In Conversation Deto Black

Rapper and artist Deto Black is redefining what it means to be an Alté artist. Breaking out in the music scene in 2020 featured in Odunsi (The Engine)’s collaborative single ‘body count’, Deto’s snappy verses and ability to seamlessly blend into different sounds are revolutionizing the West-African creative scene. After dropping her first EP Yung Everything, the Lagos-based polymath has unveiled her new single ‘It’s A No From Me’ featuring CHI giving us all of their SASS, and yes, it is a bop! ‘It’s A No From Me’ is just a little snippet of her upcoming, and obviously much-awaited EP. Luckily for us, we had the chance to chat with Deto, talking all things from her creative rituals to the inspo behind her new single. Expect CUNTroversy.

Heyyyy Deto, how are ya doing today??
I’m good, we thank God!

Could you walk me through the journey that has led you to where you are now?
I’ve always been very interested in creating, whether it’s clothes, films, looks, or music. I’ve just always wanted to make things for as long as I can remember. At uni, I studied social anthropology, which really opened my mind up to how far I could take my creations. So it came naturally; my first musical release was in 2020, and it’s been upwards ever since!

And was there a moment where your vision really fell into place?
I feel like there are several moments, but what comes to mind at the moment are definitely my music videos. When I shoot videos, it’s like the ideas from my head come to life, especially in ‘G an G’ and ‘JUST LIKE DETO.’ But to be honest, all of them are filled with my creativity.

Where do you draw your inspiration from outside of music?
Fashion and film. Movie characters and relationships; I get really inspired by feelings. <3

Do you have any rituals to get in the creative zone?
I really like to have moon lighting in the studio and also not too many people around me so I can really be and create in my own world.

Tell me about your latest single!
My best friend Chi and I were really just taking the piss out of things guys do that we hate. So “It’s A No From Me” is literally a song about our ick list. It’s a really fun, not too serious song, and yeah, I just love it so much.

That’s so fun! How do you think it fits into the world of your upcoming EP?
I feel like the EP is something for my listeners to get to know me a bit better… so all the songs are a bit like parts of my personality (which there are many of lol). :p

Ahah, and what was the process of making the EP like?
Well, obviously, a lot of time spent in the studio, but also a lot of time spent finding out what I actually enjoy and spending more time doing these things. So yes, that was mainly the process.

What was the inspiration behind this EP specifically?
It’s me, of course, lol.

Favourite memory from making this EP?
Definitely meeting Finn, who produced a lot of the songs I’ve been working on. And yeah, I mean, he just gets me sonically, but we also became really good friends.

That’s so nice. What can we expect from it?
It’s sexy, it’s fun, it’s bossy. Expect CUNTroversy.

Now I have to ask, what are your spring/summer Ins and Outs?
Listening to my gut is IN, and ignoring intuition is OUT.

Dream collab?
Oh my God, Doja Cat!

What’s a question no one has ever asked you before but you wish they would?
I don’t really like being asked questions; I actually prefer to ask them!

And lastly, what are you manifesting for the rest of the year?
Good health, long life, and prosperity.