Finally, a song/video for all shoe lovers, a true confession from an addict -Shoeholic! Tinu unleashes her sophomore album “Addicted”. In true Tinu fashion, she’s getting the word out with an outrageous and over-the-top music video that she describes as a very high-fashion Sex and The City meets Confessions of a Shopaholic.
The video doesn’t have a leading man but it stars leading designer shoes from Christian Louboutin, Louis Vuitton, Gianmarco Lorenzi, Guiseppe Zanotti, Jimmy Choo, Miu Miu, Roberto Cavalli and “Tinu Shoebag” -her very own shoe shaped handbag designs. The video directed by Kalechi Noel features Tinu living it up in an assortment of outfits and designer shoes literally from her closet — from elegant Parisian haute couture to 1960s-style bell-bottoms complete with an afro.
The album is now available on iTunes, Amazon and eMusic.
Watch Tinu ‘Shoeholic’ Video
Globally renowned fashion model turned pop singer, the Nigerian beauty Tinu has walked runways worldwide, while her multi-cultural flair has landed her on the style pages of Vogue and the New York Times but now the talented vocalist inspired by Nina Simone, Grace Jones, Fela Kuti and George Michael prepares her nationwide musical project ‘Addicted’ featuring the hit singles ‘Wild Things’ and ‘Shoeholic’
In this expressive interview, Tinu talks about her life, and her latest project which she calls ‘Addicted’.
Can we meet you?
Yes of course! I hope to be in Nigeria this fall if all goes well with my plans. So much to do, so little time. I really miss Nigeria so much it’s almost unbearable.
Why did you decide to go into music?
You will have to blame my social club in high school for that. That was where the entertainment bug bit me long time ago. We did everything from plays to cultural dances. I was always one of those on stage never to be missed. It was sheer pleasure to watch the reaction of the crowd watching your every step.
Fast forward to the millennium the bug is still biting. One must not think of personal financial gains when stepping into music. I for one love the arts, I find it very fulfilling to be able to create with my mind and heart and to say what I feel in the form of lyrics. Anything to do with the mind and soul, creative use of the hands as well has always been a major attraction for me. That to me is priceless.
What inspires your style of music?
Wow! Where do I begin. It might not necessarily be my style of music per se but more in the sense of my inspiration in music overall. Cesaria Evora, Grace Jones, George Michael and of course our very own Fela Kuti have all been a great tool for me in music. The sense of truth in their songs is unwavering. I typically immerse myself in their work whenever I feel the need to be drawn away from the stress of this world. They take me to another hemisphere, a trance without boundaries.
These feeling is what then makes me come back to earth and write and make my own music in ways that I feel at that time. If someone is stressing me out I might write about it like my new song ‘Not The Devil’. If I am in the mood to feel stupid and overjoyed about my addiction to shoes I write about it, case in point like ‘Shoeholic’ song on my album which has been getting my email box full from fans who love it and want to tell me about it. We hope to have a video for that song by September. The request for it is like I have never seen before. I had no idea there are many others suffering who share my addiction for shoes. It’s hilarious.
Do you write your songs?
Yes, 100%. That is the number one thing any musician or artist should learn. That is really where the money is in terms of royalties. If your song is used for example in a movie soundtrack, the singer gets nothing only the publisher and writer of the song gets something. That is the way it works and will be like this until congress changes the law to include 5% cut to the singer. I have been following the story in the library of congress office.
Tell us about your background?
This is usually hard for me to say. I have never been good at stating my own bio most of which you can see on http://www.tinuonline.com in the ‘About’ section. But I can say i am 100% Nigerian, despite being born in New York. I attended high school in Nigeria, University in New York. You know the Nigerian norms in the US. They attend universities in the States but once kids start to arrive they begin the process of moving to Nigeria for the fear of having kids without discipline unlike in the States where you are not allowed to really discipline your kids without the nosy neighbors calling the cops. So voila! that was my case too. Before you know it I was in Nigeria long before I could say ‘Boys’, the move which I still thank my parents for till today now that I am all grown up and see the ways of life in the States.
How was growing up like?
It was superb! I had everything I had ever wanted. Absolutely no complaints. My parents more than provided for me, I was privileged and I am very grateful for that especially now as a grown up you see how life can be tasking as an adult. It makes you appreciate the things you took for granted as a kid. Now I pay my own bills, run my company, go crazy when things fall apart, enjoy the fruit of my labor when all goes well; the daily stress of an adult life.
Were your parent in support of your ambitions?
