- 14 hours ago
Rising star and vocalist, Tiana Major9, will be speaking about her experiences as a Black woman in the music industry.
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00:00Welcome to Planet Afropunk. This is Soundcheck, and today we're talking with Tiana Major-Nyne.
00:12I'm your host, Eva. Tiana, how are you today? Hi, I'm very well, thank you. How are you?
00:21I'm well. What part of the world are you in currently?
00:26Right now, I'm in LA. I've been here for a week. It's very different to the UK. I live in London, so it's nice to be in the sun again.
00:41That's what I wanted to talk to you about. How is it transitioning from the UK stateside, having to navigate the industry? What's LA like compared to where you're from in the UK?
00:56Well, for one, I work with a lot more black people. I mean, I work with a lot of black people in the UK, but in terms of like my label and just people behind the scenes, like a lot of people that look like me, which is amazing. I love it.
01:14Mm-hmm. And what does that representation feel like? How does that help you navigate the industry just simply by working with black people, working with people who look like you? How has it helped you progress?
01:27I would say I feel more comfortable around black people. I'm not going to lie. I do. I just feel right at home.
01:36And also, I feel like I'm seen in the way I need to be seen, especially when I'm shooting visuals, like, because it's coming from like the black lens. It's a more accurate depiction of who I am as a black woman.
01:55And so, yeah. And I work with a lot of black women too, so that helps.
02:01What have been some of the challenges you've faced navigating the industry? I know you just mentioned one.
02:09I mean, sometimes you won't always be given the space to work with people who look like you, and that can make all the difference.
02:16So, what are some challenges you've faced in the past that kind of derailed your path?
02:26I would say any challenge that I've faced in the past hasn't derailed anything, but it's obviously made it hard in that situation.
02:37But I would say visually, like, when I'm shooting visuals and stuff, like, and having interviews, sometimes I'm not asked about, like, my experience as a black woman, like, which is very important to me.
03:01And it's just so important to me. Sometimes it gets left out, or sometimes it has to be, like, we shoot everything, and then we have to go back and be like, oh, yeah, can we ask questions about this, please?
03:14Because it's very important to me. So, yeah, I feel like that's kind of a challenge, constantly reminding people to speak about the black experience when it comes to me and my music.
03:24It's so interesting you bring that up, because there are artists who are black, who kind of stray away from speaking about the black experience, not because they're not well-versed, not because they don't care, but because they don't think that it defines their entire artistry.
03:44And they sometimes talk about how that can be distracting to their art, rather than an addendum to their art.
03:54But with you, it seems intrinsic in what you do, and just very much so a part of the art.
04:02So is there any separation at all between what you do and how you want to be viewed and heard as a black artist versus as just an artist?
04:14I feel like I'm very transparent, like, who you see me, like, what you see on, like, Instagram and, like, social media and stuff, that's who I am in real life, too.
04:28So I don't know if there's much separation. I'm just really myself in music, too.
04:36Speaking of Instagram, I know that you launched a wellness sessions series, right?
04:46Can you talk a little bit about that and how that came to be? And what was the inspiration behind that?
04:51OK, so I started this wellness sessions, these wellness sessions on Instagram, which is basically a six week program where I'll go on Instagram live talking to a professional about mental health, fitness, food and just general wellness.
05:13Last Wednesday, I spoke to a guy called an amazing chef called John Lewis.
05:21He's a cookbook author as well. And we just spoke about veganism and plant based life because it's something that I'm interested in, but I just find it really hard to do.
05:32It's quite confusing as well because there's so much information out there. So we just had a chat about, like, his experience as a vegan.
05:40I opened up the live to, like, my supporters so that they can ask him questions and ask me questions about my diet.
05:49So, yeah, every week is going to be like that. I think next week is going to be, I'm going to be speaking to a yoga teacher and then a personal trainer after that.
06:02And, yeah, just, yeah.
06:05That honestly sounds amazing. Like, I think a platform like that is kind of self-serving, but also it serves, you know, your fans, your public,
06:14who probably are going through the motions, as we all are during this time, which obviously speaks to the through line of your EP, you know, confusion, figuring things out.
06:29I know there's a line, I know I'm not quoting it verbatim, but there's a line where you say you should be allowed to feel what you feel.
06:39Yeah. Yeah. I accept my emotions.
06:42Accepting your emotions. Yes.
06:44So, I feel like a platform like that can help everyone, you know, sort through their lives and sort through their emotions.
06:51And just going back to the theme of wellness, what have you been doing for yourself to stay well and rounded during this volatile time?
