THE BACKSTORY:
It can’t be easy to stand out on album featuring the likes of Aitch, Ed Sheeran and Headie One. And yet, that’s precisely what rising star Tiana Major9 achieved when she appeared on Stormzy’s recent second album, Heavy Is The Head. The least known of the many special guests chosen by the British grime giant, London-born Tiana lent her powerhouse vocals to the breezy soul number ‘Rainfall’ – resulting in arguably the album’s finest track.
Of course, long before that Stormzy collaboration, Tiana Major9 was already turning heads on the UK music scene. Showing huge promise from an early age, in 2014 Tiana became the first runner-up for the MOBO Unsung competition. Since then, the 24-year-old has been one of BBC 1Xtra’s most hotly-tipped artists, receiving support from the likes of Jamz Supernova and DJ Target.
Born and raised in Newham, east London, Tiana grew up listening to a myriad of sounds, everything from Stevie Wonder and D’Angelo to Amy Winehouse and Janelle Monae, before studying music at college.
Over the past year, she’s released a handful of singles, showcasing the depth and intricacy of her songwriting. Recent single ‘Think About You’ was a delightful slice of reggae-infused pop classicism, while 2017 track ‘Levee (Let It Break)’ combined gorgeous neo-soul/jazz vibes with silky, rapped verses.
As well as charming UK audiences, Tiana also has her sights set on conquering America. She’s signed to the iconic Motown label, has featured on the soundtrack for the acclaimed film Queen & Slim, and she’s performed on the US talk show Late Night With Stephen Colbert.
It’s been a tremendous, breath-taking ascent – all the more impressive considering she hasn’t even released a debut album or EP. When she eventually does, you can be certain she’ll have the whole world at her feet.
KEY TRACK: ‘Collide’ – the track she penned for the film Queen & Slim, this sultry love song has amassed nearly 20 million global streams to date.
FOR FANS OF: Lauryn Hill, Janelle Monae, Esperanza Spalding, Erykah Badu.
