Tatiana Scott makes beautiful music which anyone who has ever loved can relate. Her astounding vocal performances are so full of conviction that you know the energy is coming from a real place — her soul.
When did you start performing?
If you ask my mother, she’ll tell you I was performing in the womb and that I sang before I learned to talk. The first time I sang for people (that I remember) was in middle school; there was a talent show and I sang Mariah Carey’s version of the Brenda K. Star’s “I Still Believe” acapella. I got a high from the cheers from the audience and just kept going after that. I grew up singing in the church choir, I went to LaGuardia High School for the Arts where I was a vocal major, and in college I majored in theater where I mixed my singing skills with my acting skills…
Name some of the artists who have inspired or influenced you?
This is hard for me because I was raised on so many different genres of music, thanks to my Parents and Grandparents; I am influenced by everything! But I’ll name some off the top of my head. The first artist for sure is James Fauntleroy, followed by Travis Garland, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and Beyoncé. In terms of the women, I grew up with listening to their vocal styles and it definitely influenced my vocal style, the way Whitney and Aretha sang with their shoes off, and deep from in their bellies, from their souls. Beyoncé’s ability to shift and change. I learned that singing is emotional through them. Ever have a song you can’t sing through because you start crying no matter how many times you hear it? For the life of me I can’t get through “Pretty Hurts.”
How would you describe your style?
Oh God! That’s a hard one too, I don’t know… I would describe it as Honest? Lol! Because I’m a woman and human, I can be many things that definitely translates into my music. It’s definitely R&B, but it’s so much more than that, when you listen to my music you hear a lot of different vibes, there’s jazz, alternative, pop, folk, a little bit of country, even some broadway vibes. If I had to narrow it down, I’d say I’m a good mix of Norah Jones Meets Beyoncé if that makes sense.
What separates you from other artists?
I’m not sure, that’s kind of a divisive question; there are so many artists out there, and now a growing community of Indie artists and a lot of us have gone through similar hardships just to to be able to create our art. How can you separate yourself from your community? I
Name some of the major artists you have performed with?
In my days with the Harlem Gospel Choir I had the opportunity to perform with a some amazing international artists; Seven, Griz, DoDo, Stefanie Heinzmann, working with them taught me about taking the artistry serious, that it’s a business. We can have fun, but there’s no point in doing it if you’re not going to do it right, and that this is in fact a business, and the importance of staying ready.
Do you have any major offers on the table?
I’m literally just starting out, and I’m an indie artist so I don’t at the moment, but I’m not worried about that, honestly. I know what is meant for me will come. Right now, I’m just focused on making sure my music is being heard and that folks are getting a chance to know and hear me.
What advice would you offer other aspiring artists?
This isn’t something you do for the money, you do it for the love, and with the understanding and acceptance that you may never hit mainstream. You have to determine what success means to you, and strive for that. For me, I just want to be able to support myself and live as comfortably as possible with my art. Now would I love to win a Grammy ofcourse! But ultimately I want my music to touch people.
Never forget your “Why,” the reason you started, because you’re going to have to hold onto that when you’re going through bad times. It’ll help when you’re thinking about giving up… I’ve been doing this for a while and I still consider myself an aspiring artist, there’s so much I’ve learned, but the more I learn, the more I realize there’s so much I don’t know. So the final thing I would say is never stop learning, to be an artist is to be a forever student.
