An Interview With The Promising Singer-Songwriter, TANIS!

Get to know the promising singer-songwriter, Tanis.

Still in her early 20’s, Tanis has had quite a career already – at 15 she scored the theme for Disney’s Trail Of The Panda, and has since been on the cover of Elle (Singapore) and featured in Marie Claire (France).

She recently released her music video for her newest single “Would Be You.”

Check it out here-

Learn more about Tanis in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time today! Where does this interview find you?

You are very welcome! I am in Los Angeles at the moment ☺ and thank you for this opportunity.

Now that we are into the 5th month of the new year, how has 2019 been treating you so far? What are some goals that you have for yourself this year? How close are you to reaching them?

2019 has been a great year so far! I definitely can’t complain. I have many goals that I have placed along the path of this year. When I climbed Kilimanjaro nearly 6 years ago, I learnt the true meaning of ‘baby steps’. Our goal was to reach the summit but each day, we were asked to concentrate only on reaching the base camp of the particular day. So far, with hard work and discipline, I have my mini victories and I hope that it will continue this way for the rest of the year and someday, I will reach my ultimate goal.

Growing up, how important was music in your life? Can you recall the moment when you decided

Photo Credit- Paul Cruz

that you wanted to be a musician? Was it an easy or difficult choice to make?

Growing up, I was very shy and introverted, and music was my favorite emotional companion that helped to narrate all the ups and downs of my life. I spent a lot of my time listening to music, or on the piano playing out whatever I was feeling at that moment. One day my dad happened to be nearby and asked me what it was that I was playing. I told him that it was just some improvised invention. “You should write it down”, he told me. I was only 11 and was not entirely sure of what I was doing but that was the moment I began composing.

Going into this career was not a choice, but a rather natural path. However, it did come with some resistance from my parents. To them, it is one of the hardest careers in the world and they want to make sure that I have what it takes. I had to proof to them in order to get their blessings. I then went on to study music composition with a concentration in film score at Steinhardt, NYU and graduated summa cum laude and recipient of the Elmer Bernstein Award for Film Scoring. They are now very supportive of my choice and appreciate the dedication I put into my craft.

Was there ever a time when you thought about doing something else? If you weren’t a musician today, what else could you see yourself doing? Would you be as fulfilled in life?

Honestly, not really. I don’t believe I have considered anything else. However, outside of music, diving and ocean conservancy are an important part of my life. In the summers during college, I would work at a scuba diving shop to save some money and also get my dive certifications to become a diving instructor. After spending so much time working underwater, I became passionate about this amazing ocean life that we are so fortunate to be able to explore but we desperately need to protect. I would do “clean-up” dives when possible and the amount of plastic and fishing net we found was astonishing.

What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? What has been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all?

My journey has not been an easy one and it is still not, but that is of no surprise, as I knew going into this career that it will be tough. Overnight success takes 10 years right! However, it would be

Photo Credit- Arron Teo

nice if the people in the industry will give more opportunities to young new comers.

What was the inspiration for your latest single “Would Be You”? How would you say that it compares to anything else that you have put out?

‘Would Be You” is about the feeling of being in the presence of that one big love. To fall in love requires us to recognize the powerful feelings of longing and to lose our authority over our emotions. Despite our self-protective measures, when the recognition that something extraordinary and singular had arrived, it is absolutely terrifying. Yet, being scared is also part of being alive.

The composition of this single originated from a Cajon rhythm over which the melody was developed. This was a departure from my usual creative process, which usually initiates on the piano or guitar. The track is a little more electronic than some of my previous releases but it still channels the same musical identity I feel I have always had with all my songs.

Do you plan on releasing more new music soon and a full collection of new songs?

Yes, absolutely! I have the intention to release several more songs this year and into early next year.