top of page

... it was so different 

seeing that kind of dynamic

and seeing music

could be played that way

.

There was just something

so

electrifying

about it

Drop-down-arrow-icon-rounded.png
Title

Tolü MakaY

artwork by

Somto amadi-obi

Drop-down-arrow-icon-rounded.png

Listen to

the Music

Listen to the Memory

TOLU MAIN FINAL [4000x2300].png
Artwork

So my musical experience and journey was mostly centered around like church, kind of leading the choir, singing praise and worship. That's where it all kind of started from me. Well, that's my experience really.

It's a student area and at night-time it was just, it was awesome. You dress up and drink a little bit, you go out. What I can remember is just like mass of people outside. We're all queuing up, girls in heels. Most of us like stumbling, can't even walk properly with them, makeup done to the fullest, you know?

But then, I think it was also my first time going for nights out and seeing a different side to music because I was so sheltered. I grew up in a Christian household. So going to uni, you get to see new things and being in Galway, it was just so vibrant in night-time.

Hear This Memory

galywa-1.png

Hear This Memory

And it's just like rows of clubs. I think there was like three different types of clubs in like the same area. And the bouncer is kind of like just waiting for people to like get in.

 

I remember a night when I was with my ex then, and all the girls were in front and the guys were at the back. And the girls got in and then they told the guys... By the way, we were all Black... And they told the guys, not tonight. And it was just like we were all kind of taken aback. I think that was the first time I witnessed like something racial face-to-face because they let other guys, other white guys and other people walk past them into the club, which was quite interesting.

 

And then I remember a night I was in I think, is it called Róisín Dubh? I think it was one of the most famous places for music in Galway. I didn't know that at the time. I just went to go visit a friend of mine who was also studying psychology. He had a band and he was doing pretty well.

Yeah, it was kind of like a rock rock band. And one thing I noticed is that with rock bands, they never have a keyboardist. It's always a guitarist, a bassist, a singer, and a drummer. And I found that so fascinating because in the church you always need a keys player. That was like so fundamental. So it was so different seeing that kind of like dynamic and seeing music could be played that way. There was just some something so electrifying about it.

galway-2.png

Yeah. I'm trying to think what else. What else about the music scene in Galway? Oh yes. And every time after a night out when we're done, when I'm done like watching my gigs or whatever, Supermac's is always the location to go to. I think it's probably just an Irish thing, I'm not sure. But a Supermac's is always around the corner and literally everybody, everybody from wherever it is that they came from, packs themselves in there.

We storm ourselves in there and we see someone fighting outside the door. It's like a classic way to end a really good night.

But yeah, I think those were my memories involving music when I was in Galway. Yeah. Because I didn't start creating my own songs until literally like my last year, because I won the gospel competition called Treasure Unravelled.

So yeah, it's been interesting, but it definitely gave me a new view of life and how music is played and seen outside of the bubble of Christianity or religion. So that was new for me when I was in Galway.

Hear This Memory

bottom of page