07:05So, um, I started up, um, therapy sessions again, um, with a therapist and we've been doing it over FaceTime, um, which has been nice.
07:19Um, I've also been eating healthily and cooking for myself, um, which has also been fun.
07:27I love to cook.
07:28Yeah. I love to cook. So like, um, I would always, I'm, I'm always getting like new recipes to make and just having fun in the kitchen.
07:37Um, and also like just getting fresh air as well. I know it sounds simple, but, um, just going outside and having a walk.
07:46It does. And especially cause this, the apartment that I was living in prior to coming to LA, um, I was living by myself and it wasn't like a new, new area for me.
08:00And, um, um, I don't know. I just wouldn't leave the house. I just wouldn't leave the house during Corona because I don't know. I was a bit scared, but, um, yeah, I'm not taking fresh air for granted. So yeah, I'm taking walks.
08:14Yeah. I feel like New York is similar to London in that way. You kind of just stay confined and the lack of sunlight right now is going to hit everyone hard in the winter.
08:25So every time I speak to someone who moves to LA, the, the biggest difference that, that comes into play is the environment and how that affects their mood, how that affects their health, you know, um, cause it gets real season of depression, all those different elements combined.
08:44So it's also, yeah. Um, and there's an other side of the industry that, you know, talks about the toll that LA takes on themselves, their artistry, their path, but you seem to be doing really well on that side. Um, so how's it been navigating the industry now?
09:05Um, it's, it's, it's quite scary. Um, I'm having a lot of fun, but it is quite scary because, um, again, like I don't, I'm quite new to this side of the industry before I was independent.
09:19Um, and it was, um, my team was very small. It was just myself, my manager, um, my brother and, um, the producers that I worked with. Um, but now I have a whole team like globally, like in LA, um, in the UK. Um, and there's loads of people that are interested in me and just are always in contact with me.
09:47So it can be quite overwhelming. Um, but yeah, it's cool. I can't complain. Yeah. It's, it's a lot. It's a lot, but, um, that's why I'm, I had to take these one. I had to, but like, I wanted to go back into therapy because, um, I'm trying to be like huge.
10:07So I need to be prepared for that. And I need to learn how to deal with anything that comes to my life.
10:17And just having a bunch of people behind you, whether it's the label and whether it's supporters, uh, so many people involved in your artistry and your craft. Do you still feel like you have agency and what you want to do, what you want to say and how you want to present yourself and your music?
10:35Yes, definitely. Um, they're always asking me, how do I feel about this? What do I want to do? Um, just yesterday I spoke to creative director, Tanisha Scott, who I love so much.
10:48And, um, I gave her my concept of the video that I want to shoot. And she was like, yeah, anything you want to do, let's do it. Um, so yeah, I definitely feel like my team supports me in that way.
10:58They still give me the freedom and, um, they always say that it has to feel like me, which I really appreciate because it could be very different.
11:08And it helps that you know yourself, you know, because, you know, in order for something to feel like you, you have to know what you is or who you are.
11:19Some people don't know that yet. So it makes a big difference.
11:23I feel like I'm still learning, still learning that, like who I am as a person, because obviously I'm growing every day. Um, but yeah, I agree with you.
11:35Do you also feel like this, this current political climate, social climate kind of lends to that amount of agency that's given to young Black artists now?
11:48Um, just because culture seems to be shifting and things seem to be more so on the progressive end, um, as far as corporations, as far as people, as far as everything.
12:01Do you feel like that lends to what you're given and what you're able to do as an artist now?
12:07Yeah, I, I do. I do think so. I feel like a lot of us are, um, well, at the start of Corona, a lot of us were just in the house, just working, just working, working, working on ourselves, working on our music, working on our craft.
12:24Um, so yeah, it's, I feel like it's a blessing and a curse. It's, it's bittersweet, like, being in this situation where we're in lockdown and things aren't the norm, but at the same time, I feel like we've been, a lot of us have been even more creative because we've had to be creative.
12:44Like this, like, I think if we weren't in Corona, we would probably have been, like, together in person to do this interview. So, um, yeah, it's allowed us to be more creative, which is good.
12:57And as far as, like, the other side of the political and social climate, and as far as, I know you're stateside now. So stateside, there's kind of been, like, this re-reckoning with race. Um, the uprisings happen post George Floyd, um, uprisings overseas. I know in the UK there were protests as well.
13:19And it just seems to be, like, a recalibration understanding that Black Lives Matter. So it's not controversial to say that Black Lives Matter anymore, you know?
