Toronto’s Tafari Anthony discusses music, polyamory, and his breathtakingly daring debut album ‘After I Met Your Girlfriend’ – an empowered, liberating, and unapologetic embrace of affection’s infinite depths.

Stream: “Coronary heart Race” – Tafari Anthony

It may be fairly rewarding and galvanizing to see people who find themselves capable of love freely with out boundaries or confines of what we’re informed romantic relationships ought to appear like.

Breathtakingly daring and achingly unapologetic, Tafari Anthony’s debut album is an exhilarating embrace of affection, intimacy, and connection.

The Toronto singer/songwriter has all the time poured his full self into his artwork, however by no means has he sounded as susceptible, as uncooked, or as refined as he does on After I Met Your Girlfriend. Diving headfirst into his relationships and explorations with polyamory, Anthony delivers his coronary heart on a platter by means of sixteen vivid, visceral, and emotionally charged indie pop songs that seamlessly mix catchy melodies with cathartic and confessional lyricism.

The result’s a soul-stirring, seductive file that feels without delay liberated and empowered – pushed by uncooked ardour and drawing from actual life expertise, Tafari Anthony bares all of it as he finds his stride, hovering by means of love’s stunning, infinite depths on After I Met Your Girlfriend.

I took the prepare to Etobicoke
Needed so laborious to not let it go
Overthinking each be aware you wrote
Boy you bought me f’ed up
Possibly it’s simply insecurities
Redirecting all the pieces I see
I wanna chill, and simply allow you to be
Misplaced in my feelings

I’d fairly wait every week for reply
Than get the mistaken one in a rush, sir
So, take your time within the second
Simply take your time

You make my coronary heart race
Butterflies, so alive,
acquired me performing silly, but I prefer it
You make my coronary heart racе
Hypnotized by your eyes,
don’t know what wе doing, but I prefer it

Launched November 10, 2023 by way of 604 Data, After I Met Your Girlfriend is a surprising best-foot-forward for Tafari Anthony that hits tougher and tougher the extra you hear. Lively within the music neighborhood for the previous seven years, Anthony is already a mainstay of our pages: In that includes his third EP, The Means You See Me, in 2020, we praised the Toronto artist for “unveiling intimate moments by means of a hovering immersion of evocative dance pop, R&B, and soul.”

Immediately, Atwood Journal is proud to be premiering the music video for After I Met Your Girlfriend‘s sophomore single “Coronary heart Race,” a tune that has fairly actually develop into the beating coronary heart of this majestic and impressive endeavor over current months. A buoyant, infectiously danceable tune about falling in love, the monitor sees Anthony reflecting on an surprising – however welcome – new romance.

The album takes you on a journey of self-discovery. Falling in love in new methods, and an eventual heartbreak or two.

“‘Coronary heart Race’ is that pivotal second if you find yourself attending to know any individual and also you’re beginning to really feel all of the romantic feels. Neither of you will have actually outlined it, however you each positively really feel it,” he tells Atwood Journal. “I used to be relationship this man and issues moved in a short time, however but appeared like the appropriate tempo. It was my first expertise relationship any individual outdoors of my husband and so in fact it was very scary but additionally fairly thrilling. This man was truly the one who opened my eyes as much as my extra polyamorous aspect. Although in hindsight I feel I’ve all the time form of had this mindset with regards to relationships, however perhaps not the phrases or examples to use it to my life. After I met him, I let him know precisely the place I stood, and I knew that he was polyamorous, however that wasn’t the place my head was at initially. He began calling me his accomplice in a short time and it simply felt good, so I went with it. I assume you may say he made my coronary heart race.”

Final evening if you held my hand
A small gesture by no means felt so grand
One kiss, and now I’m your man
Scared however we nonetheless fall in
So I depart, and it’s undefined
However that’s okay, ‘trigger you reside on my thoughts
Simply lay your physique proper subsequent to mine
Don’t matter what we name it

Directed by Matthew Miller, “Coronary heart Race” is the second a part of a three-video arc (beginning with “Doesn’t Have To Be So Arduous“) that narrates the love story of the 2 leads, portrayed by Anthony and Lyle Chan.

“I actually needed the video for “Coronary heart Race” to really feel enjoyable, mild, and heartwarming,” Anthony explains. “I needed to stay true to the tales and present what a polyamorous relationship might appear like. I feel lots of people assume it’s very sophisticated and awkward. After all, it may be typically, however I don’t essentially suppose it needs to be. On this video you principally get to see one in all my companions assembly one other accomplice and the way “regular” one thing like that might be. I feel the extra we will normalize different types of relationships, the much less individuals will likely be afraid of it and the extra individuals will query what they really need for his or her lives.”

