Today we’d like to introduce you to Tia Tiggs
Hi Tia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story with music starts back in 2019, when I got the spark I needed to commit to this. I was interning at UMG (Famehouse to be specific), in their sales and marketing department. One of my tasks was to look into emerging artists who may be able to benefit from our services. While I was doing research, I came across an artist, Baby Rose, whose voice stunned me (still stuns me). I stopped the first song after listening for just a few seconds and had to run it back. In that moment I realized that I really wanted to have an impact on bringing that same experience to others. Not just for the listeners, but for the artists too. Good art is and will always be valuable. I want those who are able and willing to create to receive their flowers for their talent, their heart, and the creativity it takes to develop something that moves people. That in mind, I became driven to put my passion into action… I dabbled in management, got the chance to support an artist + their team on photoshoots, music videos, rehearsals, and studio sessions around the world, paid attention to the change makers who’ve been doing it for a long time, and found community.
Every day my story continues; each time I’m moved by a song, leave a show feeling energized, or get to see a vision come to life it’s like spinning silk into my story web.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’d describe my journey as insightful more than anything. I’ve taken steps in a few different directions just to find out what suits me both personally and purposefully. From being a personal assistant to working with Breaking Sound on artist showcases, to being on the production team of a jazz label (Mack Avenue)… it’s been slow and it’s been fast; I’ve had to learn what I do like and what I don’t – I’m a hands on type of person so, of course, I’ve bumped my head a few times. Nonetheless, I’m here – supporting, creating playlists for fun, putting people on to new music, and deepening my internal music library.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Anyone who knows me, or follows me on social media, knows that I love to share music. My unique experiences from different vantage points in the industry have really influenced my appreciation for the creation of music and the process. So, when I come across something I like, it’s only right that I share. Luckily, I get to listen to new music everyday. I’m an assistant at Secretly Group so if someone isn’t putting me on to new music in one our slack channels, I’m listening to new music to circulate to our sync team or checking out one of our latest releases. When I’m most inspired, I make playlists. Some of them are compilations while others are more so curations. The curations are my favorite – the process of having an idea come to life is so thrilling. My very first curated playlist, “The Intro” is made of 14 songs, sitting at 28 minutes. I have a deep love for introductions, so I decided to make a playlist of exclusively album intros as a dedication to them. And at heart I’m a storyteller so, it also serves as a place to start for people looking to get to know me better and learn my ear – like an introduction in of itself. “Functional Freeze” on the other hand, was created with mental health in mind. It describes feelings I’ve felt at certain points in my life that I know others can relate to heavily. Then there’s “A Snack” which is exactly that, something quick and sweet; at three tracks and 11 minutes, it was curated specifically for when you just need to drive up the street real quick. Each of the songs in these playlists impacted me in one way or another. I prayed for the ability to express myself for a long time and found that expression in creating these. I hope others not only relate to the songs, but can also appreciate the sonic, energetic, and emotional journeys that evolve throughout. My other hope is that when people listen, they’re intrigued by at least one new artist or sound to take a deeper dive into. If I can make that happen, I know I’ve done my job.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was very reserved, with a goofy side that would come out occasionally… around the right people. Not too different from who I am now, to be honest. I’ve always been especially engaged when it came to the arts and entertainment. Some of my core memories from my youngest years include seeing Shakespeare in the park with my grandma, dancing along to Aaliyah music videos in the living room, and then trying to recreate music videos with my friends (Ashanti’s to be specific) on our walks to the park. There was a point from middle school to mid-high school where my interests drifted towards sports, but I eventually came back around to the arts when I re-discovered my interest in theater. While it wasn’t until 2019 that my dedication to music began, I always knew I’d have some sort of impact within the world of entertainment. The older I get, the more I experience those natural joys I’d be engulfed in as a kid. I go back and listen to those same songs, gravitate towards new songs that make me feel the same way, and obsess over the music and lighting in every new film or tv show that I watch. So, those interests I had at about 5 or 6 are actually what I use to narrow in on the space I take up in my life now.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tia.tiggs/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/user/tiatiggs?si=e4e9d73d196f4e86
Image Credits
Shara Wilson
