German-Cameroonian chanteuse T’neeya (Jennifer Tania Takoh) is fast-becoming one of the continent’s favourite new-age voices.
Using Soul, Alternative Afrobeat, and Dancehall, the self-taught Ghana-based songwriter affects listeners in a way that is intimate and immersive. Whether via covers or her original compositions, T’neeya’s sound, because the multi-layered texture it arrives in, appeals to a wide spectrum of audiences. And when one takes a look at the greats she cites as her influences (Micheal Jackson, 2 Baba Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu et al), it is not entirely surprising that her sound is gradually permeating with such superior effectiveness…courting critical reception even in Ghana, and guaranteeing her a place on key stages in the country.
Simply referred to as “T”, the sultry singer is already widely considered a pioneering name in the contemporary urban music space, her graceful eccentricity and avant-garde melody ensuring that.
Alumnus of the University of Applied Sciences (Berlin), T’neeya is also author of “Hold Me Down”, a submission which adds to an elegant catalogue she’s building. Produced by respected programmer VACS, the song is widely-rotated across various platforms in the country, a clear testament to it’s quality.
T’neeya’s relationship with music started at a tender age: taking herself through the rudiments of songwriting, and steadily growing a committed following for her performance on a number of talent shows in her native Cameroon. She herself did not realise the potential of her gift, till her parents started paying attention: “singing professionally wasn’t a reality for me, until my parents started noticing, I sounded good and gave me their blessing”, she recounts.
Heartfelt and moving, T’neeya’s songs usually centre on themes relating to love, joy, and struggle, crafted from a variety of experiences, and carefully conveyed via a masterful blend of Pidgin, English and French.
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