13 Questions with Tizane
We talk to Dartford’s finest,Tizane about her career to date, singing a song better than the band who wrote it and what she’s looking forward to most now that live shows are back on the cards.
Her new single ‘Whos Gonna Hurt Me Now’ has been hailed by BBC Introducing as -‘Bond theme-esque’ and while the Phoebe Bridges comparisons continue unabated, and they are certainly there to be made, there is one defining difference, and that is if Tizane had attempted to smash up her guitar on LiveTV, she would have done a better job of it!
NSG: Hi Tizane and welcome, how have you been and what have you been up to today?
Tizane: I’m really good thanks. I feel extra busy right now because I’m rehearsing for my up and coming live dates. Due to the pandemic, I’ve been unable to perform which sucks 🙁 I’ve not really ventured out so this is a first for me. I wanna get it right!
NSG: Prior to the pandemic, how was 2020/2021 looking for you as an artist? What did you have planned and how much has that plan, if at all changed?
Tizane: Well it really derailed me, to be honest, I had everything planned with Cherry’s release, etc, and it all got ruined by the pandemic, however, I try to find a positive out of a negative, and treat it as more rehearsal time haha. however we have all lost a year, of course, it affected everything greatly, but I’m glad we are moving out of it now.
Tizane(Credit: Tina K Photography)
NSG: You’re from Dartford right? What was it like growing up there and has it influenced your music in any way?
Tizane: Dartford is cool enough – something of an acquired taste really. It’s certainly not the best place on Earth but we’ve had our fair share of the great and good, not least of which, The Rolling Stones who went to college up the road from my house. Further afield we also gave home to David Bowie, Kate Bush, Siouxsie Sioux…
NSG: Can you describe your sound to us? Who are your influences?
Tizane: I’ve been compared to just about everyone from David Bowie to Kate Bush but mostly to Phoebe Bridgers. I really love Phoebe so I’m nothing but honoured to be mentioned in the same breath. People attending my summer gigs can expect a rockier sound than they would have heard on my debut album, Cherry‘. I’ll be playing electric guitar on many of the songs, I really can’t wait to show everyone.
NSG: Listening to your single ‘Who’s Gonna Hurt Me Now‘ really does make me think of a James Bond film score, Impressive vocals and I love the strings! Can you tell us a bit about this song and the process of writing and recording it?
Tizane: Well musically, I think it’s fair to say that I have a production mentality. Where I’m comfortable playing most instruments, I’m at my best when producing and writing. Inevitably this style of writing will take you to a fuller sound…it’s the ingredient that George Martin brought to The Beatles. I certainly hope the Bond production people share your view. Imagine getting that call! Lyrically it builds with the orchestration and tells my life story in a big metaphor. When the victim arrives at that place where the question ‘who’s gonna hurt me now?’ becomes more rhetorical, and daring.
NSG: How did you start out in your music career?
Tizane: Well my mum is very musical. She has a really wonderful voice. She used to play all the pubs and clubs in her own band back in the day. She always encouraged me and my brother and sisters to get on the piano and stuff. I really loved it and wanted to take it more seriously. In other news, my childhood was somewhat blighted by anxiety issues, and worse. These conditions often prevented me from leaving the house and of course, totally ruined my school life. The upside, were you to look hard enough for one, is that all the time spent imprisoned in my room was used to write music and learning to play. By the time I was 16 I was looking to upload music onto digital platforms.
NSG: How has it been not being able to gig because of the pandemic? What gigs have you got coming up?
Tizane: Well obviously it has been an entirely negative experience though for me not through a sense of loss of better times but for what might have been. I’d barely done a handful of shows outside of open-mic appearances, so the Summer promises a ‘brave new world’ which I’m really excited for. I’m doing a lot of the London hot spots like The Dublin Castle in Camden, St.Moritz in Soho, and The Amersham at New Cross. Later in the Summer, I’ll be doing The Portobello Live Festival with Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) and Don Letts who I love. That event is raising money for ‘Justice 4 Grenfell, trying to help the victims of the fire.
NSG: As a female in the music and arts industry do you feel there’s much support for women or people of different genders in the music industry and if not how do you think we tackle this?
Tizane: It’s a difficult one really, for where the answer is quite obviously no, I think there are questions to be answered right across the board. From my limited standpoint, I would say that there just isn’t enough support for young, aspiring artists across the board. I don’t really see any demographic body particularly grabbing an easy ride. There’s no joined-up thinking. The bigger music radio stations and blogs are far more excited by a ‘Suede’ reunion than a new Tizane single – not because I’m female or black or queer – I’m just not interesting, full stop. The industry has to start working in a more layered way, where unknown, unrepresented artists can access ‘meaningful’ exposure.
NSG: If you could pick a venue to play, anywhere in the world, what would that be and why?
Tizane: Haha! Probably The 02 in Greenwich because it’s right close for my mum and dad so they come and see me.
Tizane(Credit: Tina K Photography)
NSG: How is the rest of 2021 looking for you?
Tizane: Well my mind is full of excitement and expectation for the live work but I’ll definitely be doing a lot more writing and sorting out a follow up single to ‘Who’s gonna hurt me now?‘
NSG: What has been the most enjoyable gig you’ve played and why?
Tizane: At the tail-end of 2019 when Covid wasn’t known, we were invited to play on a Thames ‘party’ boat just days before Christmas. It had a real feel of ‘the beginning’ though just weeks later we went into lockdown. It was certainly a night with hundreds of fans enjoying the night and an amazing atmosphere. Many of my songs took their first airing that night – it was magic. I was so excited and had such a good time.
NSG: We love your cover of The Smiths ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now‘, dare I say I prefer it to The Smiths version! How did this cover come about and why?
Tizane: Well thank you, and yes you may dare say. Actually, the base idea came from my manager who was a big Smiths fan, even had something to do with them, I think. I’ve never been particularly keen on straight ‘tribute’ style covers so it was me that added the novelty bouncy vibe, Dare I say that like you, I also prefer it to The Smiths version too hahaha.
NSG: Ok fun question, If you could sit down for dinner with three artists from the past or present who would they be and why?
Tizane: They would be Mac Miller because the world is such a poorer place without him. Secondly, it would be Phoebe Bridgers, I think she’s so cool and talented. Last but not least, the Ghanaian-American singer-songwriter, Moses Sumney who would be there for aesthetic beauty.
NSG: Thank you for your time and we wish you all the luck in the world for the rest of 2021 and your career.
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Listen to Tizane on Spotify!
