TANIKA INTERVIEW: As the creative architect behind many of the UK’s most loved songs – from Sam Smith, Ella Eyre, Wretch 32, Idris Elba and more, Tanika is now stepping back out on her own terms. Get familiar…
What five words define your sound?
Nostalgic, soulful, confident, resilient and emotive.
Tell me something unique about your creative process.
I get into this trance/daydream flow when I write, the room could be filled up with noise and people, in that moment I don’t hear or see anything but the song being created.
Which song of yours would you like people to hear first?
It would be ‘333’
What inspired you to make that song?
I felt a sense of pure, honest love. I’ve never been in that state since, but it was my first ever love song that I was honest with myself and how I truly felt.
What’s the most vulnerable you’ve allowed yourself to be when writing/making music?
I was definitely most vulnerable when making my last EP ‘333’. We weren’t in a good space in the relationship plus dealing with postpartum. Even though it was painful, listening back to some of the songs, I can’t believe how vulnerable I was.
What’s the best/worst experience you’ve had on stage?
When I toured with Naughty Boy we had one too many drinks before I went on stage and he played the wrong song. The best would be when I toured with Keyshia Cole in Manchester and the crowd was yelling my name, I couldn’t believe it.
What is your favourite song to perform?
My favourite song to perform… I don’t think I’ve had that chance as yet.
Which artist/song/album made you want to make music?
Mary J. Blige’s ‘My Life’ album and Destiny’s Child’s ‘Writings on the Wall’.
What’s the meaning behind your name?
Tanika is a name deriving from a Hindi origin. It holds the significant meaning of “rope,” attributes of strength, versatility and reliability. I’m not sure if my mum just liked the sound of it or actually did her research on the name.
If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead?
Mentoring kids who seem to be deemed as “misfits” or hard to work with.
What’s success to you?
Being alive is success to me. To live to see another day, healthy and at peace mentally. I never used to see life this way but a lot has changed.
What moment in your life/career forced you to change direction?
When I wrote a soundtrack for ‘Luther; by Idris Elba, it sounds crazy but I finally believed in myself as a writer. Prior to that I didn’t feel much confidence as a writer or artist because I had been dropped.
Where can people keep in touch with you?
I’m on TikTok now [laughs] – IamTanika
and my Instagram – @TanikkaBailey
and all music streaming platforms.
