Constance Olatunde, professionally referred to as Konstance, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and actress.
She is thought for her singles, Melo and For You, (2023), and her debut EP In The Starting (2024).
Olatunde makes her appearing debut in Mud To Desires, a brief movie written and directed by acclaimed British actor Idris Elba. Inside a runtime of twenty minutes, this formidable manufacturing captures the tenderness of fleeting moments, the load of familial bonds, and the redemptive energy of music.
Olatunde performs ‘Bisola‘, a shy younger lady who inherits her mom’s struggling Lagos nightclub, resulting in an sudden reunion together with her estranged father. By collaborative stay performances, they bridge their previous and work to save lots of the venue’s legacy.
Produced by Nigerian filmmaker Mo Abudu for EbonyLife Movies, Mud To Desires additionally stars Nse Ikpe-Etim, Atlanta Bridget Johnson, Eku Edewor, and award-winning recording artist Seal.
Olatunde speaks to us about taking advantage of her debut function, holding her personal alongside appearing veterans, drawing from private experiences, and future aspirations.
Please introduce your self …
My identify is Constance Olatunde and I’m a Taurean. I’m Nigerian. I hail from Ekiti State however I grew up in Lagos, so I’ve bought a little bit of each in me. I’m a singer and simply began my appearing profession.
Describe your life in a single phrase or a sentence.
I might say my life has been intriguing.
Why are we right here?
I’m right here as a result of I play Bisola within the film Mud to Desires.
Inform us what this movie is about in your personal phrases.
Mud to Desires is about household, love, and legacy. It talks a couple of mom, her daughter, and the secrets and techniques that tie them collectively by means of music. It’s actually about discovering your voice and holding on to your goals, it doesn’t matter what life throws at you.
Introduce your character?
Bisola might be sassy on one hand however she can be shy. She is a teen who loves music with hopes of turning into a profitable recording artist, however is simply too afraid to chase her personal goals. By the story she was capable of uncover her voice, and in addition her power. Bisola represents hope, and the validity of particular person goals.
Why’d you say sure?
I mentioned sure to this function as a result of I join deeply with Bisola and her story felt actual to me, particularly how music turns into her manner of expressing and therapeutic herself. I wished to convey that emotion to life.
Your course of making ready for this function?
It wasn’t really easy making ready for this function. I’d say I put a lot strain on myself, seeing because it was my first time appearing and I wished to ship very well. So, I simply saved on studying the script again and again.
What you really liked about attending to know your character?
What I cherished most about Bisola was how shut she was to her mom. You might actually really feel that deep love and connection between them. Their relationship was so real. I additionally cherished her outfits; they have been in my consolation zone, and that made me really feel assured and free whereas appearing. I linked to her sassiness as properly; she knew what she wished and carried herself with a lot angle and charm.
Favorite line your character says?
My favourite line is “You don’t count on me to name him daddy do you?” That is one thing I used to say to my real-life mom and we’d chuckle about it, so it felt pure to me after I noticed it on the script.
Most essential scene for you?
Crucial scene for me was the one the place everybody was outdoors washing the automobile and enjoying with water. It was such a hearty second and I cherished it as a result of I haven’t actually skilled that sort of scene in actual life, so attending to stay it by means of Bisola felt particular. It jogged my memory what a easy connection can seem like.
Your character Bisola serves because the emotional bridge between generations on this story. How did you method enjoying the daughter caught between her ailing mom and absent father?
Enjoying Bisola because the bridge between her mom and father was fairly emotional, as a result of she’s about to lose a deepest connection after which be with somebody she barely is aware of. So, I needed to method that from an actual place, the sensation of affection and confusion, attempting to speak in confidence to somebody new whereas attempting to let go of her protected house.
What was your expertise working with music on this movie? How did you put together for these musical moments, and what was it like showcasing your mellifluous vocals within the duet with Seal?
Music has all the time been an enormous a part of my life, so getting into a personality who expresses herself by means of it felt actually pure already. For the musical moments, I linked emotionally first as a result of I didn’t simply wish to sing, I wished individuals to really feel what Bisola was feeling.
Singing the duet with Seal was such an exquisite expertise and alternative. His presence, his voice, all the pieces simply introduced out a brand new stage of confidence in me. It felt like two generations connecting by means of one music, which matched the story completely. It’s a second I’ll always remember.
Your scenes reverse Seal contain a father-daughter dynamic the place he’s attempting to make up for misplaced time. What was your method to constructing that tentative relationship on display?
That a part of Bisola’s story actually spoke to me as a result of it’s one thing lots of people, even I can relate to, So after I was enjoying Bisola, I pulled from that emotion; a mixture of forgiveness, curiosity, and love . It made the scenes with Seal really feel actual as a result of I understood that quiet pressure between love and disappointment.
What was it like working underneath Idris Elba’s path? Did he convey a specific method or imaginative and prescient to the undertaking that influenced your efficiency?
Working with Idris Elba was actually such an exquisite expertise. He’s very intentional along with his path. He doesn’t simply let you know what to do, he helps you truly really feel the second. He creates a protected house the place you may discover your feelings and actually stay contained in the scene.For me, his imaginative and prescient made all the pieces really feel grounded and human. He pushed me to belief my instincts extra and never overthink particularly within the emotional scenes.
