Brisbane Based Future-Soul Artist Tiana Khasi Announces 'Meghalaya' Tour
Following praise for her debut from BBC1 Xtra, Okayplayer, HypeMachine, Bandcamp, The Guardian Australia, EARMILK, Complex UK, triple j, Double J and charting nationally via community radio (named 4ZZZ's Album of the Week), future-soul artist Tiana Khasi is set to employ her singular voice in its most defining task yet: her debut national headline tour to celebrate Meghalaya, out now via Soul Has No Tempo.
Over the past six months, Australian future-soul artist Tiana Khasi has introduced herself via two critically-acclaimed singles 'Nuketown' & 'They Call Me', both vibrant, powerful statements of intent that honour her Samoan and Indian heritage. Streamed over 3 million times prior to the release of her official debut EP Meghalaya thanks to features with The Kite String Tangle, Golden Vessel and labelmate Sampology, her voice has been called many things: "elegant" (Life Without Andy), "most dope" (Audiosteez) and "as venomous as it is honey-sweet" (Happy).
Titled for Meghalaya, India - the land of the Khasi people whose name Tiana proudly bears, one of the few remaining matriarchal societies on planet Earth - Meghalaya (say: Mega-Liar) was co-written and produced by Sampology; and is a rich tapestry of styles and influence, with inspiration drawing from themes of self-empowerment, family and heritage, the results of collaborating with contemporary musicians while studying jazz.
Released late last year, the EP's delicate yet explosive debut single 'Nuketown' and its plush, pastel visuals featuring traditional Siva Samoa movements found support as far as Complex UK, London's Worldwide FM, Germany's C-Heads Magazine, a spot on Gilles Peterson's 13th Brownswood Bubblers compilation, and as near to home as triple j, Double J, and community radio nationally, while bold, syncopated followup 'They Call Me' was praised by EARMILK and named one of The Guardian's Best Australian Tracks, claiming media support nationally and overseas, even climbing to #3 in AMRAP's Metro Charts; both enjoying multiple official playlisting with Spotify, Apple Music and spins on BBC1 Xtra.
The first traditionally narrative moment on Meghalaya, popular live song 'Georgia's Track' is a deft use of hindsight to regain power, fuelled by a masterful restraint that simmers and swirls beneath the surface, stirred to near-frenzy status, but never all the way, by Sampology's minimalist production.
A trained jazz vocalist and keystone artist in her hometown whose live reputation precedes her via her work fronting local jazz/hip-hop collective Astro Travellers, Tiana's unique sound has seen her support Jamaican-American "TrapHouseJazz" sensation Masego, Swedish soul artist Fatima, acclaimed Australian collective 30/70, labelmate Laneous and more.
From the opening flourish of keys on the EP's clear-eyed, homesick title track - almost like a prayer in its pleas for truth, strength and use of royal imagery - the festive mantra of Whole Lotta Shine, the letting go of Bitterness, to its emotional closing tribute Good Things, Meghalaya is a love letter to identity and self, but a realist one: one that is relentlessly working for its own optimism and draws from the strength of familial and external wisdoms to do so.
Tiana Khasi will be touring with her band and announcing very special supports soon! Vinyl and merch will also be available at each show.