Tymie’s Debut Single “Golden” Is A Salute To Summertime
As snow covers much of the country, it can be hard to see the other side of this winter. Thankfully, Tymie’s debut single “Golden” will help you stay in touch with what is only a few months away. In collaboration with duo Surfliners (Sam Worley and Tyler Wyatt), Tymie’s smooth and soothing vocals are as warm as a summer day. In the music video, she lays in the park and dances around her room in joy of all that already came and is to come.
I recently spoke with Tymie about her background in music, the process of writing “Golden,” and how she creates the perfect studio space at home.
This interview is edited for clarity.
Girl Gang (Hannah Benson): How did you get into music? What is your background with singing and performing?
Tymie: I think a lot of people say, “It’s always been a thing for me,” but it literally has always been a thing for me. I just started singing in the back of my mom’s car when I was younger. I used to be like “Mom! Mom! I can sing!” She used to turn down the radio, but loud enough to where I could still hear it, and I would sing in the backseat for my parents. Then I started doing little musicals here and there, when I was a lot younger. It was just always a thing and then I got to elementary school and we would have little talent shows or be on the playground. All the other kids would be on the monkey bars and I’d be singing for whoever would listen. Middle school came and I got into choir, so I was a classical singer for a really long time, up until the end of high school actually. I ended up going to an arts magnet. I was actually there as an instrumentalist and was like “Hey, I can do this too.” I kind of juggled both. That’s where I really honed in on what I'm good at. I started learning jazz vocals. I think that influences a lot of my sound today. It’s always been a thing in different forms, but a steady consistent thing. At NYU, my first or second semester I was able to take a songwriting class and lessons that kept it alive even though I didn’t have as many opportunities to perform. That helped me keep it in sight kind of. And then I guess we’re in the present day.
Girl Gang: Yeah. And this is your first official single?
Tymie: Yeah.
Girl Gang: That’s exciting!
Tymie: Very! Scary, but very exciting.
Girl Gang: Yeah, I can imagine. So when your mother was playing music in the car, what kind of music was she playing? Did that influence you a lot?
Tymie: It almost did the opposite. So my mom was super into hip hop and R&B and then sometimes pop. I love pop music, hip hop, and R&B. I find the type of music I make isn’t necessarily the type of music I love. That’s something that’s caused some dissonance for me. It’s like “Oh. I want to make that. That sounds good,” but that’s not what comes out of me even if it’s something I enjoy. I was a big indie pop/indie rock fan and that was super different from what I listened to growing up. Even oldies. I didn’t listen to a lot of oldies growing up. My mom is actually an immigrant, she’s from Zimbabwe. If it was an oldie, it wasn’t an oldie from the United States. It was international music. I always tell people this, but I had to go back myself. I had never really listened to a Beatles song for a long time so I had to go back and teach myself that. I love music, so it didn’t really feel like a chore. It felt more like an exploration to be like “I didn’t grow up on this but I want to listen to more stuff you know?”
Girl Gang: So who are your largest influences right now?
Tymie: I guess I’d have two categories. For my sound specifically, the thing I always come back to, at least right now, is Alabama Shakes. It’s just an easy answer and what I see the most of my sound, in this current moment, within. I actually made a playlist so I can look through that.
Girl Gang: I really love the recent Brittany Howard solo album Jaime. So good!
Tymie: Very, very good. Very good. Let me see what else is on this playlist because I did make an inspiration playlist. Faye Webster’s a big one. Leon Bridges, Amy Winehouse, and Corinne Bailey Rae are big ones. Nai Palm (Naomi Saalfield) who’s a member of Hiatus Kaiyote is a big inspiration and then Lianne La Havas. That’s just what my sound is like right now. Those are my biggest inspirations.
Music I love...Again I’m an indie pop/indie rock whore for a lack of a better word. One of my favorite groups ever is Passion Pit or The 1975, Arcade Fire, or stuff that is completely opposite than what’s coming out of me. Even in a press release, I’m like “I love Lorde.” Lorde makes me want to write music. My music sounds nothing like Lorde’s music, but it’s still an inspiration to me. Their passion and their dedication and how they’ve built out themselves as musicians and artists, that makes me want to write whatever’s going to come out of me.
Girl Gang: Right. The singular aspect of them is inspiring even if it’s not the exact same sound.
Tymie: Yes.
Girl Gang: What was the process of writing and recording Golden?