13:29Absolutely.
13:30So do you think that that, you know, newfound validity in, quote, unquote, the Black experience makes it easier for Black artists to do what they want now? Sort of because they have the grounds to now?
13:44I feel like it's, that's always, like, it's always been the case. Like, if you think about artists like Nina Simone, um, Talib Kweli, and Mo Staff, and artists like that, they've always been doing it. But, um, I feel like social media, um, has helped us be more vocal.
14:06Um, and it, it also, it also makes other Black people, like, Black people in general feel like it's okay to, to be proud to be Black, do you know what I mean?
14:19And just, like, speak out and stuff. So, yeah. Um, yeah, I feel like it has helped a bit.
14:25Because I feel like if, if we weren't in lockdown, if we, if we weren't in this Corona thing, um, I felt things would still be the same, but I don't think it would have been as, like, the movement would have, um, reached more places than it has now because the whole world's standing still.
14:49So, and I feel like a lot of eyes and ears are, um, tuned in.
14:56Do you ever feel pressure to kind of speak on what you feel when it comes to, you know, racism or social issues or social justice or everything that you care about and that you lean into with your work kind of covertly?
15:14Do you ever feel pressure to make statements or to be, like, a political mouthpiece in a way that some people expect artists to be now?
15:27Um, I feel like sometimes I personally do, but that comes from me. Like, it doesn't come from anybody else.
15:35There's nobody telling me I need to speak out and I need to post this, this and that, but I feel like for me personally, um, I'm, I mean, like everybody else, I'm learning every day.
15:50I'm trying to, um, just build up my knowledge and so I can, when, when it is time for me to speak, I know exactly what I'm saying and I'm, I'm not, um, um...
16:04Just regurgitating what everybody else is.
16:06Yeah, just, just, yeah, I, I, I, yeah, exactly. Exactly that. So, yeah, I feel like sometimes there is pressure. Sometimes I feel like, oh, wow, like, I don't know enough or, like, maybe I should say, like, but I know that, um, yeah, I just need to know it for myself.
16:24Um, and then once that, once I know it for myself and it's solid within me, then I can speak out a bit more and, um, yeah, put the information out there.
16:34Because I don't want to give no one no fake news. I don't want to give, like, you know what I mean? I don't want to be chatting rubbish. So, um, yeah, sometimes there is pressure.
16:45Yeah, and sometimes, you know, I think fans kind of project that onto musicians and artists when there kind of are other people in different fields who have the authority to be that, you know, and give that type of political leadership.
17:01But fans are so committed to the people that they follow and the people that they listen to that they kind of want to hear those messages from the artists rather than who they're supposed to be coming from.
17:11Um, so the pressure could come from there. But as someone who cares about these issues genuinely, I see how that pressure could come from yourself as well.
17:20Absolutely.
17:22But over, over this period, I know you said, like, there's so much information would be inundated with information, especially online, as people, you know, start all these initiatives and share info via social media specifically.
17:35Like, like, is there anything that you've learned over the past few months that kind of expanded your politics or expanded your mindset, um, in terms of this, all of these issues?
17:50Like, have you learned anything new? Um, or what's just been the most striking moment for you or moment of realization?
17:59Um, um, just, like, how, um, well, I feel like I've always kind of had an idea, had, I've always kind of known, but I think, I think now I'm more, like, aware of how little resources there are for black mental, like, like black people and mental health.
18:23Um, there's really not, um, there's really not, it seems like there's not much out there for us, um, which is really unfortunate, um, but, however, um, there has been a lot of new, like, startups that are dedicated to, um, working on, like, black, the black mental health, um, not experience, but, like, helping people with, uh, black people with mental health issues.
18:53Which is really amazing. Um, yeah. The conversation of black girl, like, sorry.
19:02Oh, no, I think you were about to bring up exactly what I was about to bring up, black girl therapy, or therapy for black girls. It's a new platform.
19:09Yes, yes.
19:10Yeah.
19:11Absolutely.
19:12I recently loved them.
19:12But also, yeah, I, I was sending it to everyone, I know. I had, like, there was, like, a screenshot of, like, all the links, I was sending it to everyone.
19:22Yeah. Um, but the conversation of, like, even the conversation about, like, ADHD and black women as well, like, that's something that I didn't ever think about, um, before, um, the conversation just started.
19:36But, um, yeah, it's, yeah, it really opened my eyes. I was like, wow, like, maybe I should, maybe I should look more into this for myself.
