A Conversation with Tano Jackson

Hey Tano, what’s up?

I’m doing amazing per my judgment. It’s cloudy out here in London but I somehow still love it!

How is the residency going, is it any different from the usual process of producing?

It's going amazing. First off, I set myself up to not expect a lot starting the residency but got into a lot and it’s pretty easy to navigate through production when you have a lot of people committed to their craft around you.

Do you feel inspired by Heavy Feelings and its environment?

Absolutely, Heavy Feelings doesn’t let me sleep (laughs). But it's a positive thing for me because, as an artist, I like to spend more time on creating a single body of work. Normally, I wouldn't juggle so many different ideas at once, but here it just happens naturally. Everything we do, and everyone involved, inspires me in some way. I´ve learned that as an artist you need to listen to yourself and it will all makes sense in the end. I have the right people around me, so I don't have to worry about filling roles like production or filming. Not many people get to experience what I have right now with Heavy Feelings. I feel incredibly grateful, especially for Parissa's involvement in this.

I've noticed that diving into personal connections tends to evoke strong emotions within me. It's fascinating how swiftly I've met numerous individuals lately. What's become clear is that beneath their various roles—be it artists, writers, or producers—they're ultimately human. Genuine connection, attentive listening, and embracing their narratives lead to remarkable outcomes as mutual understanding deepens. For me, sharing experiences and perhaps even uncovering aspects of myself in others is crucial to my artistic process. Naturally, this journey triggers a bunch of emotions. Simply being in the presence of others is rich in emotions.

What are you working on exactly?

We are working on an audio visual work of art.

Where did Tano’s journey start, how did you get into music?

My journey began at my dad’s place in Accra, where I spent Time with my cousins a lot. They had a bunch of CDs, cassettes, and mp3 players, introducing me to the concept of mixtapes and DJ collaborations. Projects like Gangsta Grillz and Graduation opened my eyes to the world of contemporary music. My dad also had a spectacular collection, and I grew up listening to artists like Elton John, Seal and Tracy Chapman which inspired me to explore what it means to be an artist. This led me to discover legends like Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, and Ray Charles. I picked up a guitar, started learning, and eventually got into music production. My journey was shaped by family, who intentionally helped me understand what good music sounds like. Initially, my focus wasn’t on my focus wasn’t on HipHop until I discovered lyricists like Nas on my journey.

How can we imagine your song writing process, what inspires you?

My process involves evoking emotions from various inspirations, whether it’s a conversation with a stranger, reading a paragraph from a book, or watching a movie. Often, personal experiences naturally translate into words on paper for me. So it starts with a point of view and ends as journaling. If you want details, sometimes when I listen to chords, I immerse myself in the music and find a melody within the chords. I then add words to that melody. This is a typical Tano Jackson process. Sometimes, I play chords on the keyboard and write melodies based on what I hear from the instrument I’m playing.

What were your last three searches on Spotify?

Fogo do Sol by Marcos Valle, Blue in Green by Miles Davis featuring John Coltrane and Bill Evans, Ribbon In The Sky by Stevie Wonder.

If you would have to describe your EP and project in one sentence, what would it be?

A time capsule and an inevitable moment on an artist’s journey.

What is the story you want to tell with the production?

Our audiovisual project captures the essence of a profound transformation. It's about an awakening, a powerful jolt that revives your awareness and engagement with life, whether it's your passion, career, or relationships. The project encourages breaking free from a robotic or lifeless state. In the Intro of the EP it says, “I woke up in New York City, but my mind in Paris, my soul in Cologne (…) If the sky stays blue, all the stars may never come out.” What I mean by that is that your mind may wander. It’s essential to align with where your soul truly resides. The project is a therapeutic journey that traverses both dark and bright moments, aiming to reinvigorate your existence. And to regain full consciousness of what you are doing and how you are doing it.

“If the sky stays blue, all the stars may never come out” – I really felt that. Can you deep dive into what you want to express with it?

This is a beautiful story actually. On the third day of the residency, we visited the Ludwig Museum in Cologne. Parissa wanted to show me her favorite painting of an artist she admired, Monochrome Blue by Yves Klein. I spent some time looking at that piece, which was which was in a form of a blue rectangle. But as soon as I went out there, I felt inspired and realized it would influence my entire residency. I associate colors to nature as well, like yellow to the sun and blue to the sky.

When we returned to the studio, we brainstormed about what the introduction should be. D’Monk, an amazing instrumentalist and producer, created the chords and bass, synths and drums by Smiki. I then spoke into the microphone, letting my thoughts flow naturally. The blue of the sky and the switch to stars reflect how something has got to change or shift to evolve. It felt perfect for the project, so I decided to keep it.

What would you describe as the substance of what you are doing with Heavy Feelings?

I feel like HF is one amazing community. Parissa approaching me felt nothing but natural so was my responds and everything felt positive. It aims to bring artists together without egos, focusing on doing things for the community with the community. This can serve as a blueprint for what we can achieve next. Parissa is a genius and won't settle for minimal impact. This initiative is about creating a masterpiece and not limiting creativity. It's not just about getting into the studio and starting to produce. It's about knowing we have a whole community watching and supporting. It's about producing the best work of art with the support and input of everyone, from songwriters to instrumentalists and producers. These are the values that align with the vision we have with our project.

When will we be able to hear your newest records?

Presumably end of January!

Tano, last question. What makes you feel heavy?

That’s tough. I’ll break it down because I have positive heavy feelings and negative heavy feelings. Negative is what’s going on in the world right now, and the fate that comes with it. Positive is being able to connect with so many inspiring, talented artists. Be it in London or Cologne, where I met amazing people like Parissa, Mindtheblue, Smiki, you and all the others. Us being able to share our passion and create this project at a point in our lifetime, knowing it will still be out here when we are gone while experiencing a sort of awakening, that’s big for me. I appreciate the consciousness of everyone, if I listen to someone, be it in a conversation or in their chords, beats etc. and it inspires me, that means everything. I guess those are my heavy feelings.

Thank you so much. Do you have some last few words?

I’m excited for everybody to listen to, watch and experience the whole project. Let’s go, let’s get it