Tanis – Grow

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) I always felt that my sound is a hybrid of all the different genres of music that I have grown to love over time, which ends up being more or less in the Alternative category but with a mix of electronic synths, hip/hop beats and classical melodies.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) I listen to music across all genres and some would say I have quite an eclectic taste so it is hard to list my specific influences. Every song that I hear, I learn from. Sometimes it may just be a small element, like a sample I like or the type of compressor used on a vocal. All those little things influence me, teach me and hopefully allow me to grow into the artist I aspire to be.

Q) Your new single “Grow” talks shares a bit of your personal journey. How have you evolved as an artist over the years?

A) My first single “Ce n’est pas moi” was released in France in October 2015 and this title was later featured in the major motion picture Thoroughbreds (2018). Following this French single I released a few English singles, but I was not completely happy with the level I had put out. In 2017 I decided to take a step back as I felt I needed time to improve my musicianship and find my identity as an artist as well as to concentrate on my film scoring projects as a composer. Finally, in 2019 I released my return single, “Would Be You” and announced on social media that I would begin releasing a new string of singles that are a truer representation of who I am today and the kind of music I want to be making.

Q) Talk about the story behind your song “Grow.”

A) “Grow” is a song quite close to my heart because it speaks of feeling behind the curve and needing more time to find yourself, which a lot of times I have felt myself due to following an unforgiving artistic path that is a slow climb with lots of stumbles and falls. Some days, I feel so far away from where I would aspire to be, but I try to tell myself that if I keep my head down and stay the course, I will eventually get there.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) I think that right now we are going throw very trying times and it is alright to feel unsteady and lost as long as we know in our minds and hearts where we strive to be. For anyone that feels left behind, who doesn’t fit into norms and who feels like they are fighting insurmountable mountains, they should know that there are many others who are currently feeling the same or have felt that way at some point and we have to have faith that our devotion, persistence and consistency will bring us to the top of this hill.

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) I try to keep the song writing process fresh for myself as to not fall into a stylistic rut and therefore sometimes I start from a lyric, sometimes from a melody I was humming, sometimes from piano chords or sometimes just from a drum beat. I don’t necessarily need music before finding the lyrics. Sometimes it does work out that way but very often they tend to come to me altogether.

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) I have quite a big hand in the production of my songs. I will usually produce a full demo on my own first and then seek a co-producer to work with to bring the track to the finish line. For “Grow,” I had the pleasure of working with Dave Weingarten, a frequent collaborator of mine who is such a talented producer and mixer and so much fun to work with and bounce ideas off of in studio sessions.

Q) How do you shake off a long day in the studio?

A) I don’t really need to shake off a day in the studio actually. Working in music has been my dream for as long as I can remember and I count my blessings every single day to be able to do what I do. Actually, the majority of my work is done from my home studio, which is a closet I converted into a work station. So, I cherish those long days when I actually get to go into professional studios and collaborate with others, add on some final recordings and finalize my mixes.

Q) Will there be a full album or EP coming in the near future?

A) At the moment I have no plans to release a full album, but I may look at releasing an EP sometime next year.

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) Tough question! I have so many dream collaborations, especially with artists that have a completely opposite sound to mine. I think sometimes the differences could make for a great collaboration. If I had to name one right now though, I think I would love to collaborate with Bon Iver just because I find their music so sonically fascinating and have been a fan for a long time.

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) Yes, I primarily use Instagram as my means of communication with my fans and followers. It is an important way for me to communicate with them because as much as I want my music to speak to volumes, I would like the person I am to resonate with my audience too. And being able to share images, videos and the content and stories I care about, I feel, is a good way to do that.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Thank you. Thank you for being patient with me during my hiatus. Thank you for supporting me now. And thank you for staying tuned to see what I have to offer in the future.