Tunde Olaniran has released his much-anticipated debut LP Transgressor, on Quite Scientific. We were fortunate enough to attend his private listening party on August 2nd hosted at Assemble Sound hosted by WDET’s Travis Wright in Corktown, Detroit. In addition to a candid interview about his music and inspirations, Tunde (joined by beat-boxer Steve Ansara and guitarist Omar Aragones) performed acoustic versions of tracks from the album to an intimate crowd in a church built in the 1800s. The Transgressor vinyl release show is this Saturday at The Elizabeth Theater in Detroit.

In June, Tunde performed for a high-profile group of visitors, BREAKOUT presented by PLAYGROUND DETROIT where he wowed the crowd with a selection of his standout tracks on the album, including Transgressor, Diamonds, and Highway.

Image Credit, Donald Firth

“Transgressor is a complete narrative, so the decision to perform the album live and in sequence is daunting but necessary. I hope people connect to the vision when seeing it performed live as one body of work. This night will definitely be a cathartic release and a celebration for me, and dance is one of the purest form celebration. I want people to associate ‘Transgressor’ and transgression in general with movement; I hope we can imprint the songs onto people’s bodies, so dance and movement onstage will be a tool to do that.”

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From Quite Scientific:

The Afro-futurist mix of Hip-Hop/R&B/Punk that is Tunde Olaniran returns with his first full-length album on Quite Scientific entitled Transgressor. Through twelve tracks the record showcases Olaniran’s masterful approach to mixing intelligent and conscious commentary with a slew of personal revelations and heartfelt declarations. Propulsive entries like “Namesake” and “KYBM” instantly signify the hi-energy dance-pop feel has brought attention to Olaniran in the past, while tracks like “Let Me Go”, “Up & Down” and “Everyone’s Missing” make clear his abilities to be at once gut-wrenchingly emotional, candidly playful, or deadly-serious should the occasion call for any of the above.

Currently calling the United States his home, after living for various stints in Nigeria, Germany & England, Olaniran has in a very short time become one of the most beloved fixtures of an ever evolving Detroit independent music scene, as well as a driving force within the dynamically growing artistic community in Flint, MI (where he currently resides). His previous EPs have led to a deluge of praise for his talents from outlets such as The New York Times, Pitchfork, NPR, Stereogum, Paste, BlackBook, Paste, EW and countless others and his penchant for channeling his energies into additional projects as an author, choreographer, and community organizer has made Olaniran’s voice one that can’t help but be heard in 2015.

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