British actor Andrew Garfield has revealed that the music of Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti influenced his portrayal of Spider-Man.
Speaking about his approach to preparing for roles, Garfield said he creates a playlist for every character he plays and began listening to Fela Kuti after landing the role of Spider-Man.
“I started listening to Fela Kuti when I first got Spider-Man, and there was something about the sound and the rhythm that was really useful to me for that character,” he said.
Garfield explained that Fela’s music helped him connect with the physicality of the character, as well as the themes of justice and rebellion associated with the Nigerian music legend.
He said the movement and rhythm of Fela’s music influenced how he moved while wearing the Spider-Man suit.
“There was something about suddenly being in touch with the body, but also justice-seeking, because obviously he was a revolutionary figure,” Garfield said.
The actor added that he was drawn to the power and energy of Fela’s music and wanted to reflect some of that quality in his portrayal of the superhero.
