In distant space — there is no sound. But far beyond the universe, where time stretches past the unknown, Tanerélle descends from her galactic travels to talk with us about her latest release Electric Honey.

Discussing her personal connection to the cosmos and how it inspires her to write music, Tanerélle begins with her love for futurism. “I grew up watching and reading a lot of science fiction, but it was rare that I’d ever see myself. I’d have visions of me in Gattaca or Blade Runner or Star Wars,” says Tanerélle. She references Gattaca (1997), a film set in the not-too-distant future that has a society governed by genetic engineering, and Blade Runner (1982), a story about how artificial intelligence can blur the lines of humanity.

 

But, despite the reputation of these films for carrying dark and doomy dystopian visions for the future (where everything is apocalyptic, and life is awful), there is one empowering theme throughout both films  — resilience. In Blade Runner, Deckard questions the morality of his actions against the ‘replicants’, and what it truly means to be human. So, for Tanerélle to imagine herself in these worlds almost feels inevitable. In our conversation, it is clear that she longs for a place where she can discover her truest self. Where better to do that than in space?

Space, often considered as the ‘final frontier’ for mankind to conquer, is where the imagination has no limits, and liberation is no longer a dream. The Afrofuturism movement creates a place where the African diaspora can live in harmony, free from the societal constraints that limit self expression, and Tanerélle channels this message directly into her music. She agrees, saying “Sci-fi holds the promise that things ultimately work out, and I believe we very much deserve to be a part of that narrative.”

 

The Atlanta-born artist, Tanerélle, first launched onto the scene in 2015 with her song ‘Siren,’ and since then, she has become an underground (or shall we say space-bound?) icon for many, with her effortlessly cool Afrofuturist aesthetic and R&B music. Her debut album, 11:11, (2017) spirals into the infinite, a solid production with seductive laid-back beats and down-tempo, trip-hop-esque rhythms.

In her latest EP, Electric Honey (Encore), a four-track extension to her release earlier this year, Tanerélle pushes her atmospheric genre into new dimensions, exploring the funky deep house and R&B sound. The album opens with ‘For Her (Chemtrails)’, a track that feels as expansive as it is near and intimate. Her honeyed whispered vocals close in the mix explore feelings of heartache, with the lyrics (“How could I blame her, now that we’re strangers?”) delicately floating, and then, crash landing, over a gritty subby bassline that emerges two minutes into the track.

 

“’Chemtrails’ will forever be one of my favourite songs,” she says. “I first heard the beat from Machine Drum and Imanu a while back, and it particularly touched me. I remember feeling overwhelmed and emotional that day and thinking about a past love of mine. It’s interesting to pair heartbreak with dance music, but a lot of people dance when they’re trying to heal, so in the end, it felt fitting.”

We talk about the decision to make Electric Honey (Encore), with the EP’s strong emphasis on dance music. She explains her writing process, and why it felt necessary to venture into the territory of writing more dance music. “I didn’t want to miss out on the dance floor. Whether it be falling in love, healing, making new connections or simply just letting go. So much of that happens in the club or anywhere that people are moving. I didn’t want the only way my music could be a part of those moments was if someone were to remix my work, so I decided to create music that could play in those spaces.”

 

‘Houston’ is an early highlight on the EP, instantly satisfying the dance fans with earthy, rich house chords. Electric Honey (Encore) feels bolder, a little wiser, and more confident than her previous work, and years of practice and self determination has led to that. ‘Let Me In – Cosmic Symphony’ is a remix of the original track ‘Let Me In,’, and the track reimagines the already untouchable original version, perfectly demonstrating Tanerélle’s natural gift to create a passionate love song. The song shines with an orchestral intro that stirs deep in the body, its sultry melodies wrapping around and tugging at every heartstring.

Describing her confidence as a songwriter, and the importance of self-love, she says: “I’m finally at the point of truly advocating for myself because I deserve it. Seeing myself, my thoughts, my opinions and who I am — as worthy. I’ve always stood up for myself, but there’s a real conviction behind it now, and standing up for me, what I believe in and my vision, that allows me to play, explore and push the boundaries.”

 

The EP continues with ‘Overflow’, a spacey dreamy dance floor anthem, with moments that even capture a gritty British UKG feel at times, and, ‘Better Days’, the last song on the EP, stands out as the strongest track, despite it being unlike everything else we’ve heard so far. The lyrics: (“And if someone had told me it’d take this long / Who knows if I’d have held on / Guess the hope of tomorrow is never wrong / And I knew that all along / Thank God, I looked forward to better days”) beams with optimism. It starts with a simple riff, played on a classical nylon-string guitar, into a daydream-y groove that slowly transitions into a jazzy bossa nova hook and string symphony. It’s a wonderful way to finish the journey.

Tanerélle proudly shines as she mentions her tour in North America at the end of the interview, and she announces: “I’m super excited to be connecting with everyone. We are in a digital age where everything and everyone is online, so I think it is important to not only put a face to a name, but to share a feeling, and I think that can truly only be done in person. I’m an avid concert goer, and there’s a lot of love that went into this production and I’m excited for everyone to experience it.”

 

It’s easy to see that Tanerélle, with years of dedication and practice, is ready to conquer not just the world, but the entire universe, and every planet in her path. Electric Honey EP is a clear signal for the listener that she is ready, and we eagerly await her take-off.

Listen to Electric Honey (Encore) now: