Exclusive: A Q&A with Deto Black….From Lagos with Love

Deto Black — who is currently based between London, Lagos and Los Angeles — has carved out a niche for herself as an internationally touring, prolific musician.

Also known for her distinct yet immaculate sense of fashion, Deto likewise garners unanimous praise for experimenting not only with music, but with her formidable presence both online and in person. Musically, Deto’s lyrics flirt with arduous self-assuredness, unabashed sex positivity and raw femininity — all swirling together nicely and oftentimes chaotically (though a tasteful chaos, at that!) to craft Deto’s unique sound and image. Through our correspondence, Deto divulges what it means to be an international artist in the 2020s, as well as delightfully sharing her zodiac sign, vocal inspirations, dream collaborations, and more!

 As a globetrotting artist, I’m certain you experience all sorts of music, art, people, etc. while on tour or vacationing. As such, exposing oneself to a myriad of cultures perhaps impacts the way a musician, such as yourself, sees the world and, thus, makes music. Coupled with personal experiences and memories, traveling and living in different continents makes for a fascinating perspective. Where does the bulk of your inspiration come from, and how does it affect your work?

I’d say my work is very much inspired by my feelings, especially my music. When I’m in the studio, whatever I make is based on my emotions at the time. I’ve been lucky enough to have experienced different cultures in my lifetime, and I definitely draw inspiration from that. Different cultures evoke different feelings; from LA I feel freedom, from Paris I get love, from Lagos I get strength, from London, calm. All those different feelings help me create.

The Knockturnal: Who are your vocal inspirations?

Deto Black: Young Thug and Nicki Minaj.

The Knockturnal: How old were you when you began to sing and make music? 

Deto Black: I remember writing a song for my cousin when I was about ten.

The Knockturnal: What feelings go into the creation of your lyrics?

Deto Black: Love and rage.

The Knockturnal: Where is your favorite place to perform?

Deto Black: Amsterdam.

The Knockturnal: Where is your favorite place to make music?

Deto Black: Lagos and London.

The Knockturnal: Who was your first favorite singer and/or band?

Deto Black: Rihanna.

The Knockturnal: What art mediums are you inspired by?

Deto Black: Clothes and photography.

The Knockturnal: Where did your stage name come from? 

Deto Black: Deto is short for my full name, Adetoun, and Black is a name I gave myself. I have a really big family who I love, but I wanted to create an identity of my own.

The Knockturnal: Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with?

Deto Black: Young Thug, Nicki Minaj, Sahbabii, to name a few.

The Knockturnal: What’s your zodiac sign?

Deto Black: Sagittarius.

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Artist: Detoblack @detoblack

Photo: Jeiroh @jeiroh

MUA: Diana Arian @diana_beautymaker

Words: Kellen MacGregor @k31__13n