TIAHN’s music doesn’t tiptoe around anything. The Brisbane artist is clear-eyed and sharp, and her latest single ‘More’ pairs a biting critique with the kind of sass that feels completely her.
She actually wrote the track years ago, back when she was at uni, but its message hasn’t lost any relevance. “I’ve always loved jazz,” she says. “I was sitting at the piano and came up with the post-chorus riff. I really loved the drive and tension it held.” That riff stuck, and the lyrics followed, born from a mix of frustration and observation. “It was the first time I was really noticing how life isn’t an even playing field. Some people just have things handed to them on a silver platter, and they still want more and more and more. Meanwhile, others are hustling just to make it to the same place. That sort of greed and lack of work ethic is frustrating.” You can hear that frustration boil over in her voice, matched by the song’s playful yet biting attitude.
That attitude seems like a running theme throughout her work. From her last single, the defiant ‘Woman (On My Own Terms)’, to this critique of what she calls “more culture,” there’s a boldness in what she says and how she says it. But TIAHN doesn’t always start from such a serious place. She loves to dig into topics that frustrate her but keeps things fun in the process. “I LOVE sass,” she laughs. “I find a lot of joy in being cheeky and sarcastic. I’ve written a lot of different songs, but the sassy ones just feel the most authentic to me.” That directness goes way back—apparently, her first “sassy” song was about a high school friend who wasn’t pulling their weight. She wrote it when she was 15 and remembers the whole thing as hilariously petty: “It was about my supposed best friend being a ‘butthead’,” she says. “Hahaha.”
That mix of humour, sharpness, and personality has become part of who TIAHN is as an artist. But every gig is a reminder of why staying yourself really matters. She’s supported acts like The Tullamarines and Lou’Ana on stage, two artists she calls favourites in their own right. “It was such an honour to play with them,” she says. “I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is how important it is to stay authentic to who you are on stage. When an artist shows you a real slice of themselves up there, it creates this beautiful kind of connection. It bonds the fans to the artist and to each other. It’s like a little community.” There’s also something else she’s noticed after watching her idols perform. “Having fun is just as important,” she says. “You can tell instantly when someone’s enjoying themselves, and it’s so contagious.”
Brisbane, where TIAHN’s calls home, also shows up in what she does. The music scene there has this underdog energy compared to the bigger capital cities, but that hasn’t stopped it from flourishing. For TIAHN, it’s made all the difference. “Living, working, and creating here is incredible,” she says. “There’s such a beautiful sense of community that inspires creativity constantly. And the acceptance too—no matter who you are, people respect your individuality.” That openness has shaped her own approach to making music, encouraging her to lean into what feels right instead of worrying about fitting any mould.
When she’s not writing or performing, you might spot her running across South Brisbane. “I’m in my running era!” she says. Outside of that, it’s all about second-hand treasure-hunting. “I’m obsessed with finding the weirdest things in op shops. My home’s basically a little trinket museum at this point.” She’s also quietly working on something creative, although she’s keeping those details close for now. There’s only a quick hint: “You’ll see it very, very soon,” she promises.
‘More’ captures all these little pieces of TIAHN, the sass, the subtle social commentary, the fun. It’s the kind of track that feels equally at home blaring in a club as it does sneaking its message into your headphones. “I tend to write politically,” she says. “The world gives me plenty of ideas to work with.”
The song might still be new, but its spark was lit years ago, over jazz chords on a piano at uni. TIAHN’s clearly been sitting with some of these feelings for a while, letting them grow into something vibrant and loud. It’s taken her time to figure out her own voice as an artist, but now that she’s found it, she’s running with it.
Stream "More" by TIAHN now: