Today we’d like to introduce you to Chyme.
Hi Chyme, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Being well-rounded was always championed in my family. Growing up, my parents made sure we experienced it all- any sport, any book, any recreational activity, any opportunity that was within reach was made available. When you grow up in such an environment you pick up a lot of skills which you may not even know at the time. Such was the case for me; I remember my first microphone, which had an inbuilt recorder which basically played back to you whatever you sang, being registered for children fashion competitions, among others. I would say these “harmless fun” experiences laid the foundation for the pathways which I have gone on to imbibe.
Music was not always a top priority for me at first, to be very honest. I enjoyed it a lot, and I had tried learning to sing and play a couple of instruments initially, but I was heavy on academia at the time. I wanted to be writer of novels mostly because I enjoyed the fictional worlds their writers had created as opposed to the boring textbooks we were given for school. Eventually, I guess I realized I did not have the patience for writing whole novels and pivoted towards short-form storytelling, which then progressed to songwriting. Coincidentally, my mother had registered me for a Christmas Carol competition at about the same time. I remember coming back from boarding school at the time and being told I pretty much had 8 days to prepare for the performance. So I went to work, wrote and memorized a whole song about something I can no longer remember, but plot twist, I was the second kid to go on and the girl before me sang “Jingle Bell” or “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” or some other classic song of the season, and then I come up and do my original piece, and I remember everyone being confused and quiet. Every kid after me then proceeds to sing a classic song as well. When the results were announced, I was declared second place because I did not follow instructions (song choice), but I knew then that this was something I definitely wanted to do again and again. The medley of emotions, the reaction of the audience, even my own uncertainty on stage were things I enjoyed thoroughly. The next term, I went back to school and formed a now-defunct rap group with some classmates, and the rest, they say, is history.
Fast forward, fresh of my high school graduation and a day after my 16th birthday I arrived in Toronto, Canada and kickstarted my career fully in 2017 with the release of the single “Waist’ to great local acclaim. Since then, I have steadily progressed the craft with notable laurels such as opening for Wizkid (2019), various headline shows (2019,21,22), cosigns from key industry players locally and internationally, and much more.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Ah, definitely not. As I said, I used to be heavy on academia. One of the first challenges was explaining to my parents that I would be pursuing more artistic disciplines after years of investing in the sciences. Most especially, when I decided I would no longer be studying engineering because I could not actively balance the class schedule with studio demands. Another one I remember was when I was contemplating venturing into fashion, styling, and apparel, which I had only dabbled in previously, although not in any professional capacity. You see, I was concerned I would not be as effective given I was already putting in a lot of time into music. More so, being an immigrant in my current country of residence, I quickly came to realize that a lot of privileges were lost on me, and so we had to adapt. Not just myself but everyone who I was working with who were facing similar issues.
Finally, there are what I call “life obstacles”. These ones may not directly or remotely affect your field, but they are everyday occurrences that, if tragic or severe enough, could do significant damage or deter plans significantly. Unexpected hiatuses, covid, and lockdown, as well as mental fatigue or even health-related problems. Sometimes, these things are just out of our control, but they can definitely be barriers when you have a goal in mind.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I call myself a Renaissance artist. Although music and fashion are my primary mediums, I express myself through other art forms. The music I make is an ode to my Nigerian roots- A derivative of Nigerian pop music I call Afrotwist. The name is inspired by the Jeffery Archery novel “A Twist in the Tale.” I haven’t read it in a while, but it is still one of my favorites. It’s basically a collection of short stories, but each one has a crazy and unexpected ending. This is the element I have added, which gives the music I create a unique feeling. It takes classic and local pop elements and combines them with hip-hop, R&B, folk, rock, and dancehall. The thing I hear most in regards to my music is the quality, wit, and intentionality of the songwriting and that I pick weird beats. haha. Within and outside of the music, I’ve been told I have a great eye for combining colors and overall sense of style (which I often try to incorporate in the music visuals.) Honestly, I am proud of the ability to create. You know, it is a mind-altering experience when you hear or see something you’ve done, and you think to yourself, “I would buy that if I didn’t know me, I would add this song to my playlist if it wasn’t me.”
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
I am always open to opportunities to share and learn. I would love to work with producers and artists of diverse influences and genre styles, as well as curators, videographers, and animators. There is a lot of magic to be discovered when distinct styles come together genuinely. In the same vein, I would also love to work with fashion curators and other stylists. I would also love to collaborate with podcasters as there are a litany of areas I have some insight to.
There is no greater support than consuming the art itself and being open that you enjoy it. Share it with your friends, family, that random stranger who you think might enjoy it as well. Finally, I would say if anyone reading this has an idea or opportunity and is not sure if it is up my alley or otherwise, do feel free to reach out via email or any of the social media platforms you are comfortable with, and we could have a discussion.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7yPbWIsvxxsKp3yrJPtlLO?si=K33EBaAVQPytDe4_VP__fA
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chymesquiat/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chymesquiat/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Chymesquiat
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@chymesquiat?si=tvyDKC5lmETXqKpH
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@chymesquiat
Image Credits
Tani Olorunyomi
