Listen to tendai’s playlist for feeling fearless

Welcome back to Selections, a series of artist-curated playlists from those in the know.

East London vocalist tendai crafts dreamy, melancholic soundscapes merging elements of soul, alt-rock, electronic and contemporary R&B with his soothing, atmospheric melodies. Signed to Def-Jam’s UK imprint, 0207, the artist boasts credits for his guest feature and producer role on label-mate Stormzy’s latest album, This Is What I Mean. 

After a successful run of releases over the past few years, including the standout 2022 hit Pressure, the singer is ready to gift us his new project, The Rain. Recorded entirely in a DIY studio in London, tendai created this personal space after rejecting the notion of using an expensive studio with high-pressure surroundings. “I wanted something free,” he says. The Raido Room was a sanctuary for the artist during this time, with the numerous collaborators that passed through also adhering to the new mantra to focus their minds. “Let’s link and create community,” says tendai, frustrated with what he sees as a culture of isolationism amongst artists in the capital.

Expectations, competition and complications can be a hindrance to making quality music. The Rain is the sound of tendai, confident in his ability as a musician who refuses to give in to these ideas. In celebration of the self-produced project, we invited him to curate a playlist based on the theme ‘fearlessness’. With tracks from himself, The Streets, Burial, PinkPantheress and more, tendai perfectly encapsulates that feeling of having no fear in 11 tracks. Tap in below.