Tom Saison, one of Southern Africa’s most exciting tastemakers, is readying the release of his latest project — the highly anticipated EP For Those That Failed At Love. The project marks a significant evolution in his artistic journey, showcasing his willingness to experiment and push the boundaries of RnB and alternative music.
Tom is also renowned for his culture-shifting event series, Saison Sundays, which attracts audiences from across Johannesburg to enjoy the latest in music, food and fashion.
We sat down with Tom to delve into the creative process behind this EP, the emotional landscape it navigates and his reflections on the challenges and triumphs that shaped its creation.
Can you describe the emotional journey you went through while creating this EP?
So when I got into the production phase of this EP and some of the music that will follow it, I was extremely anxious and borderline depressed. I just found out that I have ADD and there were a lot of changes in my life that, dare I say, left me with a lack of stability, so from an emotional standpoint I was kind of a mess. I really used this EP and a lot of the music that I made as a way to process those experiences and that's how you have certain songs like Nowhere that end up becoming expressions of what it's like to have an anxiety attack and then having the need to find a mantra that grounds and centres you. I think throughout the EP there are a few questions that are proposed and I tried my best to not force an answer upon the listener because there's no right or wrong in the matter, but rather see this EP as a way to come to the fact that it's OK to be in the middle ground.
Which track on the EP do you feel most connected to, and why?
I feel as though this is a dangerous question because it's almost like asking me which child of mine I would be most connected to? I think I'm connected to them all equally, just in different ways. But for the sake of giving an answer I would have to say Who Said is the song I'm most connected to at the moment, because it touches on the reality of accepting that nothing is promised. Be it love, be it your dreams coming true. Sometimes you can put your all into something and it just won’t work out and THAT IS OK! This is something I've always known but I believe sometimes in life it's guaranteed that certain themes and lessons will come back to remind you that life has certain laws that are consistent. They may not be enforced every day but they will find their way back to you, lest you forget.
Were there any particular challenges you faced while producing the EP?
I mean where do I start? The list is so long. Being an independent artist comes with many hurdles and you really have to fight to get to the point where you can present your art and work to your community that is ready to receive it. But I guess the most memorable challenge was that I essentially scrapped the entire EP months ago and started from the beginning due to a number of reasons and altered plans but, you know, such is life.
How did collaborating with other artists or producers influence the sound of the EP?
I've always been pretty big on collaboration, I feel like it's the best way to grow as an artist and learn new things quickly. When it comes to the EP, I called on a few of my close friends for their opinions and involved my close friend NVMI to lay down some live guitar and bass just to elevate the ideas that I had. But in general, collaboration wasn't as central to this EP as I have done in the past because I wanted to give myself a challenge in my journey as a producer and just as a person. I've taken a position of isolation so I can focus on my own energy, so I was very in control of the creative process. So much so that when collaborations began I was very sure of what I wanted from the specific people I invited into the space. A special thank you goes out to Keamo for what she did on Scat Song because she understood the assignment immediately and delivered her verse and vocals in a matter of minutes. She’s a genius.
What message do you want to convey to your fans with this EP?
It would be that every now and then we're going to fall short. There will be certain things we will devote ourselves to and give our best to make it work and come to fruition but sometimes it just doesn’t work out. If that is what they are currently going through, they should know that this is only a season and it's never too late to start again.
Can you share any memorable moments or stories from the recording sessions for the EP?
Yeah, so in Who Said there's a very interesting skit that I managed to create with a whole bunch of sound clips from some of my favourite cartoons and classical movies that really adds on this really dope texture and I worked super hard on it. I think it took me about two to three hours just to find the right clips and form this sentence out of it all, so the moment I realised that it came together and it elevated the song I felt this really big sense of accomplishment. It was also really satisfying to see the reaction I got from my manager when he first heard it and was blown away. Just seeing the expression in his eyes really helped me realise that I was on the right track with something that was meaningful and something that would touch people in a way I hadn’t done before.
