OF CANAAN (David) and I have quite a long history, which started when we were bandmates in a band called C-22. This interview had a few references to that band but that's a post for another time. Ever since I met David, he had been showing me his brother's music, so I think I have the ever-increasing hipster-cred of hearing BLACK FONDU before anyone else.

I saw BLACK FONDU (Reggie) live for the first time in George Tavern, and understood what David had been talking about for years. Since then both brothers have made a name for themselves in the London scene, but I think everyone who has seen them live has a hunch that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Bolded sentences are mine, non-bolded and prefixed are theirs.

What got you into making music?

OC: I think lockdown had to happen, because everything before that was me recording voice memos, singing in the bathroom. With lockdown suddenly there was time on my hands. I saw this film, Supersonic, and when I saw the way they were making music out of thin air, and the way they are as people, I was just thinking "this looks so insanely fun". Just the creative process, I wasn't interested in how the story ended. I only cared about those early rehearsals they had and thought "I wanna do that".

BF: How did I get into making music... Piano is linked, but I don't wanna talk about piano. So let's skip to the production. I think I was around 15, and I'd be in the school music room at lunch, playing piano. Practising my arpeggios. The year 13s would all surround the computer and go like "that's so hard man" or "fire" (laughing). One of my friends from my year was in that crowd so I was interested.

They were making beats?

BF: They were making beats. I listened and was like "what the fuck is this...". I think I was on a computer literally the next day, producing on Logic.

What are your earliest influences?

BF: Classical music.
OC: It's true. We were both raised on the same kind of stuff. My earliest memories of music were in Ghana. We had this stereo system setup near the TV and we would have quite loud classical music playing.

What kind of classical music?

BF: Ballet, Bach, Beethoven...
OC: Yeah everyone, all kinds of stuff. Anyone that you should know. It was just a compilation album titled "the best" (laughing). That's what it was called. I remember my dad would have me on his shoulder, would bring me towards the music, the speaker, and away from it, almost creating a crescendo. You as a kid, you're moving towards this sound... I remember I loved that so much.

So that influence is always there. There are also spiritual influences that aren't really linked to the artists you've heard, but they affect the music you make. These are the places you go to, the way your memories link. I've had times where a smell or a sight takes me back to Ghana.

How do you approach songwriting these days and how has it changed since you first started?

BF: At the beginning when I started writing songs, every idea I ever had I'd get my phone and record a voice memo. I'd practise trusting my creativity. Often times I'd hear it back and think "this is a bad melody" or "this is a bad idea", however I repeated it enough times that I could just tell myself that I can just create things. Does that make sense? It's just all about that trust.

More recently, I let time move me. I don't tend to try make music everyday like I used to. I try and be more like.. live life, absorb the energy. And then when I feel like it I open Ableton, blank canvas and start making stuff. It just happens.

OC: These days it's not as much to do with discipline. In the earlier stages I knew that I had to be disciplined if I wanted to be good at anything. I think you get to a point where you've been burnt out and the only way to recover is to move into another gear. You take it a bit easier on yourself to help you do your craft better.

When I see you guys perform live I can see that you get deep in the zone. Do you have any rituals or tricks that you do to achieve that focus on stage?

BF: Not anymore.. But before in my set, I guess I still do technically, but I don't feel it as much as I used to, I would have the Ghana flag with me. I would have a voice memo of my mum speaking, or I would have an interlude from an album that is emotionally deep to me. I would start with that, and it'd make me feel that I know what I'm here for, what I'm doing... It makes me more vulnerable and I eliminate fear.

OC: I do warmups on the day, to make sure I don't damage my voice. So that I can recover faster after the gig. There were times when I was in my band, C-22, that- (everyone laughing)

BF: (looking at me) I think you need to add background about YOUR role.

OC: In destroying the band (laughing)... But yeah before those gigs I would be nervous, I would feel it that whole day of the gig. Now I don't get that as much, I only feel it closer to the performance. The whole day isn't tainted by it. Music is what helps me, once I press play and I'm on stage, and it's there in the speakers, then I'm in.

Do you remember your first gig?

BF: I remember my first gig, David actually played as well. That was fucking crazy. We only had one run through before, at Pirate studios. I was nervous, but luckily David was with me.

I remember that gig at the George Tavern, you brought him on stage for a few songs right?

BF: Yeah we did a few songs together. We were both running around. I played around 45 minutes of music that I just collated that month. The whole idea was that I just have to perform and get used to it. All my friends came. Gabe, a good friend of mine who's in Paper Hats, put me on that night. They played after Man/Woman/Chainsaw.

OC: There was something amazing about that time, where you're not performing alone. But you're both free to roam, which is different than how it was with C-22. Our first gig was in a showcase event for freshers, and we were on at the Warwick Copper Rooms stage. It was euphoric, because I was experiencing performing live for the first time.

How far in advance do you plan the direction you'll go, in terms of the kind of music you'll make?

BF: No plan. Kinda what I've done from the beginning is to keep making, and never have the need to know where I'm going. Every time I try to intervene in my own creativity I hit a wall. I don't think you're meant to know.

OC: It would be a lie to say I've never planned the direction, because that's how I found out I couldn't plan. I used to plan when I was starting out. Sometimes constraint can be good for you as an artist, but you don't have to impose the constraint. There already are constraints. For example, making music in my room is one constraint. I don't go to the studio.

You both gigged in a bunch of different venues, which ones have been your favourite to perform in?

OC: This is difficult because I still need to get gigs (laughing). I'll say the Windmill is my favourite though, because of the sound. The first time I heard my music through those speakers I remember I literally flipped. I jumped in the air like an electric shock had hit me, Otis who was doing sound at the time was looking at me like "is he insane" (laughing). I was so happy. It's such a big difference from when you're hearing it in your headphones.

BF: For me, it's easier to talk about favourite experiences rather than favourite venues, since every show has been different. Even at the same venue. One of my favourite shows was at The Social. The way it's designed, it looks kinda like... a 1920s broadway meets future club? The audience and their tables were so close to me that I kinda ran onto their tables when I was performing, I'd drink all their drinks (laughing). I had a lot of fun that night.

What have you been listening to recently?

OC: Animal Collective. They had an album that came out in 2009, Merriweather Post Pavilion, it's so good. It feels like they really didn't give a fuck about their envelope of sound and they were just really going at it. I like music like that that has a lot of texture. Paul McCartney, his solo work. The electronic album he did, I think it's McCartney II. Another one is Black Dice, they are from around the same era as Animal Collective, they are really good.

BF: You know Jaw Harp. They released a project called "untimely divorce of tooth + gum". My favourite song from that is Flesh Arena (he starts playing it on his phone). This shit is fucking crazy.

When can we expect to hear more music?

BF: I might drop something before summer.

OC: I put out a song in April: Dwell. I put out an instrumental yesterday that's available everywhere now.

Check out OF CANAAN's latest song on all platforms and his Instagram account for his upcoming gigs and songs. Check out BLACK FONDU's instagram and listen to his single that dropped back in September on Spotify.