I’d fairly wait every week for reply
Than get the mistaken one in a rush, sir
So, take your time within the second
Simply take your time

Anthony “meticulously co-produced” the whole lot of his album along with a collection of producers (together with his longtime collaborators Brandon Unis & Bradley J. Simons), bringing his creative imaginative and prescient to life by means of each side of the file.

“At no level in creating this was I making an attempt to suit some form of development, making an attempt to actually impress anyone however myself, or saying or doing something that I didn’t stand by,” he says.

Whereas making this album felt like one thing akin to a musical diary – Anthony wrote many of those songs in actual time as his life was unfolding – now that it’s out, his final hope is that his music helps others really feel seen, equally empowered, and comfy to exist of their true skins.

“I really feel like there was a full story to inform right here,” he shares. “I hope when individuals hearken to the album, they really feel seen and really feel that it’s okay to not simply be one model of themselves. We’re multifaceted as people and the album doesn’t simply span one style or vibe. It might appear all over musically, nevertheless it’s simply an sincere illustration of what I take pleasure in and what feels good to me. I feel individuals ought to do extra of that; what feels good to you, what is smart to you fairly than what you are feeling individuals need from you or what you are feeling like it’s essential be doing.”

You make my coronary heart race
Butterflies, so alive,
acquired me performing silly, but I prefer it

You make my coronary heart race
Hypnotized by your eyes,
don’t know what we doing, but I prefer it
You make my coronary heart race

Blaze your individual path, march to the beat of your individual drum, and most of all, reside unapologetically.

That’s the message of Tafari Anthony’s After I Met Your Girlfriend, and it’s nearly as good a purpose as any to hearken to this breathtakingly daring debut. Atwood Journal caught up with Anthony, one in all our 2023 artists to look at, to talk about music, polyamory, and extra. Really feel the love in our interview under, watch the “Coronary heart Race” music video completely on Atwood Journal, and remember to hearken to After I Met Your Girlfriend in full in your most well-liked music service.

“This album is one of the best model of all the pieces that I’ve executed to this point,” Anthony smiles.

“It’s unapologetically me.”

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:: stream/buy After I Met Your Girlfriend right here ::

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‘After I Met Your Girlfriend’ – Tafari Anthony

A CONVERSATION WITH TAFARI ANTHONY

Atwood Journal: Hey Tafari, thanks a lot for this catch-up across the premiere! For starters, congratulations on the discharge of your debut album! In the event you do not thoughts sharing, what is the story behind After I Met Your Girlfriend?

Tafari Anthony: Thanks a lot, Mitch! It’s been such a wild time releasing this album. Musically it’s been executed for some time, so it all the time feels a bit surreal that it’s out on this planet now. The album is form of like a musical diary. I used to be writing in actual time as my life was unfolding, and I used to be exploring polyamory for the previous couple of years. Usually, I’ve written from experiences up to now or from associates’ experiences, so this was a a lot completely different method for me to have the time and area to be writing songs as all the pieces was unfolding. The 16 songs truly span about 4 relationships, although there may be one relationship particularly that spans nearly all of the album.

The album’s title – After I Met Your Girlfriend – is already so intoxicating. What impressed this title, and the way, for you, does it seize the spirit of those songs?

Tafari Anthony: I spent loads of time making an attempt to determine what a title could be for this challenge. I needed one thing that was clearly queer and would at the least allude to the thought of polyamory with out being so blatantly apparent. This line was truly one thing I had sitting in my notes for some time and I ended up placing it into the final tune I wrote for the album, “Regular, Ready, Hoping.” Even then I in all probability went months with a protracted checklist of titles making an attempt to determine what might seize the spirit of the album. As I used to be narrowing down I spotted that I had written this title or some model of this title about 5 occasions in that checklist. At that time it simply turned apparent that this was the place my head was at and I felt it had ring to it, it might evoke loads of questions, and I felt prefer it completely captured the sensation of the challenge.

You launched three gorgeous EPs earlier than this epic 16-track file. How does your LP differ from these EPs – do you know you have been within the midst of a bigger challenge as you have been making it?

