WITH OKADA AIRLINES ITS OBVIOUS NO ONE CAN TELL A STORY LIKE TARIQ

Music isn’t just about catchy beats or self-expression—it’s about connection, and no one gets that better than Tariq. For him, music is a way to share his stories and give us a glimpse of his world.  

With his latest EP, Okada Airlines,  Tariq blends smooth rhythms and heartfelt lyrics into something he calls Afro Soul. It’s not just music; it’s a vibe—a way of letting us in on his life, shaped by constant change and the search for a place to truly call home.  

When we caught up with Tariq, we found someone who’s always creating. From his unique sound to his upcoming East African tour and festival,  he’s got big things brewing. And trust us—when Tariq says he’s “for keeps,” he means it.  

Get ready to dive into the world of Tariq, where every track is a story waiting to be felt.

NTS: Tariq, people usually choose music for a certain reason. Why did you go into music?

Tariq: For a lot of reasons, I feel like music for me was that one way that I would always be able to express myself more. For someone who was not very expressive growing up. I think it has just brought out a side of me that has always been there but with much more clarity. Music just helps me explain a lot of things and it just helped me express myself much more. And then as I began to even make more music I sort of began to realize that a lot of people, because of the music I make, also now love to express themselves even more. It just made me even much more in tune with doing all of it.

NTS: Why did you think you weren’t expressive when you were younger?

Tariq: I feel like I moved around too much and I never really had the time to settle. So I was always constantly trying to protect myself by staying in my shell. I guess music was  the best way to just get everything out

NTS: I listened to your recent EP, Okada Airlines, it had a really eclectic, yet chill vibe, something that I would just sit down and listen to in the car, you know?  What was your major inspiration for that EP?

Tariq: The whole inspiration was realizing that every moment of my life, even the ones where I thought I was just moving around, has actually been progress. I’ve always been moving forward. I was born in Benin City, moved to Lagos as a baby, then to Delta State for my childhood, growing up in Asaba, and then back to Lagos with even more moves through secondary school. Each move helped me adapt and become a better version of myself.

The idea was to capture that journey. Everyone has a starting point and a destination, and it’s the in-between—the movement, the people around you as you’re figuring things out—that’s the heart of Okada Airlines.

And there’s also a personal touch to the name: my dad worked as a station manager for Okada Airlines in Benin City in the ’70s and ’80s, where he met my mom. So, in a way, Okada Airlines is a nod to my roots.

NTS:  I saw your reaction to Young Jonn featuring on Last Bus Stop on Twitter. Why did Young Jonn featuring on the song mean so much to you?

Tariq: To be honest, I just, thank God. It was so unplanned. I made a video on my story and performing the song and he liked the song a lot and I asked him if he could feature on the song even though he was on tour and he was like no problem and yeah it happened. Young Jonn has been someone I respect a lot and having him on my song meant so much to me.

NTS: So, apart from Young Jonn, are there any other artists or any other influences on your music?

Tariq: Definitely. Burnaboy and Olamide are like my biggest influences but outside that,  my major influence to be honest has been my environment and my experiences and my family .Those are like my three big core, which is why I rarely sound like anybody. That’s what Okada Airlines  is all about, you know. It’s because I really lived there, I can tell you experiences about people that live there.

NTS: If you were to pick any top 5 artists to work with apart from Burna boy and Olamide , who would you pick?

Tariq: I definitely want to work with Coldplay, Kanye West, Post Malone, Willow Smith and Calvin Harris.

NTS: what do you think makes your sound different from others?

Tariq: To be honest, I don’t know, I don’t really pay attention about trying to be different in honesty. I just pay attention to trying to make music that  clearly gives people an idea where I’m from, the kind of life I live and the kind life that people around me live and basically my environment. Basically makes me unique because not a lot of people have had like multiple different lifestyles in different environments or the kind of environment that I have. I tell stories about my environment, stories about people that live in my environment.

NTS: If music didn’t work out? What do you think you will be doing?

Tariq: Something massive. I know that wherever I find myself, I’m going to shine. I just know that I would still, in a way, I’ll still be trying to help people understand themselves, you know, and I’ll still be trying to just do something, like make a difference somehow, you know what I mean?

NTS: Do you have any project, any new thing that we should watch out for?

Tariq: Thankfully to God, you know, from tomorrow I’m kickstarting my East African tour.

We are going to Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda. I also have my first ever For Keeps Festival coming at the close of this year in Lagos.

I am inviting you and every other person, for me it is a festival that every person can come and express themselves.The whole idea of For Keeps Festival is to just forget every other thing that matters and just come in black and white and just have fun. And I’ll be performing every song, from  Okada  Airlines and some other songs.

NTS: One last question. Why do you call yourself Tariq For Keeps?

Tariq: People say I tend to leave a great impression, so people love to always have me around.

NTS: Hahaha, okay.

Tariq: I also have a question for you? Have you listened to Okada Airlines?

NTS: Yes

Tariq: What’s your favorite song?

NTS: You know what, actually, I think it’s Italy.

I was listening to it and I was just like, damn.

I don’t even know how else to describe it but there’s no way to describe it, it’s like your own thing really.

Tariq: Thank you. I hope that you understand the whole idea of being in Italy and for every time that you want feel better, just play Okada Airlines. It helps.

NTS: I will. Thank you for your time Tariq.. Bye bye

Tariq:  Thanks guys for having me. Have a great day.