FALANA
A woman of her own word, literally; Falana is a Nigerian-Canadian music artist who expresses herself through her use of words and sound.
With influences from Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse and Duke Ellington, she has a unique fusion of Afro-beats, Jazz and R&B.
​
​
While Falana is pursuing, and building on her musical platform, she has also been recognised by Vogue online for her infamous hair style and fashion choices.
​
AFÉ has a quick Q&A session where she gives us a little more information on her personality and interests.
Who is Falana? Talk to us about what she is about?
​
Falana is a Nigerian-Canadian singer, producer and musician who lives to be on stage and is definitely not afraid to be in a musical lane of her own.
Why music?
​
That answer for me is quite simple: Music is my most natural form of expression, I have always been a singer and songwriter, and I have always been an artist. We don’t choose our gifts; we just choose whether or not (and how much) to indulge them.
INTERLUDE
Your EP ‘Things Fall Together’ was as a result of travelling and exploring Havana, Cuba. Talk to us about your inspiration(s) behind this EP and key moments in Cuba.
​
I went to Havana to study music for a year, and ended up recording the EP. Creating that project was such an evolutionary experience for me. I was still very young and wasn’t quite sure the kind of artist I wanted to be. I never felt like that project represented my true sound, but it’s part of the journey and the story. So, you have to embrace it. So, I guess the project is just a time stamp of where I was at the point in my life.
You are not all music. Most people identify you by your bubble braids. Talk to us about your hair.
​
My hair, no rules, except, do whatever makes you feel like YOU, and love every quality that God has given you. This is where the experimenting spirit began for me. I am not afraid or concerned with what others are doing, or think. I dare to be bold and I dare to be myself.
As described, your music is a fusion of Afro-beats, R&B, Soul and Jazz, these are respectively different genres.
My music will always be a blend of my imagination and all the sounds, and experiences (both musical and personal) that I’ve have had in my life. I grew up listening to King Sunny Ade, Yinka Ayefele, and Fela Kuti (my parents were fans) and the Lijadu Sisters. But I listened to a lot of Soul sounds growing up, both vintage and contemporary (Etta James, Duke Ellington, Lauryn Hill, Sade, Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse). I also love jazz and absolutely adore playing around with percussion and rhythm. All these influences just come out when I am writing. I am currently finishing my album set to be released this year, and it has been amazing hearing things fall together in the studio.