By Tanya Gamble 

If you ask Sway Tae, an up-and-coming R&B artist from Buffalo, he’ll describe his music as melodic R&B.

He’s trying to make his mark in the New York music scene with a sound that’s new and unique – although if pressed, he says that his music draws elements from some of his favorites such as 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown and Drake.

The 26-year-old said, “I think my signature sound might be [described as] melodic. Simply because I’m going to tell you some stuff that I’ve been through, and I’m going to help you get through whatever you’re going through at the moment.”

Tae says musicians have to experiment with their sound in order to evolve and grow.

“[You] never know, I might make a song in a whole different genre that I’d never thought I’d tap into. It could be rock, I might make a rock song one day — a country song (and he was saying this before Beyonce released “Cowboy Carter”). I don’t even listen to country, but the right person might come in and I would be willing to – Something like Lil Durk did with his song, ‘Broadway Girls’.”

Tae comes from a musical family and reminisces about his grandfather singing while playing the piano while Tae was growing up. As a child,  he would also incorporate music into everything he did.

“When I was in middle school, I used to freestyle in class. [I] would pen tap on my desk and freestyle to it and I would get kicked out for that,” Tae said.

Tae went on from being asked to leave some of his classes at Amherst Middle to graduate from Kenmore East High School.

His latest song, “Can’t Stop Me,” is a motivational self reflection.

“My new song ‘Can’t Stop Me,’ is me being proud of myself and what I’ve done so far. The only person that can really get in my way is me. So [the song] is really a message to myself and me letting everyone else know,” he said.

Tae says his latest EP, “Reminiscent,” was inspired by events in his life.

“The ‘Reminiscent’ project that was a year or two in the making of me having to deal with a lot of bull**** going on – it’s relationship stuff in there – fake friends type s*** in there. It’s like a roller coaster. So you listen to it – it’s inspirational. There’s moments when I’m pissed off, hurt or I’m feeling myself.”

As far as his thoughts on current popular music, Tae says he would love to hear different sounds:

“I have a mixed opinion about [current popular music]. Some of the stuff I like – like it’s cool. But a lot of the s*** that’s going on, I really don’t condone as far as the whole men being feminine thing – I’ll say this. A lot of female rappers are better than the males right now and I think everybody for the most part lacks originality. Everything just seems stale and sounds the same.”

You can check out Sway Tae’s YouTube Channel and Instagram for more Information on his music.

Tanya Gamble is an arts writer from Cheektowaga. She received her journalism degree from Buffalo State University in 2023.