Del Osei-Owusu sits down with artists on the FOTN radar and gets them to tell their origin story over a cup of tea and biscuits, today it’s the turn of EyiTemi and she brought rich tea biscuits.

Congratulations on the release of “Fighter how does it feel?

Thank you! It feels fantastic but surreal. It happened so fast between when I wrote it, when I approached producer and when it was released. The quickest time frame so far for me.

It’s a song of resilience and standing against adversity what’s the story behind the song?

I had a traumatic childhood which has taken me stages to acknowledge and start healing from. However, because it had taken stages, I had never truly realised the gravity of it. That realization ultimately led me to writing this. It is truly understanding what I fought to be the version of myself that I am today. I feel unbelievably grateful, blessed and protected by God

What was your favourite part of recording it?

Being in the studio with Femi Temowo, the producer. Hearing the music come alive the way I heard it in my head…and more! Femi is an incredible artist and producer so watching him weave his magic around the track was inspiring!

You’re an artist from London how did it begin for you?

I have sung most of life in the church (including as a worship leader) but never really had aspirations of being a singer songwriter. It just wasn’t what I thought I had in my musical toolkit BUT lockdown changed all that for me. With nothing to do …or lose, I just suddenly started writing. I am still puzzled how quickly the music flowed out of me. It was actually overwhelming at first, almost as if it had been waiting all this time to be allowed to come out!

What did you listen to growing up?

I listened to all types of music. Afro beat (I am Nigerian after all!) and Soul predominantly. My mum introduced me to big band, and I became obsessed with it too.

You started out singing in church, what’s your favourite gospel song that gets your hands lifted – or better yet doing a praise break?

I have just recently gotten back to listening to gospel artist Fred Hammond and my goodness, his album Pages of Life – Chapters I & II is on repeat. Too many tracks to name but special mention goes to Your Steps Are Ordered and You Called Me Friend.

What are three lessons you’ve learned from singing in church?

1) Being a vessel. It is not about me. Though my music is not gospel, I still believe I have a purpose through my music and what I would like it to achieve. That is more important in many ways, than me.

2)Heart and authenticity. Important to lead with love, heart and be authentic. Come as you are.

3)What I have matters. We all bring different gifts to the table and have our place. This is a difficult one to bring as a lesson outside of church because ‘there are always better singers, writers…etc’ I am learning to sit in my gift/talent, understanding only I can do what I can do. We are all different and that’s what makes it all beautiful

You started writing songs in 2020, and released your first single in 2021. Has your process changed since then?

Not really. Only because I haven’t really thought much about ‘a process’. My life is so incredibly busy that I do not have writing sessions or intentionally sit down to write! When I write, it just happens. I have soo many half written songs!!! Actually, one change is I am more confident in my ability and so at the beginning meant I didn’t trust my intuition on where a song wanted to go. Imposter syndrome and all. Not as much now. I sit with the idea and follow it to conclusion

How does a typical writing process begin for you?

I don’t have one per se…a process. My songs come to me in many ways. 2 of the ways: (1) In a dream. In the dream I am singing a song, and I know instantly in the dream that it is a new song. I then try to wake up and find my phone to record as much as I can remember – usually I end remembering just a line. And that forms the core of the song which I later flesh out (2) When I feel strong emotions, usually sadness of some form, I pick up my notebook and try to articulate what I am feeling and then go to my piano to experiment with chords. If the song makes me cry, I am likely to start and finish it very quickly.

What are you listening to at the moment?

A mixture. I am still heavily in the Fred Hammond phase…everything else is as and when. A staple of mine though in all seasons is Miles Davies’s A Kind of Blue

What are you looking forward to doing in the next 12 months?

I would like to record a new album in the new year and do a successful UK tour…and why not! I am also looking to work with a choreographer (I adore dance) who will turn my music to a dance show – big dreams, this one!