Tymie: It’s really funny because it took many, many months. It shouldn’t have taken that long. I went to go visit my friend and was talking to his best friend who’s in a band (Surfliner) with him. He said, “I’ve always wanted to make music with you, let’s write something.” I was like “For sure. I’m down.” So he sent me this instrumental and I hadn’t written in so long but it was just so easy. Everything came so easy. It came in one breath. The song was down the day or week that I got it, but it took forever to set in motion. Most of that was me because they would be like “Can you record this part?” I’d be like “Yeah I’ll totally do that,” and wouldn’t do it. I felt like a lot of it was because when I make music I never think of it as something for other people. For me, it’s like a journal. I love to journal but music’s also just another journal for me. So I think I was hesitant to start the process because if I do that it means other people are gonna hear it. That’s always been a weird thing for me. It’s a reason when people are like “You’re a singer?” I don’t have a problem being a singer because I sing. But when people are like “You’re an artist,” I’m like “Woah woah...let’s back up a little,” because it’s hard to see myself in that way because I make music for myself mainly. I think the difference with this song and the reason why it’s coming out is because I feel like it’s equally for me as it is for anyone else. That’s the first time that I’ve actually felt that way, which is why I’ve come to a place where I’m comfortable putting it out. It’s for everyone, not just for me.
Girl Gang: That’s really cool. It’s a very summery song and the video as well. How does it feel to be releasing it during winter?
Tymie: The dead of winter. I think it’s really interesting because the whole song is based on the premise that there are moments you need to save and hold onto and take with you. I think it’s only right that it comes out in winter because it’s a reminder that summer exists. I think we all forget that. Spring exists, it’s right around the corner. We all forget because we’re in the present, which is awesome. But I think there’s a way for the past, the present, and the future to all co-exist at the same time. That’s what putting this single out right now is. I’m in this moment, but I’m thinking about the past and the past is also coming in the future as far as seasons and weather. Those kinds of vibes and the things we can do that we can’t do in winter. It’s a reminder that it’s right around the corner.
Girl Gang: Yeah and It’s a very hopeful song, lyrically, as well. You mentioned meeting Surfliner and collaborating with them before. But how did you all meet and decide to regularly work together?
Tymie: I met Sam Worley, who’s one half of Surfliner, my Freshman year. We were both in music business and so we would get together on weekends and kind of just play and sing with each other. We never really wrote with each other in person. And I think we would always send things to each other, so we’ve always had that trust. I met the other half of Surfliner, Tyler Wyatt, and we both kind of knew about each other and that we wanted to work together. We admired each other’s musicianship. Even though I met Sam like three years ago, it’s just now that this collaboration is really happening. I don’t know why it took so long, but it really was a long time coming. It was a long process. But I’m glad it happened.
Girl Gang: Outside of collaborating in a more official way, what does it mean to you to have musical friendships that aren’t about creating a final product together?
Tymie: Yeah, I actually love that. It’s funny because I honestly prefer that. First of all, I think sharing anything that you write or even sharing songs that are already written is a form of intimacy. I’m sure that sounds dumb to some people. If I’m showing you something that’s meant for me, and not even asking you to collaborate on it but asking you to hold it for me, I think that’s super intimate. Or sharing your favorite song with someone. They could hate that song, but the fact that you’re putting yourself out there and being like “This song means a lot to me.” Even if you’re not working together, it’s just like “I’m giving this piece of me to you.” I honestly love the aspect that you just stated even more than collaborating because it’s great to collaborate. Working towards a final project is very rewarding. But I think it’s equally rewarding in a different way to just be sharing things.
Girl Gang: I definitely get that. Even when I have writing pieces published that I’m nervous about sharing, or things that are a little vulnerable, it’s scary to put out there.
Tymie: Yeah.
Girl Gang: There are lots of artists who are obsessive about constantly sharing things or sharing new work. For someone like you, who seems more interested in private creation, what advice would you give to younger artists trying to overcome that fear of sharing?
Tymie: Yeah. I would say, first and foremost, that not everything needs to be shared. It’s ok to keep some things for yourself. I would never want anyone to think that’s a bad thing. And then I would say people want to hear what you have to say. It’s ok to be private about things, but it’s also important to know that people value your opinion, they value your words, they value your work. There is someone out there who wants to hear what you’re saying. Most of the time, it’s multiple people. So just believe that what you’re saying means something.
Girl Gang: Something I really love about the video are the scenes in your room where you’re surrounded by different records, books, and plants. It seems like you have a little inspo wall going on. Is it important that your room or spaces you’re working in have photos and other kinds of art? Is that something you carefully curate?
Tymie: I think it’s super important. It’s funny because I have a shit ton of stuff on my wall. All of it is meaningful in some way. There isn’t really anything I just tacked up. I think it’s super cool to have other mediums of art, especially visual art, because if you’re stuck you can look up and see art or plants. I think it's a good way to say “Ok. I have this inspiration around me. Let's see what I can do with it.” And just overall, I think it’s really important. Especially now, being in quarantine since it’s your main place of work.
Girl Gang: Yeah, I feel it’s made me really rethink my space. Being in the city, I’m usually gone all day and then I come home and collapse. To have to be in my apartment all day, really made me rethink what colors or pieces of art are energizing or calming.
Tymie: Yes. It’s so important. Especially now since we’re spending most of our time here. I guess for painters they can’t go to the studio, so you’re painting at home and need inspiration there. Singers can’t go to the studio, so you want your room to be inspiring to you. It’s so important to have creative things around you that make you feel comfortable and inspired.
