WORDS EMILIE LOUIZIDES - PHOTOGRAPHY CHARLIE MORTON
If you're a true music lover, chances are you've been in the midst of Seye Adelekan, the Nigerian-born, South-East London-raised multi-instrumentalist. Currently serving as the longtime bass player for Gorillaz, Seye is primed to return to a solo career for the first time since 2012. With a musical CV that many could only dream of, comprised of playing on various Damon Albarn projects, as well as with The Very Best, Paloma Faith, The Noisettes, and KT Tunstall, Seye is well seasoned and ready to pursue his own project in earnest. ‘A River’, the first single and title track from Seye's forthcoming EP was written in Iceland overlooking the ocean on a dark morning. Seye says, "It speaks of the need to help someone, to dive into them, but with the uncertainty of whether you can swim in there or not. Should you try and fix someone when you’re broken yourself? Sometimes you just need to be there for them." Seye recognises this in his own healing journey.
As part of F Word's day in the life series, Seye shares some of his innermost thoughts and provides a glimpse at a writing day in the studio, captured by his collaborator, Charlie Morton.
F Word: If you had to assign a temperature, a colour and a taste to your new single, what would they be?
Seye Adelekan: The temperature of 'A River' would be of refreshing water on a warm day. Whatever that is. Kind of cold lol. Colour would be of rust. And it tastes like tomatoes and basil, good salt and pepper.
FW: What was the biggest change you made to 'A River' during the writing process?
SA: The drum sounds took forever, even currently the drums go through an evolution in sounds, there are sort of three phases during the journey of this song. Hopefully you can hear all the detail in there when you listen.
FW: What are you hoping people will take from this song?
SA: The song has an A - B sort of structure, and the last line of the B section says “…may be gone but it’s not the end”. I’d like hope to be what you’re left with.
FW: What genre could you see yourself experimenting with for a future project?
SA: For sure something heavy and melodic a la Deftones or like, '80s bands like The Cure, The Cult, The Blue Nile and Soda Stereo. I think that will happen one day.
FW: If you had to choose one component for a great song/EP/album, what would it be?
SA: An idea is best preserved the shorter distance it is between it coming out of you and being captured. I think whatever the record, as long as you have the capability to capture the moment as quickly as possible then you’re in good shape. Like my advice to anyone out there writing, always be recording.
FW: Out of all the artists featured on F Word, who would you most like to collaborate with?
SA: Arlo Parks or VC Pines… or both! I think we could do something cool.
FW: Go-to lunch on a studio/writing day?
SA: Me and my writing/production partner Charlie Morton have been having a wings moment of late.
FW: Fuck, marry, kill: album, EP, single?
SA: Fuck: The EP, it's a more modern day love affair. Marry: Single, they are your ride or die, I think you will always be releasing singles. Kill: Album, a very classical, traditional relationship that I think the world is moving on from for the large part. I still love Albums and will release them probably but [I] think this format isn’t what it used to be.
FW: If you had to choose a new career completely outside of anything having to do with music, what would it be?
SA: Chef… with a travel show.
FW: What’s bringing the most joy to your days lately?
SA: Kaz, my partner.
FW: What’s motivating you the most lately?
SA: It may sound bad, but the fear of letting another year go by without releasing my own music. I’ve been a behind the scenes guy, band member, accomplice for so long, which is great and I’m grateful to all that has afforded me but I have a voice and ideas and music. I need to express and now is the time to start doing that again.
FW: What advice do you have for yourself for tomorrow?
SA: Yesterday wasn’t as bad as you remember. Move on.
FW: The world would be better without...?
SA: The drills at nail salons.
FW: The world would be worse without...?
SA: Nail Salons.
FW: Do you believe in manifestation?
SA: Not in the “just think it and it’s yours and if it doesn’t happen then it’s cus you didn’t believe enough” way, that reminds me too much of religious manipulation. You do have to believe in yourself and what you want, but I think it’s more than just being an antenna for the universe, you yourself have to wiggle the antenna and move it to the best place to get the signal!
FW: What is your favourite F- word?
SA: Flavour
Seye Adelekan's latest single 'A River’ is out now and available to stream on all platforms.
