1) Tenza is a unique name; does it have any special meaning?
Yes, very unique yet not much mean other than I am my mother Tenth child
2) Past and present, which artist(s) have played a prominent role in influencing your career and why?
Pass: Yellow Man, Lt. Stichie and Ninja Man. Yellow man for is unique flows, Lt. Stichie for is lyrical pattern and flow, ninja man always made a good stage appearance weather funny or crazy always good.
Present: Bounty Killa, Beenie Man, Lady Saw and Tanya Stephen
Bounty because of his great vocals, clarity, and he always look out for the youths.
Lady saw shows power and strength for women in dancehall
Beenie man a great entertainer. Tanya Stephen Great lyrical content, very positive role model for young girls.
3) You have demonstrated a passion for giving back to the community and have been involved in a few youth empowering initiatives. Give us some insights on why you believe it is important to give back to the community and which organizations have you worked with?
I have worked with 3 youth centres in slough where I grew up in the Uk organising show performing with them etc. I have also worked with Anti gun/knife crime organization, I have worked with “Cumi” centre in Jamaica which is for
motherless children
I believe if you don’t remember where your coming from you will never know where you are going. Therefore, the community help me to become what I am today, so I helped others from the community to enjoy some of the greatness I received.
4) Do you consider yourself to be a role model? Elaborate on your response?
Yes I think so, I try my best to stay positive even though sometime negativity tries to take over, I stay positive keep doing thing with the youth around me, also I have a lot of upcoming female artist who looks up to me, as they ask for advice and I direct them as much as I can.
5) How was the transition moving from Jamaica to living in the UK?
It was great yet sad, as I leave all my family and friends behind that hurt me and had me down for a while. Pass through a lot of negative times, racisms especially. However it was like heaven on the other hand, going to school daily, learning new thing, meeting different people from different back grounds, plenty of educational opportunity right at my hand it was great.
6) What is your favourite colour and why?
I which I could say the rainbow as I love bright colours. I love bright colour but red represent, power there is no secret about red it’s so out there.
7) Your musical style varies from the normal dancehall / reggae artist. Describe your
Style?
I have no limits when it comes to flow or what beats I go on, therefore my flows will also was change which keeps me sounding fresh. Other artist says I don’t do one drop or techno or socca, not me! Just bring them all and I will sort it out wicked. That’s what makes me different.
8) The argument has been made that Jamaicans have lost dancehall / reggae. What are your thoughts on the current state of the genre?
I don’t agree, with that argument, however I see where the argument comes from. Jamaicans don’t realise how much musical influence we have on other genre of music world wide, what Jamaica done wrong, is tries to fallow other genre of music and loose the authentic dancehall sounds at times, however I still think it there , we just need to stick to what we know, Great Bob Marley, Shabba, Buju, Yellow man and Shaggy etc . We had the world accepted us and love us that way but we decided to change and fallow other genre which we don’t need to.
9) Aside from Jamaica, what is your favourite vacation destination and why?
Japan Tokyo, shop till I drop yes! Bring it on, long…. flight but problem to me!
10) What is your biggest accomplishment to date?
I have made my family and my communities proud
11) How adventurous are you? Give us the top 5 craziest things Tenza has ever done
?Oh Dear! I am so not that excited, let me see!
1.On stage called 20 men from the audience and I showed den I had no behaviour.
2.Died my hair the Rasta colours
3.Because I was in a rush I use the hair removing cream on my face loose my entire eye brow
4.Mixed coke, hot milk, coco, yougurt and pour it in my tour manager timberlands and when he put them on, he went mad!
5.Stayed in the studio for 3 days no sleep
12.Where do you draw inspiration from musically?
I draw my musical inspiration form realistic thing reality is what i believe in that’s what inspires me to write.
13.What does the song "Nuh Behaviour" means to you?
Nuh Behaviour means a lot to me as its show a more fun side to me fun, sexy and naughty lol...
14.Do you pen your own lyrics? Describe your typical setting when you sit down to write?
Yes I do pen my own lyrics i wrote every song, i spit lyrics anywhere i don’t really write as such i just vibe in my head record it on my phone then from there to the studio, i get lyrics come on the bus, train, in the car in the bath in my sleep anywhere, sometimes a person say something and i turn it into a song