TANIKA CHARLES & THE WONDERFULS
Friday September 13
8:00pm-9:00pm
TD Stage
Since emerging on the international scene in 2017 with her debut Soul Run, Tanika Charles has revealed herself to be one of the best kept secrets in soul music. Both on stage and off, Toronto-based Charles presents an immutable charm, at times endearingly abrasive and honest in her vulnerabilities. Tanika returns in 2019 battle tested and ready to reveal the latest chapters of her life since graduating from local favourite to international success. In early 2016 Tanika independently released Soul Run within Canada. The album went on to receive nominations for the Polaris Music Prize and a Juno Awards nomination for best R&B/Soul Recording of the Year. In 2017 Soul Run was released internationally by Italian funk/soul label Record Kicks and received regular radio rotation in the Canada, the US, the UK and France.. The critical reception was overwhelmingly positive and following its release, Tanika embarked on a successful cross-country Canadian tour from Montreal to Vancouver, lighting up stages near and far. Backed by her band The Wonderfuls, she has played festivals like NXNE, Pop Montreal, CBC Music Fest, TD Toronto Jazz Fest, TD Markham Jazz Fest, the AGO Massive Party, the Pan Am Games, and many more. Tanika’s sophomore album The Gumption arrives May 10, 2019 through Record Kicks. It picks up where Soul Run left off, continuing her tradition of marrying classic soul with modern production styles. Across a dozen songs spanning 38 minutes, Tanika addresses moments of vindication, uncertain love, forbidden fruit and the state of the world today. “It’s a little more mature,” Tanika reflects on the album overall. “It’s not feeling guilty about being up front, not being afraid to address situations that aren’t comfortable for me. I’m comfortable in my skin now in a way I never was before.”
“Tanika Charles modernizes classic soul” – AfroPunk
“One of the big hitters” – Craig Charles, BBC6 Music
“I heard Tanika Charles and it just reminded me of that Beastie Boys deep funk, raw soul era” – NPR’s What’s Good with Stretch and Bobbito
