Interview with Kitäke

Late into the evening of Friday, 20th March 2020, I got on the phone with Kitan Akeredolu aka Kitäke to discuss his inspiration, his creativity and his plans for the future.

Okay so first question: how did you get your name? Like your musical name?

K: Okay so um...Kitan A...like my first name is really long, in Nigeria our first names are usually very long, and so like...I like 'Kitan' out of the first name and then like my last name is 'Akeredolu'. So like the first three letters of 'Kitan' - that's 'kit', and the first three letters of my surname - that's 'ake'. So I just joined that together yeah, and then I googled it, like online, and literally that meant like some Japanese word for 'hardwood' or something and I was like "Woah, that's hard, like literally that's hard" so I was just like "allow it" you know [laughs] Yo theres no like deep thing behind it.

Fairs. Okay, what made you decide to get into music?

K: Um...a lot of Kanye West, like 'College Dropout', and like um, Big Sean, J Cole, Travis...like I don't know music is just like...a very chill way of like expressing yourself. It's like you get to be like creative and stuff with whatever sound you're going for - you don't have to follow like a particular path or anything like that. It's just vibes.

Pure vibes, love to see it. Talking about your new single 'Her'...first of all, is that about anyone in particular?

K: Ah, you're trying to get me in trouble [laughs]. Um, i wouldn't say it's about one person, I think its just like a mix of different experiences of like being in like relationships and like being in 'things' with like different people and just taking the parts that were significant. Lowkey everyone has a sub but yeah, its cool.

So was that (the song) produced by you or?

K: Well yeah actually. So like um I worked with a studio here, YJNation I think - that's what they're called - so they they have their own mixes and stuff but like I also like to like, have my touch on the sound, because like I know what I'd like to listen to. Yeah, so it was like a joint effort, it wasn't like solely me, but it was a joint effort. And the beat...shoutout to Niko for the beat. 'I-M-N-I-K-O' but he goes by Niko.

When can we expect the next single/album/project?

K: Uh...so basically yeah, I feel like a lot of people try to fit in one genre and stuff but like I don't want to like just fit into one I feel like a vibe is a vibe so...like right now i'm still just trying to do like singles and stuff but like i'm actually working on an EP later that like could possibly come out like October, December...we'll see. But like later, later, later. Right now it's just like vibes - I'm working on something for like probably April, mid April.

Lovely. Last question - Do you have any advice for anyone that wants to get into music right now?

K: Umm...honestly yeah I don't even think I'm at any point to give anyone advice about the music thing but like I just feel like its actually just...like if you have something that you want to share or like if it's like a way of expressing yourself (because it's like basically therapy for me - like I get to say things and like not worry about like what people are going to say back because it's my music. Like you can listen to it and I don't have to listen to you tell me...like you get?). It's just like...an expression. So I feel like if you want to do it just go for it. You have nothing to lose. It's better that having regrets about "Oh, I could have" and "I should have" kind of thing.

Alright, thank you Kitan!

Interview done and written by Oluwadara Apampa

*This interview has been edited for clarity. If you would like to listen to Kitäke's new single 'Her', click here

Follow his social media to stay updated on his newest releases

Instagram: ake.kitan.king

Snapchat: kitan101

Twitter: kitake16