Introducing #211 - tinyumbrellas
Let us introduce you to Leeds based artist tinyumbrellas - who has just released their new single ‘Please Don’t Make This Weird’.
tinyumbrellas is the moniker of 19-year-old Leeds-based, Norfolk-born DT, who has gained early recognition from BBC Introducing Norfolk, has performed at festivals including Wild Paths and Mutations, and opened for Matilda Mann to a sold-out crowd at London’s Lafayette late last year. This single will appear on tinyumbrella’s self-recorded debut EP which is out later this month, and will feature previous tracks like ‘Purple Smoke’.
On the track’s meaning, tinyumbrellas explains; “‘Please Don’t Make This Weird’ follows the story of a very relatable situation which I have found myself in more often than I’d like to admit. It’s about when you meet someone new, and they’re really lovely and you both get along really well, with the exception of one thing - both having opposite ends of the stick. It’s not particularly nice to be on either side of the situation this song talks about, but I feel like if you care about someone enough, a solid and meaningful friendship is just a wonderful thing to be a part of. I wanted this song to highlight the importance of platonic friendship and mutual connection between two people before anything else might potentially happen. All my songs so far seem to tell the story of my coming-of-age, and this one is no different.”
They took a moment to talk to us about her music.
Hey there tinyumbrellas - how are you? Firstly! Where does a name like tinyumbrellas come from?
Hello, I’m doing well thank you! ‘tinyumbrellas’ was initially the name of my instagram page which I created during secondary school. It felt like a safe space where I could share creative projects like art, photography and music. As my page grew, people came to know me as tinyumbrellas, so it made sense to use this name when releasing my music.
Your new track ‘Please Don’t Make This Weird’ is out now - can you tell us what it is about?
'Please Don’t Make This Weird’ is about having to friendzone someone. It's quite an awkward and bittersweet moment, because as much as you think that person is wonderful in a platonic way, you just don't think of them in the same way as they think of you.
You are based in Leeds - what are your favourite things to do there? Where do you go for adventures?
As I only just came to Leeds in September last year, I feel like I haven’t explored the full potential of Leeds yet, but I am really enjoying going to see gigs all the time! One of my favourite venues is Brudenell. There is also an awesome cat café which I highly rate.
What are the key influences when it comes to your music?
When I started writing, songwriters like dodie and Cavetown inspired me massively due their DIY approach to music, which made me think maybe I was also capable of making music from my own bedroom.
As I’ve grown as a writer and musician, I’ve been influenced by so many people, artists and things. Most songs I write are based on my own thoughts and experiences, as I use songwriting as a kind of journaling. I also take a lot of inspiration from stories, TV and film; I love the beautiful animation, art and music of Studio Ghibli films, and aspire to create music that can evoke as much emotion as these films do.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never listened to your music before?
I would describe my sound as being colourful, dreamy and intimate.
