Nigerian-born musician and producer LA Timpa features in the second film in Paul Johnston and Adam Beck’s trilogy about young artists who are making their mark on the world. The trilogy is supported by The Creator Class; a community of visual storytellers led by and for its members, helping them to turn their passions into a lifestyle and a living.

Since releasing his first EP, Animal, LA Timpa has been making noise on the Toronto underground music scene, using distortion and down-tempo to craft a uniquely story-driven sound.

Johnston and Beck’s miniseries accompanies their feature film of the same name, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival’s Next Wave program.

Keep scrolling to view a gallery of stills from the film and to read an exclusive interview with LA Timpa.

Read an exclusive interview with LA Timpa, where we he talks about his life, his music, and his work.

Q. There's a real element of storytelling in your work, from your debut EP Animal, to the more recent Garden, released this February. Where does this impulse to tell stories, alongside music, come from?

For as long as I can remember I've always told stories. I created an extremely detailed country with my sibling growing up, and I think it just stuck with me in making music. Stories are the best way to convey a message, and it's the way I love to communicate a message within a song or full body of work.

Q. You were born in Nigeria, and later emigrated to Toronto, Canada. How has this experience shaped your work?

Just always having that piece of memory and being somewhere that's totally different to where I live now. It's a piece of history of mine that I can try and remember certain moments and make sense of it and why I am the way I am. I think going to church in Nigeria and the music I listened to helped shape what I like. 

Q. Your sound is really distinctive. On Animal, pipes, delayed guitar strings, and drum machine beats create this otherworldly atmosphere. Can you explain this style, and your approach to making music?

I just put on a bunch of different hats. Put on the hat of a composer, a musician, a beat-maker and try to write chords/music, and then I put on the producer hat and try to make sense of everything. It falls way more naturally than me explaining it. Sometimes I sit in front of the piano or keyboard and just play whatever feels right. 

Q. What challenges and opportunities do you face being a young creator today?

There aren't any challenges, you just create the material. You have the opportunity to release music independently as a young creator. 

Q. What would you like to achieve with your future work? What's next?

I'd like to make very colourful albums. More music.