Tiara Jade: "Salt & Sugar" (Exclusive Interview)
What separates you from other artists?
When writing music, I push for variety and sincerity within my songs because I want to reach and connect with a broad range of people. I like to combine different genres, musical styles, and instruments to create a distinctly unique sound.
What inspired this song?
"Salt & Sugar" was inspired by my first experience at college. Originally, everybody I met was incredibly nice. However, overtime I realized they weren't who they appeared to be. I would sit down in the dining hall at their table and they would immediately get up and leave me there, or they would all make plans to hangout and lie to me about what they were doing. I sort of ended up becoming their errand girl for a while and I would only get acknowledged if I could do/buy something for them. It was these little things that would gradually get more blatant throughout my semester there. I became so focused on trying to fit in with the people I thought were cool that I was blind sighted to what was happening right in front of me. A close friend of mine at the college was going through something even worse with people she thought were her friends. They would corner her inside of her dorm room and shout insults in her face or physically push her around. All of these are different forms of bullying and none of them are ever okay. This is something that needs to be taken seriously that I wanted to raise awareness about.
What is the song’s meaning?
The meaning of this song lies within the salt and sugar metaphor; some people may look like your friends at first, but in actuality, they're mean, "salty" people on the inside who don't care about you. “Salt & Sugar” is an anti-bullying song to raise awareness about harmful situations. I also wanted to uplift and encourage other people who have gone through a similar experience that I have.
What was the recording process like?
I had several audio engineers involved in the process of making this song through recording, mixing, and mastering. They were all extremely professional and encouraging. They were excited for me to publicly talk (sing) about this serious subject matter. "Salt & Sugar" also has musical contributions from across multiple countries. By that, I mean that some parts of this song were recorded in different studios throughout Colorado, while other parts were recorded in Toronto, Ontario. The same musician who played bass on my first song, "Reflection", also played flute and bass guitar on this song. I love working with such a talented group of people and I hope to continue working with them on future projects.
How do you like the music industry so far?
I've done music since I was a kid. I absolutely love the music industry and everyone involved in it. There’s a good community centered around the music business. Artists are always supporting each other’s music. I have done performances at different venues to build my experience. Through these live performances, I have gotten the chance to meet and work with some very talented, wonderful people.
What is the most important lesson you've learned so far in your music journey?
I've learned about the importance of adding intricate little details into my music. What I mean by that is, a subtle sound effect or chord hanging quietly in the background of the song can make a big difference in how the finished mix sounds. By doing this, listeners know that different parts of the song stand out a bit more, but they can't quite place their finger on why they like that portion of the song so much.
Have you ever participated in any music competitions? What was the outcome?
I have been in several music competitions in the past, but two come to mind for opposite reasons. The first one was The Celebration of Music virtual show in September of 2020 during my junior year of high school in the midst of the covid pandemic. The show was hosted by Ethan Bortnick who interviewed each of the contestants before we showed off our talents. The other contestants were kind and encouraging. In the end, I wasn't selected as one of the finalists, but I learned so much from all the other talented people there. I also participated in the 2021 Red Rocks Senior Graduation auditions for who would sing a solo song of their choice on stage. Although it wasn't technically an official music competition, the audition process itself definitely felt competitive. I was unaware that auditions were going on until about a day before they were scheduled to happen. I also didn't know that you had to sign up for auditions a month in advance. I was a last minute entry and signed up when I first walked into the audition hall and stood in line. A group of girls from my choir class were in line to audition right before me. We didn't really ever talk all that much. After they came back out of the audition room, I asked what song they had chosen to sing. The name of the song was unfamiliar to me, but I was curious about it. I asked if they could send me a youtube link to the original artist's work. They replied that they didn't have the time but stated that I shouldn't worry about hearing it now because I would "definitely be listening to it when [they're] selected to perform it on stage at Red Rocks". I felt really insignificant and small at that moment. The interaction definitely didn't help build my confidence any. I wanted to turn around and give up; I almost did. But instead, I marched straight into the audition room and sang my very best even though I felt unprepared. I had no backing track or instrument accompaniment and sang the whole song a capella. In the end, I ended up winning the audition and sang "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack on stage at Red Rocks. It was an absolute dream come true and I'm so glad I didn't walk away and give up at the last minute.
Do you experience stress before going on stage?
Absolutely. I feel stressed before performances all the time. Getting nervous is a sign that you really care about something and want it to go well. Once I start performing, I get into the music and I start interacting with the audience. After that, all of my nervousness is forgotten. You don't even remember that you were ever stressed in the first place.
What are the next steps for you?
Soon, I'll be releasing a couple more singles to grow my catalog. After that, I plan to make a full album to really showcase a range of what I can do musically. I can't wait to share more of my music with all of you!
What is one message you want to leave listeners with?
There's a couple important messages I want to leave listeners with. First, don't let what other people do or say impact you. When people try to bring you down, don't give them the satisfaction. The second message is to be who you are and don’t try to change yourself for others. Find people who love you for being you. Find friends that will build you up and encourage you instead of tearing you down.
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