Interview with Tope Eletu
I recently had the chance to interview Tope Eletu, curator of Bad Girl Confidence, an online platform and magazine that showcase and support artists. In our interview, we talked about the first issue of Bad Girl Confidence magazine, the genesis and future of Bad Girl Confidence, curating, creativity, plus more. Enjoy!
Can you please introduce yourself and what you do?
My name is Tope Eletu-Odibo living right now in Austin but of Nigerian and British nationality. I am the creative director of Bad Girl Confidence, a platform that discovers and supports aspiring and emerging artist.
What is the genesis of BGC, how did it come about?
I have always loved curations and maybe I didn't know what it was but I knew that I liked collecting works of art and putting them together in a meaningful way, whether that was with music, art, film, newspaper clippings, or postcards photos. I usually post whatever I find via Facebook. After a while, people kept asking me where I found these things; especially when it came to music and art. Since art, film, and culture has always been a great passion of mine, it made sense to just have a place where I could document my discoveries. Initially this started as This Is Topedia, my tumblr profile. Eventually it grew into Bad Girl Confidence, moniker I used to confidence booster and a motto for the people I feature. After talking to artist who I featured, I realized it was a real challenge for them to get their work out there into the public arena. Therefore my passion for curation and my desire to help growing artist perfectly merged into BGC.
What is your vision for BGC and where do you see BGC in the future?
My vision is to grow BGC into a source for event organizers, galleries, and other curators out there. I want it to be a bridge between emerging and aspiring artist and the final destination for their work. I see BGC growing into a support platform for artist where freshmen artists and creatives can come for advice and direction for their creative career; and also a place where they can be linked to the next stage of their creative career. My eye is focused on creating an “Afropunk” style festival called Debut Fest/Fresh Fest (I haven’t decided yet hahah), where musicians new on the scene make their first introduction in a public arena and begin to build a wider fan base. There is so many directions BGC could go. I am excited for the future.
How did BGC magazine come about?
The magazine came about as a way to reach people who weren't always online. Our main audiences are digital natives but some people like something they can hold in their hand. I wanted the magazine to be special. Not just a monthly production but a carefully curated piece that showcased a selected few artist we had featured on the website. The aim is that this will be a bi-annual offering that people can purchase for their coffee table.
What was the creative process like and were there any challenges?
It was a rush. The schedule for it was moved up due to being invited to the Northside festival. Luckily, the content was already online so it was a matter of getting better quality images. It was stressful altogether because I had never done anything like this before. Printing a magazine?! I had trouble printing my final coursework for college! I had to get over my fear first of all. I broke each step into a time frame and task. It made it easier to face. My mother always says “how do you eat an elephant?”, and her response is “in little bits.” So that’s what I did. Another challenge was adequately communicating with my graphic designer, Jamie DeAngelo about my vision. We were not always in the same room and there were frustrating moments. The biggest challenge was believing in myself and believing I could do it. As for my creative process, I go with my gut feeling always. If it doesn’t feel right. I let it go. I involve others just in case I am missing something but I trust my instinct every time….probably to everyone’s frustration!
How did you pick the creatives for the project?
Gut instincts. It all came down to what felt right. 80% of the time it did. 20% of the time, it came down to what was available to me. It wasn't that hard to get the creatives on board. So I just had to be picky about what went in. I asked for what I wanted but I think deep down I knew who I wanted and what pieces of their work I wanted to see in print.
What are some of your major source of inspiration?
The creative people around me and their humility inspire me. I look at what my friends are doing. Outside of them I am inspired by Afropunk’s work.
Yagazie Emezi is another creative director out there and I love the work she puts together. Tumblr is a major source of my inspiration as is 2dots.
Was creativity part of your childhood?
It had to be. I was miserable without it. I was always drawing, sketching, painting, or making things. Anything that involved my hands was fair game. It shaped the classes I took at school. I enjoyed making clothes, drawing comic book characters, and songwriting. Those were the things I engaged in the most.
You recently participated in Northside Festival. How was that experience?
In early March, a representative from the Northside Media Group reached out to me and was interested in bringing me on as a exhibitor at their Brooklyn festival. I was incredibly nervous because this would be the biggest exposure I had ever had, in essence it would be my coming out party. Northside was such an eye opener. It allowed me to really craft my message and vision for BGC. I met so many amazing creatives who were looking to either collaborate or support my work. It was refreshing to see people get excited about the brand; especially people I had not previously met. It lifted my spirits and showed me that this journey has just begun and there is so much potential for BGC to be a place where artists can be themselves and thrive.
Whats the state of the creative community in your city?
It’s growing and thriving. Everyday I find out about another person and I think really? right under my nose?! It’s fantastic. It’s no Brooklyn but I think musically and artistically we are strong; and hopefully through cinema, Austin will be a fertile grown for all kinds of creative.
In your opinion how will you define creativity?
Creativity for me has always been about getting in touch with your soul and getting to know who you are at the core. Not everyone is good at it but everyone CAN do it, if they are open to it. It’s about beauty and it’s about expressing the real conditions of human life and emotions with every action you take and every stroke of the pen. It keep life moving. Without it, we would all just be soulless creatures.
Where is your favorite spot in Austin?
The outdoor market place on South Congress. I love wandering around and seeing what people have created.
Whats on your playlist now?
Amerigo Gazaway’s remixes are killing it. He combines unlikely artists and creates a whole new genre; like Fela Kuti and James Brown or Marvin Gaye and Mos Def. Also currently addicted to Sleepless by Cazzette. Bobby Earth is another gem. A local aspiring musician that we featured on BGC. Soft Glas, After The Smoke, Pharrell Williams, Janelle Monae, and Soulection’s mixes.
What do you like most about what you do?
Oh hard one…I guess I like that people are able to find new things because of me. I like engaging with the artists and hearing about their lives. I think it’s great that for them being featured is a way to get more people to know about them. I just love discovering new things. Fills me with joy and allows me to do what I love which is curate…
Bad Girl Confidence: The Art Issue (purchase HERE)
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