The movie options a number of Nollywood stars in cameo roles, together with veteran actress Nse Ikpe Etim, who performs your mom. What was the ambiance like on set with this ensemble, and what did you be taught from working alongside her?
Nse made me really feel so protected and cozy, like I may simply breathe and be current in each scene. Performing alongside her felt really easy and blissful, nothing ever felt compelled. We’d run our strains collectively off digital camera, share laughs, and simply join naturally. That made it really easy to construct that actual mom–daughter bond you see on display. She has this calm, highly effective vitality that teaches you with out her even attempting. I actually discovered lots from her. Being surrounded by so many Nollywood stars, as a substitute of feeling intimidated, I felt actually welcomed. The vitality on set was so heat. Everybody was form, playful, {and professional}. It was actually the proper surroundings to have my first movie expertise.
The movie offers with sickness, household estrangement, legacy, and the worry of loss. Which of those themes resonated most with you personally?
Positively the worry of loss. I believe everybody has that one particular person they will’t think about dropping, and for me, that feeling actually hit dwelling whereas enjoying Bisola. Her love for her mom was so deep, and watching her face the thought of dropping her was emotional for me as I may relate to that worry.
As an actor, how did you method conveying Bisola’s story inside a 20-minute runtime, and what did you discover best about telling such a robust story in a brief movie format?
I believe the runtime labored very well as a result of each scene carried a lot weight. It didn’t really feel rushed, it felt intentional. A part of me wished we had extra time to dive deeper into Bisola’s world and her bond together with her mum. There was simply a lot emotion there. Nonetheless, I really like that it leaves you wanting extra that’s when the story hit proper. I simply centered on being actually current in each second. With a brief movie, you don’t have time to construct slowly, so each line and each look has to hold emotion and which means. For me, it was about ensuring individuals felt Bisola and the way she carries the story even within the quiet sequences.
Given your vocal talents highlighted within the movie, would you be concerned with pursuing extra music-driven roles?
Positively. Music has all the time been an enormous a part of who I’m, so I’d like to do extra roles that permit me to mix each appearing and music. There’s one thing highly effective about telling a narrative by means of a music and it simply hits in a different way. After all, I’m undoubtedly open to extra music-driven roles, something that lets me categorical each side of my creativity.
What sort of roles or tales are you hoping to discover subsequent, and the way do you suppose working with Mo Abudu as producer and Idris Elba as director would possibly affect your profession going ahead?
Working with Ms. Mo Abudu and Idris Elba actually looks like such a blessing. They’re each powerhouses within the trade, and being a part of a undertaking they believed in gave me plenty of confidence. I hope this movie opens extra doorways for me, not simply in appearing but additionally in storytelling and music. I need individuals to see my ardour and vary by means of Mud to Desires. I’m drawn to roles that really feel actual, with thrilling characters who’ve depth, angle, or perhaps a little bit of chaos. I really like tales that make you’re feeling one thing, whether or not they’re emotional, humorous, or dramatic, and I simply wish to continue to grow, attempting new issues, and having enjoyable whereas doing it.
As a brief movie, Mud to Desires has formidable objectives. What was essentially the most rewarding a part of enjoying Bisola, and what do you hope audiences take away from her story?
Essentially the most rewarding a part of enjoying Bisola was how emotional and actual her journey felt. I cherished exhibiting her development from being scared and uncertain to discovering her power and voice. It was such an exquisite transformation. I hope audiences get that it doesn’t matter what you’ve been by means of loss, ache, or confusion you may nonetheless end up once more. There’s all the time gentle on the finish, you simply should hold believing in your personal voice.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU…
If not this, then what? Actually If I weren’t doing this, I’d most likely be dancing or making numerous vogue content material.
What movie or TV collection are you watching? I’ve been entering into Black Clover, it’s an Anime.
What e book(s) are you studying? I’m nonetheless finding out and plenty of my focus just lately has been on my college work. However I’ve been exploring Wattpad and my present learn is Extra Espresso by Marah Lynn, which I’m actually having fun with in the mean time.
The final movie you watched? The final movie I watched was The Web.
The final stay music occasion? The final stay music occasion can be the listening social gathering for Mavo’s Kilometer II EP.
What’s at the moment in your playlist? The songs at the moment on my playlist are “Maintain Me Tight” by Manana, “Discuss To Me” by Montell Fish, numerous Rema in fact, Gabzy and Amaarae. Simply the vibe I’ve been feeling just lately.
What’s in your bucket checklist? Some issues on my bucket checklist are-going to Japan with my sister, making music with my favourite artists, and having a stronger reference to God.
The place’s your glad place? My glad place is simply being alone, listening to candy music, getting misplaced in my ideas, consuming numerous meals, and discovering much more music I really like.
Rejoice another person. I’m specifically celebrating my household, my good pals and followers; I really like them a lot.
Rejoice your self. I’m pleased with how far I’ve are available my artistic journey, appearing and music and the way I hold pushing myself to develop and create.
What’s subsequent on your profession? I’m centered on creating my craft even additional, exploring new alternatives in appearing and music, and creating work I’m pleased with.
The place can we discover you? (socials) You could find me on all socials @Konstance001.
The place can we watch you at workYou may watch me through my socials.
Mud To Desires screened on the recently-concluded BFI London Movie Competition.