Unfortunately my father did not support my move back to the States since my birth in New York. His goal at that time was to have all his kids finish university in the likes of University of Ife, University of Ibadan and then go to the States for Masters, Ph.D and so forth. Alas! that was not my goal at all. I had a different agenda, I was yearning to break away from the umbilical cord and pave my own way. My mother however is a girl’s girl, never one to judge but to support.
My first job in the States was as a fashion model, something I didn’t invite into my life but was thrust upon me by a model scout in New York City. I was lucky not to have started with odd jobs like you see many teenage kids of my age do back then. I had a world of glamour, traveling to places and getting paid for it. But still it was never for me. I much preferred a job of the creative world, the mind. It wasn’t long that I had a stint as an investment banker at one of the leading companies in New York. I made my money and started my own company that serves as an umbrella for all the things that I hold dear to my heart including designing (something I had always dabbled in since I was five years old).
And now it’s a full fledged company. I make my own rules and seldom listen to judgements or critics that’s not in my best interest. If there is one thing I learned in high school (an all girls school of privileged kids who are notorious for making life miserable for people sometimes) and modeling world, it is having a tough skin and resisting peer pressure at the highest level. I happened to have a personal motto: ‘Life is Beautiful, Live it!’. That is life is too short to be making amends to wasteful comments.
Would you say stardom has changed your life?
I know a lot of people think I ride limos to work or wear designers everyday. LOL! That is if at all you plan your life around ‘being a star’. I never saw myself as one, that was at all and most of my friends would agree. If you happen to run into me in New York you might wonder if it’s the same girl you read about or saw recently in a publication. I don’t wear it on my forehead! I might just look like a bag lady one given day and a total fashion maiden the next day.
So what is ‘Stardom’ really?
For me there is no such thing in my book. I see Oscar winners in my neighborhood all the time and I don’t bat an eyelash when they walk by. The way I see it is, it’s just a job, another way to pay bills just like a doctor who checks on you from time to time. Why then should I feel any special just because I did some advertisement in a magazine spread or sing?
Stardom changing your life?
Yes it pays the bills, that’s how I see it. But I happen to be a very private person, a surprise to a lot of people. I personally would prefer to be very comfortable financially and not be famous or have stardom than to be all over the place and can barely afford my rent or mortgage. I know a lot of people who are that way. Stardom sometimes doesn’t really pay the bills but actual work does. Funny how that is right? wow what a world we live in. We can’t have it and eat it too.
How do you cope with being a model, designer and artist?
The modeling part isn’t my first love and has never been. When I was heavily into modeling it was more like a hobby for me. I never saw it as a means to an end. I still cringe when my friends say ‘Tinu is or used to be a model’. I correct them immediately to say designer or singer. I know a lot of people who don’t respect model or anything with the industry as a whole. Strange huh? That is the world we live in. My first love are things of the mind and soul and of creative nature with the hands. As a model, standing there and looking pretty, being told to turn left or right and smile isn’t one to make my day.
So be that as it may, creative work such as designing and singing gives me a rush that is hard to describe. It completes me. It isn’t hard to do those things together at all most of the time when I am designing I am singing a tune of a classic song I grew up listening to or making music of my own and writing them down as I go along. So they work very well together. You can see some of my designs on http://www.tinuola.com in the ‘Designer’ tab section. This is one of my true passion. It’s addictive!
Ain’t you scared of competition?
What?! what creative mind in their right sense should be scared? That is what drives the flow of life. Can you imagine a situation like the ‘I am legend’ Will Smith movie where you are the only one left on the face of the planet? That will make me feel deflated, no reason to get up everyday to do what I love. We need competition to make our creative juices flow faster and in overdrive. But then again there is so much room to grow and do new things in the world we live in today. There is so much room for all of us and any new ideas out there. All are welcomed. It’s a free world.
Your debut album got you into the spotlight, do you think your new album would give you more prominence in Nigeria?
My new album, I did from the heart, something I wanted to do as supposed to something people think I should do. I have never been the type to be pigeonholed. I allowed that in my first album. ‘Oh she is a black singer, let’s do R&B’ kind of situation. Not this time! I have always loved the pop-rock, alternative genre. That is freedom to do whatever you want and in any style, no boundaries or rules. And that was what I did, my way, my style. A good mix for everyone especially now that we are in the download era. You get to download the genre style of song that suits you and no longer stuck with buying the whole album if it’s not your thing.
Prominence in Nigeria?
