Meet London, Hackney-born UK Open Mic performer, Teju Chosen:

Hi Teju Chosen, thanks for joining us! Let’s get into it:

Do you play solo only, or also in a group?

Solo

How old are you?

32

Where were you born?

London, Hackney

Where did you grow up?

Islington

How did that place influence your music? (if at all!)

Did not influence my creative expression one bit.

Where are you based now, and why?

Essex, because it’s cheaper

What got you into making music in the first place?

I am a Spoken Word Artist – I make music with my words …
I started writing when I felt I had something to say about the world I was seeing around me. A lot of my work has been inspired by local and global events such as, Stephen Lawrence – 1993, Friends messy divorce – 2010, Grenfell Tower – 2017, George Floyd -2020, A man saying he wished he had my tan – 2023.

What instrument/s do you play?

Rapping

Who would be in your top 10 musical influences, and why?

Sandra Cross, Dolly Parton, Lauryn Hill, Eternal, Brandy, The Escoffery’s, Ms Dynamite, Erykah Badu, TLC (Singers)
Maya Angelou, Benjamin Zephaniah, Chris Slaughter, Andrew Carson, Tupac Shakur (Poets)
Why? I was inspired by their work, I guess. Especially their words.

Do you write your own songs?

Yes

How many years have you been writing songs for?

Over 25

What process, or processes, do you often find yourself using when you write songs?

Sometimes I plan and write down key words.
Sometimes the songs or poems just write themselves.
Sometimes, something happens and that triggers the next piece.

Why did you get into playing open mic in the first place?

Don’t always do open mic. I prefer to be a featured artist and showcase more of my repertoire.

What advice would you give new performers who are just starting out playing their first open mics?

Don’t worry, be confident, believe in yourself.
If you don’t feel confident, fake it till you make it.

What’s the hardest thing, for you, about playing open mics?

Nothing really. Oh yes, when the microphone is positioned on the route the toilets and people keep on walking past.

What’s the most bizarre, or fun, open mic, or gig, you’ve ever played, and why?

One where people kept walking past to go to the toilets whilst performers were doing their piece.

If it’s not already, are you hoping to make music your full-time career?

Yes

What do you currently find the hardest and biggest obstacles to moving your music career forward?

Time, day job, finding an agent.

What’s the one truth about you that people often find surprising?

I was once stuck in a military coup in The Gambia and my hotel room was searched by armed men looking for escaped members of the cabinet under my bed.

What’s the most exciting project you’re working on at the moment?

My One Woman Show – ‘The Secret Diary of Teju Chosen – Aged 21+’
One night only at the Tower Theatre in Stoke Newington on 4th November 2023
You’ve gotta see it! You’ll love it! Follow me on Instagram (@TejuShow) for more info.
Comedy | Spoken Word | Drama Skits | Singing | Rapping | Live Jazz Band

Do you have your own music video, channel or playlist you’d like to share?

Do you have music on streaming? What’s you main streaming channel to send people to?

Where is the main place should people go to find out more about you?

https://www.instagram.com/tejushow/

What other sites/profiles should people go to to find out more about you?

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100043398532467" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100043398532467

We’re done! Anything else you want to share before we go?

No thanks!