop star she’s ashamed to admit she loves.
Q What is a “soul run?”
A A release, an escape, but in the best way, from a situation that isn’t the best for you. It’s learning who you are, allowing your soul to grow for a positive life.
Q Toronto has been a big part of your history in music in the last few years. How much of an impact does it have on the album?
A This album is from Vancouver to Edmonton to Toronto and chronicles experiences I had from each province. There was something that happened in each city that affected me enough to write. Toronto is interesting, because I love being here, but I love leaving it and missing it.
Q Is it a conscious effort for you to tell a personal story through your music?
A Absolutely. Heavy on the album feels heavy, and that emotion comes out and I can remember exactly how I felt at that moment and start to write. It’s a feeling and from there I write.
Sometimes I’ll perform songs and it’ll be fine, other times, I’ll cry and get super emotional. Those feelings will be there forever, but when it affects me, I can’t determine why and I find that strange. It makes it feel like I’m still hurting, and I don’t want to be, I’m in a good place, I’m happy, but there’s still s--- there.
Q You wrote this album after a particularly bad breakup. What happened?
A I was engaged and living on a farm just outside Edmonton. It wasn’t the best relationship, not that it was physically abusive, it was mentally abusive — not that that isn’t just as hurtful.
So I decided to leave in the middle of the night one night. I stole a truck, but I couldn’t drive stick so I didn’t get very far. And it was my ex-fiancé’s, so I had to call my brother to pick me up, like, ‘I’m trying to leave, but I can’t drive!’ I got to the end of the driveway.
While it was an escape, it was still traumatic because I had to readjust my life. My parents lived in Edmonton, so it was like going back home. It was a lot to unpack.
Q Do you feel like there’s a song that not only hits home for you, but your audience often feels a major connection to as well?
A There’s a song on my old album called Think of You, that song in itself is about abuse. It feels good, which is weird to say, but it feels like they understand and they’ve been there, they get it.
Q Which song did you perform that made you feel like performing is something you wanted to do on your own?
A It was when I was singing backup for Bedouin Soundclash, and their song 12:59 Lullaby. Singing that, feeling it, feeling my back-ups, opening my eyes and realizing I took it too far and needed to step back. It helped me realize I wanted to try this on my own.
Q You’ve played backup for a few artists, but who would be a dream collaborator for you as an individual artist, now?
A Tame Impala, who I just discovered and love. Frank Ocean, Daniel Caesar, Little Dragon, Anthony Hamilton, Jill Scott. Even if Jill could give me singing lessons, I would be so down. I love Radiohead, Bjork. I don’t know if Bjork and I would pair well, but it would be interesting.
Q Who are you listening to right now?
A Tame Impala, Dvsn, Majid Jordan, I love Rihanna. I like Beyoncé, but I love Rihanna. Her new album is fabulous. I know everyone is talking about Lemonade, and that’s great, but ANTI. Come on.
Q Do you have any artists you would be ashamed to admit you love?
A (whispers) Justin Bieber. His new album, Purpose, is great. I won’t go around telling anyone, though. And Ariana Grande, she can sing. Fire.