How Tekno Found Solace Again in Music After Almost Quitting the Industry

Tekno is in a season of peace.

After residing in Nigeria and the United States, the 33-year-old musician has called Paris home for four months by the time of his Zoom call with Billboard .

“I feel like spending this amount of time in Europe is very amazing for me mentally, it’s really helped me,” Tekno says.

Reaching the state of serenity isn’t just by happenstance, but the aftermath of resilience.

In April 2017, Tekno publicly announced that he suffered from severe acid reflux, which caused his vocal cords to become inflamed.

The diagnosis followed his slew of hits including the global smash “Pana,” penning and producing Davido’s genre-defining “If,” and receiving co-signs from the likes of Drake and Billie Eilish .

The hitmaker transitioned from being one of the biggest stars to come from the continent to him considering quitting music.

“Why is it the same moment I’m with Drake in the studio and I can’t sing?” the Nigerian singer-songwriter recounts to Billboard .

“[Or] I’m supposed to be recording this record for Billie Eilish, Travis Scott and I’m here I can’t even sing for them.

All that boiled into anger and dissatisfaction, I was sad.

I don’t like using the word ‘depressed,’ but I was cooked.” Tekno’s ongoing battle with acid reflux resulted in a severe episode, where he was unable to speak for nine months, and was forced to cancel shows that totaled a loss of millions.

The mental and financial turmoil pushed Tekno to search for a resolution.

After numerous doctor’s visits, Tekno made the decision to get vocal cord surgery in New York in 2019.

While the procedure was successful and he fully regained his voice a year later, his passion for music didn’t return with it.