Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Tarriq
Tarriq is an Alternative R&B artist from London creating moody dark R&B and pop songs about love, heartbreak and self-worth.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
Dancing around my room, singing along to Usher. I had got hold of Usher’s Confessions CD from my mum and just had that on repeat one day.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
My passion for creating music came after I discovered 6LACK in 2016. Before that, I was obssessed with listening, researching and even recreating some of my favourite songs from music class. I especially remember recreating ‘I. Crawl’ by Childish Gambino and All of the Lights by Kanye, and having a lot of fun doing that. But yeah, once I discovered 6LACK I was inspired to make my own music and see where this journey takes me.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
Tarriq the artist is a gateway to stories you might recognise, but in a different art form. I wanted to draw upon the modern R&B and dark Pop sounds that I’ve come to love, but shaped by my experiences.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
It’s definitely alternative R&B. A mix of The Weeknd’s intriguing sound and Banks’ dark vulnerability, depicting love and heartbreak.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
The one thing I learnt is that writing without a beat can restrict you more than writing to a beat. If I want to take a song somewhere new for myself, then I can benefit from external influences.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
Logic / Garageband, voice memos and my notes. Being able to record a melody quickly before I forget it or an extra adlib, backing vocal idea is so important to me. That and having my notes app ready to write my mumbles into a lyrical story. Really, I’m saying that I need a phone
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
An indie artist that I’ve enjoyed throughout 2025 is Emerson Azarian. She’s got a clear vision of her sound and brings that Y2K aura to a lot of her tracks in a cool way.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
My personal experiences have meant that I bring parts of my life and media I’ve watched or played into music differently than someone else. I see myself in these stories that play out like a movie and you get a snapshot of that story in each song. My perspective might be relatable, but it’s uniquely mine and drives the tone for each song down a particular course.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
Don’t give up, do what you must for love, but don’t be afraid to let go and build a better path for your future. But also be honest, songs like Treat You Right and Call Away are showing honest emotions and thoughts that might be harder to convey at times.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Music has taught me that not everything is about talent, and not everything is about who you know. Luck, perserverance and self-belief will get you further than you imagined.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
Performing at the O2 would be a dream, I’ve seen so many of my favourite artists there, and it’s made up some of my best memories.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
If I could collaborate with any artist right now, it’d probably be Banks. The energy I get from her music is specia,l and I’d love to hear what our song would sound like.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
You can find my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and all major streaming platforms. I’m also on Instagram and TikTok @tarriqmusic
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
In the next few years, I want to bring visual media to the forefront of my music. I know everyone is saying music videos are dead and a waste of money, but breaking boundaries isn’t easy. If short films and music videos can help me expand the stories and open pathways to more song,s then I want you to have them.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
I’m multifaceted, and what you get from me on one song is going to be different to what you get on another song, even if they sound similar. I hope you listen to the nuance that I place in my music to see who I really am.
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Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiZcyWSw1sU