Tafari Anthony: Thanks a lot, you’re all the time so variety! I don’t suppose I’ve mentioned this publicly however I’ve positively mentioned it to a few associates in passing; I really feel like this album is one of the best model of all the pieces that I have executed to this point. What I imply by that’s I really feel like these three EPs all form of explored completely different sides of myself musically, however for me they positively really feel like exploration. I fully stand behind all that work and I nonetheless love them, however I had a greater sense of myself, and what I needed to sound like on this challenge and so I trusted myself extra when it got here to each side of it.

The challenge began off as an EP collaboration with Brandon Unis and Bradley J. Simons. On the high of 2020 once I was releasing The Means You See Me, I used to be already writing new music. By the point Brandon and Bradley approached me I felt like I knew I used to be prepared for a full size album however the actuality is all the time, the place’s the cash?! They supplied me a chance to work on 6 songs collectively to do an EP so I made a decision to go along with that. However I informed myself that if I have been to search out extra help I might broaden it into an album. Fortunately that occurred and that brings us to the place we are actually.

Tafari Anthony: Actually once I first began penning this album I used to be simply making an attempt to course of my life. There wasn’t actually a second the place I believed it must be this or must be that; it simply wanted to be. As soon as I began diving extra into the manufacturing in fact we had references and I had referenced artists like Daniel Bedingfield, Kacey Musgraves, John Legend, Tayla Parx, and rather more! The references have been as eclectic as I hope this album feels. Because it was coming collectively, I knew I needed the album to really feel grand, large and costly! However in the beginning of the method I attempt to let the songs dictate to me what they should be earlier than diving into all that.

“Coronary heart Race” has already emerged as a fan favourite – and in some ways, this tune is just like the beating coronary heart of the file, located useless heart in the midst of the album. What impressed this place, and the place does this tune fall, for you, on the broader spectrum of this album?

Tafari Anthony: “Coronary heart Race” is that pivotal second that everybody can relate to. We’ve all had at the least one second the place we’re relationship any individual or simply beginning to discuss to any individual and you’ll really feel that it’s growing for you and you’ll form of really feel that it’s additionally growing for them, however no one desires to say the factor. It may be very scary too open up your coronary heart and likewise present your self to others in a method that when they see you it could’t be taken again. Or as soon as these phrases I mentioned you can also’t take these again. So it may be very straightforward to simply reside int he “what ifs” versus laying all of it out on the road the place you develop into rather more susceptible.

I’m so glad you caught the positioning of this tune on the album as a result of I spent, no lie, months figuring out the play order for the file! So, “Coronary heart Race” is on the center of the album as a result of after that second is when all the pieces shifted. It was the second the place I might now not conceal how I used to be feeling, nor might he. And that is the place loads of that turmoil began as a result of one in all us was rather more open and keen to do the factor whereas the opposite, and that is simply an informed hypothesis as a result of I’ll in all probability by no means get the true story from him, scared himself out of affection. Which completely sucks for me however made for a nice album, so hey, right here we go!

You’ve got mentioned this tune is that pivotal second if you begin having all of the romantic feels. Are you able to discuss what it was like to write down this tune, and the way you went about bringing these emotions to life by means of your music?

Tafari Anthony: This can sound bizarre, however loads of this album I truthfully can barely keep in mind writing as a result of a lot of it was simply me singing out what I used to be feeling. This was one in all my first Zoom writing periods I had with an incredible author, Breagh Isabel. Fairly effectively as most songwriting periods go we simply began to speak about life and what was taking place and we landed on this as a result of at that second I used to be actually beginning to fall for this man and not sure of easy methods to inform him. Additionally making an attempt to navigate this sense of being tremendous lovey-dovey, it’s odd for me! I’m very a lot a realist and I may be an affectionate individual, nevertheless it had been a very long time since I had felt that very giddy new kinda love. So, saying one thing like “butterflies, so alive, acquired me performing silly,” simply felt prefer it captured that new love feeling the place you’re hastily doing stuff you wouldn’t sometimes do, nevertheless it feels good though odd.

Your music video can also be extremely enjoyable – a smile-inducing visible to enhance your music. What message do you hope your viewers takes from this video?

Tafari Anthony: General, I simply needed to normalize seeing a polyamorous relationship on this video. It will probably really feel very taboo as a result of most individuals will not be practising this fashion of affection, so far as we all know, however it may be fairly rewarding and galvanizing to see people who find themselves capable of love freely with out boundaries or confines of what we’re informed romantic relationships ought to appear like.

I actually love your vocal efficiency, and the highly effective harmonies occurring all through “Fumble.” Do you thoughts sharing extra about that tune, and the way it happened?