I hope my style of song is to their liking as I am not ‘world music’ genre with this album. If most are open to new ideas such as pop-rock songs, or alternative then I think they will like the collection of songs. When I wrote the songs I wasn’t thinking of any one particular country. That is the beauty of music, it is a universal language. I target the world not one section of it. There is something for everyone in the new album, especially ‘Wild Things’ which is the official first single that has a Yoruba bridge in the song and we also had performers in native for the very section in the music video. I hope they like it. It will be available for sale on Amazon, iTunes and of course from the label directly. All the links to the stores will be on http://www.tinuonline.com by mid July, 2009 Or you can also search by using my name on the aforementioned online stores and voila it comes up!
Role model?
My mom is my number one role model. The fact that she lends her ears to me whenever I have something to say and gives me advice back without any judgement or scolding makes her my number one. In music, Grace Jones is high up there. Her freedom to be creative on and off stage is insatiable. Never a dull moment with her.
How do you intend to combat piracy?
If you are referring to those in Nigeria, well nothing. It happened with my first album which is why I won’t be doing any direct promotion there. Over there you work for the pirating company. Each money you shell out helps market the $1 CD copies hanging about the street corner. That is not for me. If someone in Nigeria wants my music I think it’s best to visit iTunes and Amazon for the very affordable, legit, good sound quality and quick download.
3 things you can’t do without?
My big bag of garri in my kitchen (and at least a bowl of it with me when I travel). Yes the addiction stuck since high school and it’s been hard to shake off. I like it plain with absolutely nothing in it but cold water. Besides it’s an excellent roughage not known to a lot of Nigerians! I love it.
Other things are my lip gloss (which I wear in place of lipstick. I am uncomfortable wearing them) and finally my old beat up cell phone. Yes I get raised eyebrows when my friends see me on it. I have tried all the fancier ones with emails cum all the bells and whistles. I always seem to come back to my classic. It has been dropped many times in water/floor, scratched and old and most of all the battery life is more than 48 hours! They don’t make them like that anymore. Now they use cheaper materials so you can come back and buy a new one. This is how they make money off you.
As for me I am not trying to impress anyone, I am 200% satisfied with my old beat up cell phone. I know it goes against the norm in Nigeria from what I hear. I heard having the coolest and latest cell gadget is the in thing. I have closet full of couture and every handbag you can think of. I don’t need to tell people I can afford life and ‘am cool’ by using the latest gadget too but I beg to differ. Remember I don’t react to peer pressure.
Any embarrassing moments?
I completely tear up after yarning. Am I ok? LOL!!!
Any plans to hit the screen soon for a movie role?
I did a few indie movies here in New York and some Television shows such as Law & Order where I played a waitress in a scene with funny man, Anthony Anderson. He was funny and cracking us up between takes. Other than that it hasn’t really been my focus. Don’t know if ‘Hollywood’ is my thing….yet.
A word for your fans?
Enjoy life, live it to the fullest, don’t hold back and let no one judge you. Always remember that YOU pay your own bills and NOT the critics or haters. Life is too short for such nonsense. Do you what you want, when you want and how you want them. Peace and love to yourself, your family and your REAL friends.
‘I grew up to the vibrant sounds of Fela Kuti, a vibrant powerhouse of African jazz and funk fused with West African high life. Afrobeat echoed through my mother’s home in Lagos . I loved the innate honesty of his music and strive to emulate it with my own’ – Tinu
Born in Brooklyn, New York Tinu spent most of her formative years in Nigeria, West Africa where her parents raised their children according to strong family and cultural traditions. Tinu became deeply committed to her heritage and imbued with its vivid colors, uplifting energy, sounds and powerful rhythms that continue to influence every facet of her life and art.
Tinu obtained a degree in Finance and Marketing at New York University but also pursued an international modeling career during which time she strutted the runway for some of the top fashion houses in Europe while simultaneously landing high profile advertising campaigns. A global traveler and jet setter Tinu is multilingual and fluent in several languages in addition to few smatterings of Arabic, Hebrew, French, Italian and Hindi.
Her love of culture, aesthetics and fashion created a passion for design, which accompanied by a strong entrepreneurial spirit, led to the launch of her highly successful accessory collection. The beautifully crafted and bejeweled ‘Tinu Shoebag (R)’ has been worn at the Academy Awards and successfully sold throughout numerous high-end boutiques worldwide. Tinu’s exquisite beauty and sense of style have been noted by Essence and Vogue Magazine while Bill Cunningham regularly features her in the social pages of the New York Times.
VIDEO
Tinu: Wild Things: 
