British actor Andrew Garfield has revealed that the music of late Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, influenced his portrayal of Spider-Man, particularly the superhero’s movements and commitment to justice.
Garfield made the disclosure in a video shared on YouTube by the Track-star-show in a segment titled “Testing Andrew Garfield’s Music Knowledge.”
The actor explained that he creates a playlist for every character he plays and began listening to Fela’s music when he was cast as Spider-Man.
According to Garfield, the Nigerian musician’s distinctive sound and rhythm helped him connect with the character on both physical and emotional levels.
He said Fela’s revolutionary background also helped him understand Spider-Man’s sense of justice and influenced how he approached the character’s physicality.
Garfield further disclosed that some of the movements he used while wearing the Spider-Man suit were inspired by Fela’s music.
The actor said he was particularly drawn to the energy and power conveyed through Fela’s music and sought to channel some of that quality into his portrayal of the superhero.
The song featured during the interview segment was Fela Kuti’s “Water No Get Enemy,” from his 1975 album, “Expensive Shit.”
