Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: Hi! I was born in Slovenia and grew up in a small town called Maribor, where almost everyone knows each other. My mother told me I was always singing and making up some melodies, ever since I was a baby. Brother was a drummer in various rock bands and father was a guitarist in his young years, which made our home environment infused with music. I soon discovered my first love, piano, then writing stories and poetry, what then all together morphed into songwriting. I started out playing covers in different bands and wrote some songs for other artists, before I went to perform my own songs as a singer. I gradually developed the wish to be a full time musician, but as much as I remember, a passion to pursue music has always been there, providing a strong healing force in my life, that got me through very difficult times. It’s like a harbor to me.
Q: Did you have any formal training, or are you self-taught?
A: It’s kind of both. I am a self taught singer, but I have a classical training in piano and later went to study jazz with Rob Bargad at Gustav Mahler University.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘TYYA B’?
A: I have so many, it’s really hard to pick. I remember vibing a lot with Alicia Keys while I was growing up, she was a big inspiration, being the soulful singer and pianist at the same time. I really loved The Doors too, and Pink Floyd. Later, I started listening to Norah Jones and Amy Winehouse, besides other jazz singers like Peggy Lee, Astrud Gilberto, Ella Fitzgerald,etc. Nowadays I am vibing a lot with the music of Kehlani, Jhene Aiko, Mahalia,… TYYA is actually my real name (in slovenian language it’s written Taja) and B is the starting letter of my surname. I was deciding to either go Taya or Tya, but then TYYA felt a little more interesting to me in a visual way and the name also wasn’t taken by another artist yet. TYYA still seemed a bit lonely, so I added the B.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘So easy’. Is there a story behind it?
A: Yes, ‘’So easy’’ is the first, introductory song of my upcoming EP and it’s setting a mood, which I would want for my listeners to get in, offering somehow a musical companionship in a healing, chill and bit dreamy way. The song is talking about being at ease with yourself or significant other. I wanted to portray a sense of freedom, but also love and deep connection at the same time. It could be a feeling, when you are in touch with your innermost self, your lover or a friend. This is how I picture the ideal setting, when listening to the song: Vast sky, sunset, somewhere near the coast, breathing fresh air.. But being in the room, candles lit and some incense, maybe taking a bath, works just as good for this kind of mood.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: Yes, I am super excited to announce the EP is on its way and will be released in 2024. Soon after I am planning to do a whole album.
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: I sing mostly about relationships, connection with self and others.The spiritual aspect of existence is also something that interests me a lot, so I kind of mix the themes of love and spirituality all the time. I’m quite passionate about yoga and meditation practices; this kind of lifestyle has been a part of me for quite some time now and my songs are mirroring my soul in a way, where I am always searching for a deeper meaning, no matter what the main theme of the song is. From this point of view I really want to give my listeners something to feel good and to somehow inspire them to live their lives authentically to themselves. I’d like to offer the perception that there is always a way to grow, evolve and transcend, despite difficult situations one has to confront – but as a part of that universal human experience, I want the vulnerable side to be expressed in my music too. I’d be very happy if my music could bring somebody as much comfort as it did to me and I hope that it would evoke good things in people’s lives. I perceive my sound as being more on a minimalistic side, production wise, giving enough space to the story-telling. I also think it suits my voice the best. I like to bend genres a little bit, but I love expressing myself the most in RnB, soul, jazz and hip hop style. I think of my sound as a bit dreamy, sensual, mystical, romantic and chill.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: The times in which we are living now have some specifics; things rapidly change all the time and it’s almost necessary to be a businessman besides being an artist. It gets tough sometimes, especially when you’re coming from a background that lacks resources, but the music itself gives me fulfillment. I find my purpose when I see people enjoying and really feeling my music. It brings me so much joy, when some of them come to me after the concert or message me on social media that they liked the song or my singing voice. I would be happy if I could continually evolve as an artist and collaborate with others on a similar path. If in the midst of everything I stay open to life itself and live to the fullest as a being that I am meant to be, I will be fulfilled.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do you usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: To be frank – I am either inspired or not. Sometimes I think of the melody, often it comes together with the words. Then I go to my piano, sit down, record it with my phone and write down some more lyrics with the music together. That’s how my basic demo is created. Other times I can be simply inspired by a beat or instrumentals and start from there.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: There were some difficult situations, but I think I’ve learned something from them and they didn’t stop me from pursuing music. I like to think that life is always on the spectrum; when you lose something, you gain something else. I have many interesting stories for sure, being on this path.. For various reasons some people don’t always wish you well in life and consciously or unconsciously want to bring you down, but then there are others that encourage you and believe in you, even when you don’t. I’m really grateful for them. I think you gotta build intuition with some experiences, which includes the difficult ones and having a strong vision about yourself as an artist is necessary also, when somebody wants to push you in the direction that is not meant for you. But we learn all the time, when to compromise and when not. It’s an art for sure, to stay true to yourself and also be cooperative in order to build something more that exceeds your personal perspective.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: I would say that happens every time somebody likes my music. Performing live, hearing my song on the radio(s), getting positive feedback from people, these are the things that keep me going.
