Grieving Through Music
In the weeks following the death of his mother, Tony Bontana retreated to his apartment and studio in an office block in Selly Oak, Birmingham. There, he dedicated himself to working on his album L’Humanité, often through the night, channeling his grief into a blend of manipulated gospel and quiet-storm loops.
“I remember recording Sittin’ on a Star (Freestyle), unable to get through a verse without crying,”he recalls over tea in a London café.
“It was literally all I could do. Writing and performing give me that instant outlet, and it really helped. It’s vital to my survival, to be able to work through these emotions, to talk about them.”
A Versatile and Restless Artist
Bontana is an underground MC known for his emotional vulnerability and visionary beatmaking. He has crafted tracks for notable US artists such as Lil B and Billy Woods. His creativity spans multiple genres, shifting according to his mood. By 2024, when L’Humanité was released, his Bandcamp page featured dozens of tracks and albums, which he uploaded almost immediately after recording, regardless of quality.
“It’s a journey. Like, ‘This is this, and the next thing will be the next thing; we’ll keep on going.’ It’s precious to me, but I’m not precious over it.”However, L’Humanité was conceived as a cohesive body of work, marking a distinct project in his discography.
Musical Roots and Influences
Growing up in a household rich with diverse music, Bontana was exposed to his father’s funk and Pat Metheny records, his mother’s passion for bashment and Anita Baker, an older sister’s drum’n’bass, and an older brother’s devotion to bands like the Horrors and Enter Shikari. MTV introduced him to hip-hop icons such as Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, and OutKast, but his first love was heavy music.
“People didn’t understand,”he smiles.
“They’d be like, ‘You listen to devil music!’”
He began writing heavy music himself after receiving his first guitar at age nine, following hospitalization for asthma, teaching himself to play. Alongside his hip-hop projects, he leads the “grungegaze” band Pay the Stranger and the hardcore-punk group Spew, which he describes as
“the outlet for my anger, the darker side of my emotions.”He emphasizes the importance of representation, noting,
“One of the reasons I do it is to show Black kids it’s OK to be into this music. Seeing bands like Bad Brains, or Stout, or Suffocation, where there were Black guys in the band … that was fuel for me.”
Developing His Hip-Hop Career
Bontana began producing hip-hop after moving into his Selly Oak apartment, creating beats on his flatmate’s MacBook. He cites US outsider rapper Lil B as a major inspiration for his artistic freedom.
“I’m just gonna do it and put it out.”He founded his own label, Everything Is Perfect, and consistently released music via Bandcamp. Over time, he developed a style he calls “splayed,” which emphasizes vulnerability and honesty.
“Splayed is about vulnerability and honesty, genuine moments and genuine emotions,”he explains.
His influences include early-2000s alternative rap pioneers Madlib and J Dilla, whom he regards as
“the godfathers to me, for their unrestrained thought processes.”He also draws inspiration from Birmingham’s musical heritage, citing Black Sabbath, UB40, and the Streets.
“I’d love to collaborate with Mike Skinner. And Birmingham hip-hop – when I was growing up, the Oddysee were amazing. But nobody knows about them.”
Challenges of the Birmingham Scene
Bontana acknowledges the difficulties of building a music career in Birmingham compared to London.
“Things aren’t set up like in London. There aren’t the venues. Getting people out to see you is a struggle.”Despite these obstacles, he remains determined.
“I’ve got to make this happen from Brum,”he asserts.
“I’ve got to be the change I want to see in the world.”
Balancing his music career with a day job as an assistant community manager in an apartment block, Bontana runs his operation on a tight budget but with unwavering resolve.
Recent Releases and Social Commentary
His latest album, My Name, is the first to be pressed on vinyl and sold in stores, marking another intentional release distinct from the numerous albums and mixtapes he has released in the interim. This work serves as a meditation on identity while continuing to explore themes of grief and the genocide in Gaza, as heard in the track Soft Dreams, where he states,
“I could never turn a blind eye.”
Bontana clarifies his stance on protest music:
“I’m not saying every artist should be writing protest songs. But if we want a world where people can live in peace, we have to speak on those things, to get to that place.”He emphasizes that his intention is not to preach but to raise awareness and foster conversation.
“We have to look at what’s going on, and be aware, and have conversations. Witnessing the genocide has affected me, so I have to speak on it, the same way I have about my grief.”
The Importance of Expression
For Bontana, catharsis through music is essential.
“I’ll go to hardcore shows at the weekend, so I can be calm the rest of the week,”he says with a grin before becoming serious.
“I’ve seen people go through the maddest shit and not even talk about it. I’m guilty of it as well. But the more I express, the more I’m honest about what I feel, the easier life is.”
