Inspired #418 - Tiiva
Artist and producer Tiiva has returned with their enlightening new single ‘Fireflies’.
Immersive and captivating, Fireflies takes shape as a love letter to London. Reflecting since they moved away from London, Tiiva shares more; Leaving the city and then looking back at how much I got from being there, how shaping and important all those challenges were, the loneliest points becoming something that made me stronger, the loves I had there and heartbreak becoming some of the best memories of my life. The nostalgia we feel for somewhere is a reminder of seeing importance and beauty in moments that at the time we don't quite understand. Going to the big city to find my identity was a beautiful awakening and I felt like I needed to write this love song to the place that helped me.
The new single arrives as the follow up to Cellophane which came out back in June in collaboration with Polly Scattergood. The powerful track came as an important reminder of cherrish art and expression.
They took a moment to talk to us about their inspirations behind their music.
Who are your top three musical inspirations and why?
I couldn’t tell you top just three because there’s so many but I love AG Cook, Fred Again, James Rand (God Colony) and Nghtblind, who have shown me a lot of production stuff and their work and attention to detail is amazing, then also Joni Mitchell, Tierra Whack, Adrienne Lenker, Noname, Arca, Kim Petras, queer icons like Robyn.. Mostly everything that is inspiring comes from a combination of the person, music and visually what they’re saying, it’s a lot of things. I love Phelimuncasi (Nyege Nyege tapes) and a lot of the music Dom, who masters my music, works on. I’ve had some writing/producing sessions with people that were really inspiring, Roseau, Miriam, Tiece and Polly Scattergood, Luan Mei…I dont know its prob quicker to tell you my top three not inspirations ha.
Is there a certain film that inspires you and why?
I’m a big fan of 90s horrors and trashy action movies, con air, scream, face/off, I love shark movies too and obviously deep blue sea is iconic. I also love films like La Planète Sauvage which is where I found the name Tiiva (although it’s spelt Tiwa in the film), animations like spirited away and Mary and max are beautiful, and I love the film submarine, also anything with Toni Collette and Tilda Swinton in. I love climbing films and documentaries because they’re about endurance and the mountains, so touching the void and the dawn wall are up there. Then obviously queer cinema, so portrait of a lady on fire which is one of the most beautiful films I’ve seen, tomboy, moonlight, paris is burning and mysterious skin, I havent seen the stroll yet but is on my long list of things I wanna watch
What city do you find the most inspiring and why?
I wrote fireflies based on a lot of experiences in London, some visceral, some beautiful, lonely, euphoric, reckless, always inspiring… I think the places that makes and breaks you is the one you dont forget and london was where I learnt a lot musically and about myself, made some beautiful friendships and met some incredible musicians.
Who is the most inspiring person to you and why?
Musically its whoever im thinking of when im writing, and that changes, the people im working with, my friends and loves. There’s political inspiration to people from the LGBTQ community who push for queer and trans right, my dad is a legend, he introduced me to massive attack and has always been politically active which is inspiring. Everyone who has gone through something big and endured, survivors and the people who quietly get through the tough days… too many to list.
What were your inspirations when writing your new track?
I was thinking about my friends and the city, a lot of nights and early mornings in London, events and places where I went, lonely moments and big realisations of who and where I wanted to be, finding your identity comes from a lot of seemingly small but important moments and choices and I think these are what make you who you are, and help you learn who you want to be and evolve into
How would you like to inspire people?
I’d like to talk more about queerness and mental health stuff more openly, to share some producer things with teenagers and kids is something I’ve been doing and I wanna keep doing that, to keep releasing music and hope whoever’s listening takes something from it would be great, I’d like to do more releases to raise monies for trans and queer communities and organisations too
