An Exclusive Look and a Newest Single that Feels Like Home: an Interview with Tiffany Stringer

What was the process of writing your song, “Feels Like Home”?

Initially, the idea came to me in the summer of last year. I was starting to learn how to play guitar and I just came up with this little guitar part. I started singing onto it and I had written the pre-chorus and I really liked it and felt like it was special. Sometimes when things are really special I can't do anything else because it has to be perfect. I stopped doing it for a long time because of that. I went home to visit my family in December and was sitting there and thought “I'm just gonna write the words, I'm gonna do it”. My boyfriend normally produces my songs and I kept telling him to work on this song and we couldn't get around to it. So then quarantined started, and I had nothing to do, so I thought “you know what? I'm just gonna do it”.

What is the song about?

I wrote the song about my transition from living in Texas to moving out to LA and how that's changed me. For a long time, I really loved who I was back home in Texas and I feel like I've been trying to get back to that carefree joy. It's really hard because we grow up and shit happens and we don't have those pure eyes. Instead of trying to get back to that place, it's about letting that go, starting over, and deciding “Okay, who do I want to be today”?

How did you first get into music?

I’ve been dancing my whole life and in the fourth grade, I did theatre. Through that, I realized that I loved performing and singing. In the ninth grade, I auditioned to be a Kidz Bop kid and weirdly enough they were holding rehearsals at the place where I took voice lessons. I ended up becoming a Kidz Bop Kid and I toured the U.S and I would sing the pop songs to all the kids. I realized that I loved performing, I loved pop music, and I want to do this for the rest of my life. So that was a big thing for me and Kidz Bop might have been my awakening. 

Who inspired you to make music?

 I listened to Britney Spears a lot. Watching Britney Spears wasn't really about the songs but more about her larger than life performances. I was obsessed with it and I would watch her Las Vegas show at four years old. I also got into Gwen Stefani and No Doubt because I found a lot of love for my voice in hers. I fell in love with Charli XCX and Lorde for sounds in music because Lorde is so cinematic and it’s beautiful and sad but I love the juxtaposition. I find inspiration in everything and it's about following what makes you feel giddy and excited.

How would you describe the music that you create?

I feel that at this point, every song has been it’s own and that's because I’ve been figuring it out. I want to make dance music because my favorite moments in life have been dancing with my friends. I want to make music to facilitate those moments for people. 

I forgot that I love dancing, and I was pushing that part of me away for a while. In quarantine, 

I started making Tik Toks because it was so silly and was bringing me so much happiness in such a dark time. I want people to feel free, dance, and laugh. I feel like genres are going away and it's just about who we are. When I talk about it I call it indie-pop because I'm an independent artist and I love pop music but I also want to try new things. I feel like indie holds the idea that one can do whatever one wants. However, I am such a sucker for a catchy pop tune and something we can all sing along to. So, indie-pop.

You seem to be really into nostalgia! Why is that so appealing to you?

I've always really been in love with coming of age movies and the narrative of us growing up and seeing life in a different way. I feel like in high school people get their first sense of freedom but without the heaviness of paying bills and the world hasn't hit you yet. 

It’s this nice little sweet spot of having everything good without everything bad. I don't necessarily think that's only in high school I think that's just where we get the first taste of it. I remember getting into my car for the first time, listening to Lorde's Pure Heroine album and feeling like nothing could touch me. I'm a big believer that if you find a feeling that you love, hold on to it.