Tiawa

Up-and-coming singer-songwriter/MC Tiawa’s (pronounced: tea-ah-wa) distinctive, laidback vocals blend melodies and neo-soul sensibilities with raw storytelling and thought-provoking lyricism.

Tiawa’s debut album ‘Moonlit Train’ is a conceptual record that maps a metaphorical train journey from relationships through to healing and liberation. Gently easing between soul, 90s hip-hop and Latin-folk, the inspiration for the LP comes from the rebellious spirit of reggae, the pace of lyricism in reggaeton, and the romanticism of doo-wop.

Fusing soulful vocals with the jagged edge of a rap-styled flow, Tiawa’s vocal delivery is perfectly matched to producer, collaborator and multi-instrumentalist Jack-Chi aka Jack Kingslake, a Bristol-veteran who cut his teeth as a producer in the city.

The album sets the stage for a new chapter in Tiawa’s career on hometown label Tru Thoughts, after having made an assured debut on iconic dubwise-label Roots Garden with the reggae-riddim slant “Pain Killa”, which was championed by legendary DJ David Rodigan on BBC1Xtra. Tiawa has laid the foundation for her timeless yet graceful sound, and a lyrical maturity that confutes her youth.