Tsharna - About That Time... (EP) + 10 Questions

Having recently been gaining popularity online for her amazing voice and ingenious R&B remakes of some of our favourite hit songs, which have led to co-signs from Wretch 32, Neikd, Krept & Konan, and Nana Rogues, among others, as well as strong support from the likes of BBC Introducing, Soul Surge and The Unsigned Guide for her own music along the way, emerging Luton singer, songwriter and musician TSHARNA is excited to unveil her beautiful debut EP titled ABOUT THAT TIME…

Written and composed by Tsharna, with production from Sunsetdrver (Lylo Gold, Shaé Universe), Machine Baby (J-Hus, Ghetts, Giggs), and longtime collaborator Solikeys, About That Time… is an exquisite and understatedly sexy R&B offering that sees Tsharna take her listeners on a reflective, honest and vulnerable journey through her personal experiences with love and romance – from initially questioning the concept of love, and eventually losing herself to the emotion of it, to obsessing over relationships, and now gaining the strength to manifest the kind of love she wants for herself.

The EP opens with lead single ‘Think About Me’, which sees Tsharna naively giving her love away without reciprocity, and the playful ‘Curfew’ about the excitements of young puppy love, before she reminisces over a deep and exhilarating love on ‘Shiver’, and offers up her most emotional and vulnerable song on the EP with ‘For Life’ where she manifests the kind of lover she wants. Tsharna brings About That Time… to a close with the headstrong ‘Insane’, over which the Luton native reveals the extent of her loyalty to her lover, even to her own detriment.

Tsharna sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:

1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?

I come from a family of music lovers. My mum and dad always played reggae or lover's rock in the house, and my two eldest sisters were big 90s R&B fans so I watched them sing in the house and saw how it made them feel. I also started writing poetry when I was eight and I loved playing with words. Then, at the time, we always had music channels such as Top of The Pops and MTV Base playing in the living room where I would often sit and try to understand the structure of the music. The difference between a poppy verse and a chorus. I began writing songs out of my poems after seeing that and was intrigued by it all.

2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

There is no doubt the older era of soul artists like Whitney Houston and Etta James inspired me. Also, a great mix of artists from 90's era to the 2010 contemporary R&B. But, I would love to work with Chris Brown, Jhene Aiko and Eric Bellinger.

3.  What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?

I just released my debut EP 'About That Time...'  I discuss the most impactful chapters I've faced romantically in my life. It's been a beautiful journey from questioning love and where I fit in it, obsessing over the puppy love/honeymoon stage, accepting the way I lost myself in the past over love and lust to gaining strength and manifesting the kind of love I want for myself in the future. I'm looking forward to the visuals I have in mind for this project and then some brand new music later in the year.

4. How would you describe your sound?

Contemporary R&B, Soul.

5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

To other people, it may not seem like a big deal, but it was and is still a big deal to me when we talk about personal growth. I've been trying to release an EP for years and the number of setbacks almost made it impossible for me so to look back at where I was even with this EP just last year, it's a true testament that I have achieved a lot on my own thanks to the determination that never wavered.

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

Keep writing and hone your sound. Discover what makes you unique. Record and listen back to yourself if you need to. Take your time. It's exciting to be discovering yourself as an artist for the first time, so soak up the music without losing yourself in anyone else's sound.

7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?

Tobi Lou.

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

I would say Wizkid's 'Made In Lagos' album.

9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?

I'm very much a homebody so I love nights in watching TV Documentaries and dancing to music but when I am out I enjoy going out to eat and walking my dog.

10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?

My laptop for the notepad app, my hard drive and my phone to record quick melodies if I need to.