'Nature is the ultimate artist!'
Tiana Khasi finds infinite inspiration in the wilderness
With a voice like liquid gold and the musical chops to match, Brisbane-via-Melbourne's Tiana Khasi is an artist to watch. We were stoked to bring her on board for Field Recordings II in partnership with Apple Music. Khasi has already piqued the interest of some of the world's most formidable tastemakers, including Gilles Peterson with her future soul that nods to her Samoan and Indian lineage. She's an AIR award nominee, a BBC featured artist and now an Unyoked Field Recordings resident, having written and recorded at Louka and Ottessa.
You've named your track after your time at Louka, one of our most popular VIC locations. What was it that you loved about being out there? My stay at Louka came at the perfect time just as life was starting to really amp up. I don’t subscribe to the whole “writer’s block” narrative, but I was feeling a little creatively stumped out of fear that no music or writing would come out in such a seemingly short time.
As soon as we arrived, I felt childlike and curious - discovering wombat burrows, making friends with cows and cooking/ dancing to Carole King (shout out to whoever planted One to One in the cabin). That helped me ease into the playfulness of creating, making sounds and trying new ideas fearlessly. Experimenting at Louka was the ultimate warm up to our Ottessa stay where I napped while Ryo was trying out some guitar ideas and I woke up and wrote “Louka Manuka” in less than an hour.
The whole experience of being off the grid at both locations was key. With no internet to endlessly scroll away, the days felt generous and I came to realise how much comparison and social media voyeurism can stifle creativity.
Have you previously tried to get out to nature while writing new material? Or is this a new experience for you? I have! My EP “Meghalaya” was inspired by the North East region of India that my Grandmother comes from. Sampology (who produced the EP) and I intended to sonically express my imaginings of the Khasi hills which are lush green with waterfalls and vine bridges. The first studio sessions for the record were over a weekend trip in Mullumbimby (Northern NSW) surrounded by rainforest, with no reception. We didn’t use many takes from those sessions, but the experience out in nature with the band set the tone for “Meghalaya” and was an integral part of the process.
What do you think other artists can learn about taking nature time to help with their creative process? Nature is the ultimate artist! It is an infinite source of inspiration. I like that you can interpret nature both symbolically and literally when you create. Our job as artists is to take time and space in our minds so we can observe and be present as the magic of nature reveals itself.
Where do your best big ideas typically come from? The studio? The shower? I get a lot of song ideas when I’m driving (safely of course) or in transit. I think it has something to do with the momentum and your brain being preoccupied with another activity.
With no internet to endlessly scroll away, the days felt generous and I came to realise how much comparison and social media voyeurism can stifle creativity.
You went out there with your partner this time. Would you go back to Unyoked to write by yourself? Quality time is my love language, so having the time to write music, cook and rest together was such a fulfilling experience - I’d like to think you can hear that in our song. I would definitely go on a solo Unyoked writing trip if I felt like that was what I needed at the time, but for now with how hectic life can be, I’m treasuring all the quality time moments we get.
You're extremely tech proficient (it blows our mind) and brought a lot of gear to the cabin. Do you reckon you could finish writing a whole record there? I have to give Ryo credit for being economic with the gear we brought along. I was mindful that we had limited power sources and wanted to keep it simple. We took enough to write and record guitar and vocals, plus a fun little Korg Volca Beats analogue drum machine. It’s amazing how much you can create with GarageBand on your laptop, your voice and a guitar. I could, and would love to write a whole record out there! *hint hint*
Even on your demos we could hear the magical sounds of nature that you'd picked up at the cabin. Did you capture these yourself? I used my iPhone voice memos to capture field recordings sampled on the track. I stood out in the epic grass fields at Ottessa and recorded the bird sounds. I also snuck in some sizzling lamb chops on the fire from one of our cook ups. The recording quality was *chefs kiss* Listening back to the samples when I was arranging the track took me straight back.
Tell us a bit about your track. It's got this really meditative, Erykah Badu feeling to it. Was that by design? It’s definitely how I felt at the time, waking and ease-fully writing post afternoon nap with a view of vast golden grass fields. I think the constant drum machine also has that meditative effect - never really building up to anything, keeping you grounded as you listen. I could listen to slow drum machines for hours.
The song is about restoration, healing and forgiveness in relationships- with a nod to my Nana who would spoon Manuka honey down my throat at any hint of sickness.
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