Music, in its final form, is an art outlet, a powerful medium deeply rooted in relatable human experiences that offers a chance to find magic, healing, peace, closure, and more when in contact with it. And such is imbued in Tega Ethan’s music, making it quite ridiculous that just one out of every 10 individuals is familiar with his offering. The preceding statement isn’t supported by empirical evidence but rather emphasises the stark underappreciation of his talent. Tega Ethan is a Nigerian independent alternative artist who describes himself as a songwriter who happens to sing, and he’s not wrong. His songwriting prowess is evident in every song he’s ever composed. When he was about 12, he casually began writing choruses for his elder brother, who was a rapper.
Tega was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and grew up in a clerical household, which may have contributed to his frequent relocation. At age 9, he relocated to Ibadan with his family, where he spent his formative years listening to mostly gospel music like Panam Percy Paul. However, music became less important to him with time but was reintroduced by his brother through Ed Sheeran’s “Multiply” album. This cascaded to him discovering what you could call his purpose. Like his idol Asa, Tega purchased a guitar and landed his first professional gig in 2017, performing in Freedom Park, Lagos. He decided to become a professional musician in 2018, spending most of his time playing at various venues and writing songs upon songs upon songs. In the coming year 2019, Tega will open for Johnny Drille at his concert, followed by The Cavemen in 2020.
Tegan Ethan’s music style is unique and personalised, journeying listeners through the different phases of love. His music is intrinsically relatable to listeners, with symbolic lyrics that reflect the human experience of a person resident in Nigeria. A track like his 2021 “Harmattan” single paints a vivid picture of a romance played out during the harmattan season. A period characterised by dry, dusty winds blowing from the Sahara Desert and typically lasts from November to March in West Africa. “A million sand flakes/Upon our skins/The grass is golden/No longer green/You draw the heart shape/With dusty feet.” As a listener who has witnessed the harmattan season in West Africa, you’re immediately transported to the period and are impelled to walk with the music.
Tega Ethan’s music soothes the wounded heart; the lyrics rendered on soft, consistent guitar strings, hold the listener by the hand and lose them in what Tega calls “soundtracks to the special moments of their lives.” Also, ‘water and salt and fire (for Yinka)’ from his “Falling in love is like Lagos Traffic” debut EP, which he produced, is a moving tale of unconditional love, a tale of lovers determined to be together.
“Love is like Lagos traffic,” also from his 2020 debut EP, is a song intended to depict the beauty and snag of love by utilising Lagos, Nigeria, traffic as a metaphor. “Falling in love is like Lagos traffic. It can get nasty/The good and the bad and the magic/Come unexpected/But it goes, it goes/In the end it flows”.
Tega Ethan’s saving act of baring his personal experiences and offering warmth via his music is the reason why he’s going to thrive as an artist. And it has already begun.
