ME: You’ve been on instagram for a while, I feel like you’re one of the people I follow from years and years ago - do you feel like starting instagram younger helped you make music and gain an audience?
TINYUMBRELLAS: Starting my instagram page a few years back definitely helped me to feel comfortable sharing things I created. It felt like a safe space where I could meet people who had similar interests and support each other’s art and music. I created my instagram at a time where I was honing in on what I was passionate about, and it felt like my own corner of the internet where I was able to share without the fear of being judged. The music I posted received love from others which was really encouraging, making me want to continue and get better at doing what I truly enjoyed. It felt like a little supportive community and that’s one thing I really love about social media.
M: By the time this comes out, your new single will be out! How do you feel about this new song coming out?
TU: I’m so excited! Though I’ve already had 4 songs out, releasing music still feels like such a new experience. The lead up to it is so nerve-wracking but I’m just looking forward to others being able to listen to what I’ve worked so hard on.
M: Obviously the pandemic hasn’t ended, however, do you feel like during the pandemic you found it easier to write music? Or how did it affect your music process at all?
TU: I definitely took the pandemic as an opportunity to create more music, and ended up learning so much during lockdown. Having more time enabled me to write more songs, and the process of songwriting became more natural to me over lockdown, being able to figure out what things work for me and what things don’t. I also spent a lot of time working on my production skills, creating demos of songs I had written. Looking back to the before the pandemic, my music has come a long way in terms of style, as well as the process behind it all.
M: I saw you’re wanting to come out with some new merchandise! How does it feel to know people out there want things that are made by you or about you?
TU: I’m so grateful that people are willing to support my music by buying merch, and the thought of people going about their daily lives some place in the world wearing a tinyumbrellas t-shirt is so cool. Because I make all my merch, I feel like there’s a proper connection towards anyone who receives it, and when people appreciate the loving energy that goes into designing and physically creating these things it’s so special!
M: When coming up with merch, cover ideas, etc, what is the process? Do ideas just come to you?
TU: Sometimes I get ideas really quickly, and sometimes it takes time. With merch designs, I had a faint idea of what I imagined (in terms of using lino printing and doing it all by hand), and worked towards creating designs that related to the tinyumbrellas ‘feel’, which I think worked out quite well! It’s a lot of trial and error really, but I enjoy the process. It’s the same with cover art: I usually start with a small idea, adding things and changing things until I’m happy with the result. It feels nice to have creative control over the visual side of tinyumbrellas, and I’m happy that there’s a cohesive feel to the artwork of my songs.
M: Your feed, aesthetic, and brand, are extremely aesthetic. Do you feel you’ve always had an eye for aesthetic things? Have you always been quite creative/artistic?
TU: Thank you! I think an artist’s ‘brand’ is seen as something which is quite important, but I try not to think about it too much because the concept of perception in general is very strange to me. Growing up, I was always quite creative and enjoyed art and photography, so instagram seemed like a good place to share that passion. I’ve always been quite honest online, as I initially started my instagram page as a visual diary of things that made me happy, and I think my feed has become an outcome of that.
M: You were also part of a bbc intro live sesh - what was that experience like?
TU: I felt so honoured to be asked to be a part of bbc introducing’s ‘independent venue week’, and had the best time performing in such an underrated but beautiful venue. As it was the first time I had ever done a recorded live session I was very nervous, but I’m happy with how it went and the whole experience was amazing!
M: You did your first gig last summer - how did it go?
TU: My first gig as ‘tinyumbrellas’ was in Norwich back in July where there were deckchairs out in the street and anyone could sit down and watch. It was really exciting to play my own songs to an audience for the first time ever, and it seemed like people really enjoyed it. Since then I have played more gigs, and I feel like I have gained a lot of experience from each individual one as they’re so different and special in their own ways.
M: Can we look forward to anymore gigs soon?
TU: Yes! I have a gig on March 30th at The House of St Barnabas in Soho, as well as some more which will be announced soon!
M: I like to end on a fun one - if you could perform anywhere, where would you perform and why?
TU: Great question! Even though I have seen a fair number of gigs, I feel like there’s so many amazing venues I haven’t discovered yet which makes this question tricky… From the venues I have been to, I think I would really love to play at EartH in London, as it has a beautiful atmosphere (and also because it was the place of my favourite concert I have ever been to!).
Komentáře