For the love of the real stars, the producers, we created #Beatsmith 鈥 a series that focuses on the connections and inspirations that led to the creation of that hit song or album.
The Headies went down a few days ago, and Teni emerged as the night鈥檚 most awarded artist, taking home 鈥楤est Recording of the Year鈥 and 鈥楤est Vocal Performance (Female)鈥 for 鈥淯yo Meyo鈥, Best Pop Single for 鈥淐ase鈥, and the 鈥榁iewer鈥檚 Choice鈥 award.
Before the success of 鈥淯yo Meyo鈥 and 鈥淐ase鈥, however, Teni had 鈥淎skamaya鈥, the breakout track that turned her into an afropop sensation. The boisterous single might not have gotten as much love at the Headies as it deserved, but it did earn Spellz a 鈥楶roducer of the Year鈥 nod.
So, even though Teni has come out with a fair amount of gems since, “Askamaya” is still her at her hit-making best. Over a year after it’s release, we sat with the beatsmith behind the defining track, asking him about meeting Teni, promising to make her a hit, and pushing her to release it.
On meeting Teni:
Teni and I first met back in June of 2017, about a year before “Askamaya” dropped. We video called through a mutual friend, who later signed her to his record label.
On first discussing “Askamaya”:
She came to my studio in Lekki and was like, 鈥淏aba, I hear say you dey give people hit. Today, you must give me my own.鈥 I laughed and promised to do my best. We prayed and then recorded three songs, including “Askamaya鈥.
On main influence:
I listen to a lot of music, from street-influenced bangers to r&b hits, so I can鈥檛 say one song in particular influenced “Askamaya”. It was just a beat I made a few days before we recorded.
On the difficulty level:
Compared to the other songs I’ve worked on, it really wasn’t that difficult. Making a hit song is usually quite simple for me. I don鈥檛 sweat it. I just go with my gut, and that鈥檚 how it was for “Askamaya”.
On getting the song out:
About 3 months after we made the track, I called Teni and told her that she was sitting on a monster hit. She was like, 鈥淏aba, which of the songs?” I told her “Askamaya”. A few weeks later, it was released and the rest is history
