Tunde Olaniran Returns with Local Dancer, New Female Film Collective

On Friday, October 14, Flint-based Tunde Olaniran returns to the Pyramid Scheme with opening support from local hip-hop act ConvoTronics and Detroit singer Britney Stoney.  

Olaniran resists easy categorization, having fronted rock and electro-pop projects and worked with dance and hip-hop producers, as well as self-producing his solo recordings, in which his multi-octave voice fluidly switches between soulful crooning and smooth rapping. More than anything, his confident, socially conscious songs encourage individuality and nonconformity, and speak to those who feel marginalized by society. Tunde has been featured in Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Stereogum, Noisey, and a national advertising campaign for Motorola. Olaniran's theatrical performances feature colorful costumes and extravegant choreography, and he has toured across Europe and America, playing with artists including Robyn, Dawn Richards, Sleigh Bells, Diplo, Flint Eastwood, and Jr. Jr.

I think there are a couple of really interesting angles to note here. Aurora, a Grand Rapids native, has moved to Flint after joining Tunde Olaniran's live performace team as a dancer & now travels the country on tour with the artist. Seeing a Grand Rapidian climb the ladder of fame on a national scale I think would be compelling.

The other story I saw here was centered around the local opening act, ConvoTronics. In anticipation of there forthcoming release on Hot Capicola records, they have begun to collaborate with a new, all female film collective LaFEM collectif. Collective founder, Naomi Brown, speaks of the rampant misogyny in the local film industry, and how her and her team seek to dismantle these structures.