Nigerian French-Canadian singer, Michelle TÖME Akanbi is a multi-talented Award Winning entertainer based in Toronto. TÖME talks about her new songs, supporting Burna Boy, and carrying her father’s wisdom with her everywhere she goes.
During an interview with NowToronto, she chats about all things music, her culture and what she learned from father.
TÖME says that she began writing lyrics to beats she had in her head when she was just eight years old, which is how she got her start in music. Although she acknowledges poetry as a starting point, she says she was actually writing songs.
The musician adds that putting her songs on Soundcloud would eventually lead to new opportunities and help her break into the music business.
According to TÖME “I had the ability to grow and understand that I love being alternative but I really love rhythm. And that’s where I started to dabble with Afro-fusion ad Afro-R&B,” she said.
She released an EP titled PRELUDE lately, after releasing an LP only a year prior. Saying that she is busy and booked would be a huge understatement.
“I’m grateful to be able to share music, I think it’s taken for granted a lot for the amount of work that goes behind it, especially if you want to put out quality [music],” she said.
“I’m always working on music. I love the fact that I’m able to continue to do that.”
“Belong” is one of TÖME’s favourite tracks on the album because it revolves on her father and her world. She said “My father passed away earlier this year. He’s always been a part of my professional career since 2019 and he was side by side with me and became my friend,”
‘It was very important to me that I bring him along with me. He was a man of wisdom and he always shared that and that song is about not understanding yourself and feeling lost and not knowing where you belong. What he says at the end is to remind you to be grateful for something everyday and you will find your way.”
With so many facets to her identity, TÖME says that her French language skills and Nigerian heritage have greatly influenced her music, and she would be a disservice to herself if she didn’t utilise them.
“French lyrics and melodies sound so beautiful on certain records. And being Nigerian is something I’m so prideful and proud of being and I love that I’m able to blend them all because it allows me to be more authentic.”
While on tour alongside some of the finest Afro-beats singers of our day, including as Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Mr. Eazi, she has had remarkable success because she has remained true to herself and her culture. “Touring with them was an absolute blessing because it was in my first year professionally as an artist and I’m fully aware that that does not happen everyday.”
She claims that it provided her with stage experience and a preview of what it’s like to sing in front of thousands of people—and given her current trajectory, that may happen sooner rather than later.
Connect with TÖME’s website HERE to remain up to date.
