tigerlily Interview on Nagamag

Nagamag:
What are the genres that describe better your music style?

tigerlily:
I'd say it's sultry, chill, pop music.

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

tigerlily:
New York City-based artist tigerlily makes sultry pop, a sound described by EARMILK as pop that “radiates heat . . . the grainy film of memories so sweet and persistent." Growing up in Seattle, tigerlily fronted an all-girl grunge band that was named "Seattle's Best Underage Band" by Seattle Weekly and received support from KEXP and The Seattle Times. For her solo debut, tigerlily worked with acclaimed producer duo Nima Skeemz and Elan Wright, whose credits include Macklemore and Travis Thompson. She's opened for artists including Grammy-nominated duo Social House and over 1000 fans tuned into the benefit release concert she threw to raise money for the Martha P. Johnson Institute supporting Black Trans lives. A vocal advocate for greater representation of Asian Americans and other POC artists in the music industry, her interviews have appeared in publications such as Audiofemme and Character Media. As MACG Magazine put it, "Tigerlily has ambition, experience, and vision. She's an artist that refuses to allow the industry to define her. She's a woman with a mission and the guts to pull it off."

Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

tigerlily:
I grew up watching old concert footage of all the artists my Dad loved: David Bowie, Nirvana, The Pixies, Radiohead, Johnny Cash, Michael Jackson, The Who, Prince, Queen. I remember watching Freddy Mercury on stage at Live Aid and thinking that was the pinnacle of greatness one could strive for in life. Year later, I wrote my college essay on why he inspired me: the glitz and the tragic glamour of Rock and Roll and dedicating one's being to being a performer, an icon and an artist. I guess it was never a conscious decision I made that I wanted to be an artist, I just grew up knowing that was who I was. I wrote songs all my life and when I was 13 I started an all-girl dream pop grunge band with my sister and cousin, and now I'm a solo pop artist. It's hard sometimes being an artist - figuring out who you are without the pressure of who you think the industry wants you to be and navigating your fears and self-doubt. But when it's tough, I think back to being a little kid watching those old concerts of Michael Jackson or The Who at their prime, and to me, that's the closest to magic you can get in this world. I fall back in love with that childhood dream and I know this is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing.

Nagamag:
What inspires you to keep going when you doubt yourself?

tigerlily:
I’m doing this for me, of course, but I’m also doing it for the old me and all the other Asian-American kids who grow up subconsciously believing that being a successful artist isn’t for them since they don’t see anyone who
looks like them; who grow up not being proud of their Asian heritage. I want Asian-American girls to see
me and believe they can be a popstar if they want, they can be a rockstar, they can be whoever they
dream to be.

Nagamag:
Can you talk about filming the music video for your new single new york?

tigerlily:
We shot the music video at my friend's apartment and we actually had to sneak out on the rooftop since there was a huge storm the day we were filming so it was closed. I told security I left my cell phone on the roof so they let me up and then I snuck in the film crew and we quickly shot all the dance scenes before it really started pouring rain! The drone shot at the beginning of the video we also had to shoot on the down low since that was also not allowed, haha. But yeah, I think it turned out dope and I'm so excited to finally be sharing it!

Nagamag:
Most artists have a favorite song from a different music genre than the one they are producing music for... Which is yours?

tigerlily:
P.Kruise "Like Damn"

Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which track from a similar artist you admire?

tigerlily:
Viiq "Break It If You Buy It"