Caleb Kunle launches his new EP Rose Hertz and accompanying film, Conversations About Love, on Nataal today. This contemplative project sees the artist move from expanses of nature to the intimacy of the bedroom while musing on myriad types of love – the self, the romantic, the familial and the eternal.

Kunle’s musical journey begun when he moved from Lagos to rural Ireland, aged eight. The contrast between these two homes allowed him to develop his warm, soulful sound that merge the two worlds, using his guitar to transport him in-between. He graduated from the local choir to open mic nights, subsequently moving to London where he won the NME X Thatchers Haze Prize of Emerging Artist Of The Year 2017. This led to his Murkage Dave-produced debut EP Eden.

This new project was made during the first Covid-19 lockdown, becoming a testament to what can be accomplished despite social distancing, limited equipment and finite locations and thanks to a shared creative energy. Kunle tells us about the life affirming practice that took place by rallying his community together in the midst of a spiralling global pandemic and the healing that came with it.

How did the songs on Rose Hertz take shape?

It was all therapy. It was not the plan to release a new EP. I live with my girlfriend Lucia and so we just hunkered in. I’d just play guitar to get my mind going and recorded everything. I reached out to a few creatives around the world and we pulled it all together. Some of the songs even have iPhone recordings on them. It was a patchwork. I was trying to channel unconditional love into an audio project.

How did the songs then inform the film?

My desire is to introduce people to my universe, which is an amalgamation of sound, visuals and dance. When I make songs, I see visuals, I see narratives. When I can’t picture a story fully, I know the song isn’t finished yet. For this film, I shortlisted a few songs from the EP to forward to the director Sylvia. They all blended so nicely as a holistic listening journey that we wrapped this concept into an idea for a video. Lucia wrote a poem, which I turned into a dance performance. Sylvia thought about moods and colours. The stylist Olivia had looks that could annunciate these kinds of feelings. Everyone came with their different concepts of love and we planned everything in about four days. The film is indicative of what can happen when creative individuals come together.

What do we learn about the nature of love in the film?

I have always been fascinated by different types of love, and the different names for love. The Greek names in the poem refer to the seven concepts of love, which have different faces and phases. For a long time, I wrote songs about unrequited love but I have come to realise that it may not be unrequited love but a love that needs to be channeled into something that is functional for me.

What do you aim to achieve with the film?

The main goal for this piece is to heal. The timing of it is special because I am Nigerian and there is a lot of unrest happening there at the moment. I want to remind people to love each other, and love ourselves first. To try to find the love behind every single gaze, behind every decision. Now is not the time to pull away and become introspective, now is the time to come together.

How is this project an evolution for your artistry?

This EP has defined a new sound paradigm for me. There were zero electronics, I had to knock on things for drums and use more live instruments, which I learnt could get a more emotional feel. When I was making Eden, I was a very different person - my purpose was to be validated. Now I have arrived in a beautiful space where I just want to make sounds my grandkids will listen to.

What is next for you?

The name of the next EP is Currency and Vibration. On it I am dissecting healing but also exploring the pillars of control. Hopefully it will be out next year!

Music and sound Caleb Kunle
Video direction Sylvia Hong
Photography direction Edward Massey
Art director and styling Olivia Snape
Production and poetry Lucia Massey
Editing Olivia Bohac
Colouring Nigel Tadyanehondo
Special thanks to Labrum London and Jane Fowler

Words Xanthe Somers

Published on 20/10/2020