Tafari Anthony: Thanks a lot! That is in all probability the peak of my frustration with beforehand talked about relationship. At this level communication was so sparse and what I used to be being informed versus how he was performing simply was not including up. That is in all probability the second I ought to have given up on that relationship and ended it myself however hey, you reside and also you study. The tune feels prefer it’s all the time on the sting of breaking as a result of that’s precisely how I used to be feeling at the moment. Uncertain if we have been nonetheless relationship or not relationship. Uncertain if we have been simply giving him some area or if area meant one thing else. Clearly being Poly you don’t ever have somebody’s full time, however for issues to work correctly it’s a must to talk. In the event you don’t have communication you don’t have anything.

This album can also be bookended by two gorgeous songs – “Hurting, Too” and “S’posed to Go.” Are you able to discuss concerning the journey you’re taking us on from one finish to the opposite, and why you picked these two tracks because the album’s starting and finish?

Tafari Anthony: These two songs humorous sufficient will not be about the one that nearly all of this album was about. So, in simply that alone it felt like they wanted to be slightly bit separated from all the pieces else. I feel in “Hurting, Too” you hear and really feel a craving for one thing extra. Then the album takes you on a journey of self-discovery. Falling in love in new methods, and an eventual heartbreak or two. I ended with “S’posed To Go” as a result of it’s truly the one time I straight say something about being non-monogamous, whereas in “Hurting, Too,” it’s alluded to the will, however not mentioned explicitly.

One factor I’ve all the time liked about your songwriting is that you just put a lot care into your lyrics, whereas sustaining a really pop-skewed sound –– there’s not loads of sensible pop music on the market, however I’ve all the time thought-about you to be a part of that membership. Do you thoughts sharing a few of your favourite lyrics and the traces that resonate most, for you, on this album?

Tafari Anthony: Excessive compliments! Thanks a lot! Okay, one in all my favourites is from “You May Have It” – I assume it’s my future / Youngster, I by no means been so turnkey. I actually had enjoyable with some wordplay on that tune. This was one in all moments I felt so impressed with myself!

One that basically resonates with me is from “S’posed To Go” – How might I play the function and never see that you just’d all the time go? So typically I have a look at my life and it seems like I’m watching another person unfolding. I feel as a result of I get so caught up within the current and simply pushing issues ahead it doesn’t all the time really feel like I’m paying attention to all the pieces that surrounds me within the second.

Do you will have any definitive favorites or private highlights off this file? What, for you, are the “sleeper” hits and the deeper cuts that you just hope followers will uncover in time?

Tafari Anthony: It’s all the time laborious to choose a favorite, and particularly on this challenge its all the time altering. Proper now, my favorite is “Don’t Say What” – perhaps it’s the change in season, however this one feels just like the transition into winter for me. It’s heat but there’s a little bit of unhappiness beginning to creep in.

I feel a sleeper hit could also be “Possibly It’s Simply Me” or “You May Have It.” Each of those songs began out as fairly completely different vibes and I ended up actually flipping the sounds of them when it got here to manufacturing. However I really feel like they each might work in numerous types and that makes them hit worthy to moi!

What do you hope listeners finally take away from After I Met Your Girlfriend? What have you ever taken away from creating it and now placing it out?

Tafari Anthony: I hope individuals will admire the album as an entire physique of labor. I do know we’re positively in a singles tradition and many individuals will suppose I’m loopy for placing out an album, and albeit typically I feel, what’s the level? However really it simply felt proper to do it this manner and a part of that’s as a result of I really feel like there was a full story to inform right here. I hope when individuals hearken to the album, they really feel seen and really feel that it’s okay to not simply be one model of themselves. We’re multifaceted as people and the album doesn’t simply span one style or vibe. It might appear all over musically, nevertheless it’s simply an sincere illustration of what I take pleasure in and what feels good to me. I feel individuals ought to do extra of that; what feels good to you, what is smart to you fairly than what you are feeling individuals need from you or what you are feeling like it’s essential be doing.

Final query –– who’re you listening to nowadays, that you’d advocate to our readers?

Tafari Anthony: A staple on my headphones is Lydia Persaud’s Moody31 and truthfully, her first album as effectively! Simply completely crafter music and a tone which you can’t assist however be drawn into. Begonia’s Powder Blue… I can’t even say rather more than simply to go run and hear and thank me later! And a 3rd that has stayed in rotation for me is SZA’s S.O.S.

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