19:46Exactly. Because that's never applied to us. Like, it's never applied to us. We've never been given the benefit of the doubt or, or the insight or the allowance to struggle with mental health issues or, you know, find balance in that either.
20:07Right. And now I think there's so many resources for us to be able to disseminate that information for ourselves. And then the way social media works, the way community building works online, all those resources just gather together and, and you can kind of just build ourselves up.
20:24Um, well, one word you mentioned earlier was comfort, right? And I think that's a really important word, especially right now. So where do you find comfort?
20:39Where do you find comfort as an artist? And then where do you find comfort as your own person?
20:48Oh, as an artist, where do I find comfort? I find comfort on the stage. I really love being on the stage. Um, yeah, I don't know. I, yeah, I love being on the stage, like, being, feeding off the energy of, like, my band and just, like, no stage performance is the same.
21:09I think that's why I love it. It's, it's, it's a different feeling every night. Um, and I can also, like, so I, sometimes I surprise myself when I'm singing as well, um, because no, again, no show is the same.
21:25I try to, like, one up myself every time. So I'll surprise myself, which feels good a lot. Um, but yeah, I think just being around people and playing, um, beautiful music, that, that's, that's where I find comfort.
21:39Um, yeah, in my career. And personally, where do I find comfort? Hmm. I feel like I'm still trying to work that out.
21:50Food or ritual? Oh, okay. Food or ritual. Um, I don't know. I have loads of things that bring me joy, but I feel like I'm really still trying to work it out.
22:01Yeah. And that could change over time. You know, something that worked for you before might not work now. All the circumstances are different now. So it's like you can't really perform on stage anymore. So there has to be another source of comfort for you and still figuring that out just like everybody else.
22:23Yeah. So, um, yeah, one other thing I wanted to ask you was, as far as your career and how it is navigating the music industry as a young Black woman, what do you personally wish would change to make things easier or more compatible for other younger Black women?
22:48Um, I think, um, the industry being a bit more open-minded to the different types of Black women. We are not a monolith. Like, no, we're not the same. Like, we are very similar, but we're not, no one is the exact same.
23:08I think it's such a simple concept, but yeah, people don't get it. Um, what, what works for one, um, Black, um, beautiful female artist won't work for another one, you know? Um, there's no one formula that to get to the top, you know? So, um, yeah, I think that should change being open-minded and, um, the different types of personalities and, um, yeah, different types of Black women. There's so many, so many different types.
23:38Um, what's your own definition of success? Oh, my own definition of success, um, being happy in, um, the things, like, being, like, being content with my music, um, and being financially stable, um,
24:06Mm-hmm. Yeah, just being comfortable enough to, like, live and still, like, experience the world to, like, travel, um, but yeah, I think the biggest thing is being content with the things that I put out and just, um, yeah.
24:27I'll always be critical of myself, but I need to get to a place where I'm just, like, you know what, I'm actually good. Like, I'm actually, like, sick. So, yeah.
24:41Yeah, well, the record shows you're very good.
24:45Thank you so far.
24:47But as far as, as your artistry and your future in the business, how do you envision your legacy as an artist?
25:05How do I envision it? Um,
25:07Um, I want to be known for, like, my songwriting and changing the way, um, people see, people see love, one, and also, like, um, yeah, just, yeah, opening up the conversation about love because I feel like, in a lot of music, it seems like there's only one way to love.
25:28And there's only one way to feel loved. Um, I kind of want to explore, um, the concept of love a bit more so people can explore it within their own lives, too. I want to change the way people think about love.
25:45I also want to just write for everyone. I just want to go number one. Like, I just, yeah, I just want to be retired, young, so I can come back in, like, ten years and be like, I'm back.
25:58I want to be one of those. Yeah. Yeah. And you talk about redefining love. So my last question is, in this very moment, how do you define love?
26:11Um, I would say love is acceptance, um, understanding, um, and, um, listening. I think those three.
26:28Things define love. Like, you can't have love without those three things. Yeah, I think they're very important. But not listening, just, like, hearing what the person's saying, but, like, hearing what they're saying and, yeah, yeah, and actively working on that thing that they're talking about or, um, yeah.
26:47So, yeah, I think you can't have love without those three things.
26:52That's really powerful. And I think that's it. That was such a good, concise, whole conversation.
27:01Oh, thank you. Lovely chatting to you.
27:07Yeah, it's lovely speaking to you as well.
27:10Thank you so much for tuning in Afropunk.
27:13Hope you enjoyed our conversation with Tiana.
27:16And this is Planet Afropunk Soundcheck.
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