20 November 2024

In the Party Together — An Interview with Tyrun

Hot off the release of his new single ‘sailor’, rising R&B sensation, Tyrun, chats with Alex de Vries about music, Niue and his upcoming performance at Forage Fest. Forage Fest (21-23 November) is a new small-scale music festival championing young, new and emerging artists at Basement Theatre. Tickets to Forage Fest are completely free, but registration is required.

AdV: Tell me about your musical journey—where did you start out? What got you interested in making music?

T: I’ve been singing since I can remember because there was always music playing at home. Everyone in my family sang along too, so it always felt normal. Lots of R&B and pop, with my parents’ island classics in there too. I started to sing more in college with choir and barbershop, it was something that helped me come out of my shell a lot. I started writing music in school too, but for the most part, it was about singing cool things as opposed to writing about my feelings. I guess that’s where my interest in making comes from, being able to enjoy singing regardless of the form it’s in. I’ve always wanted to sing, so being able to write my own songs just came as a part of that.

AdV: Where did the concept for Tyrun come from?

T: Hmmm mostly just my life? Hahahaha. I think of myself as multi-dimensional, and being able to express all of those different sides of me through my work does almost mean that I need to conceptualise ‘Tyrun’. As an artist I want to be able to connect with people like myself, so being able to express all of these different ideas, thoughts, and feelings I have through my work is really important. It means that the concept of Tyrun is ever-changing, maybe it comes down to my addictive personality, but I hope I can continue to grow and change and morph into new things for years to come.

AdV: What is it like representing Niue and how have you found your heritage come through in your music?

T: My journey with Niue is still in such an early stage, which is both exciting and really nerve-wracking, honestly. Regardless, I love Niue and I love being able to rep it whenever I can. Vagahau Niue is listed by UNESCO as one of the languages at risk of extinction, and that makes me really sad. Being able to connect with Niue in small pieces as I grow up is really encouraging for me, I feel so blessed to have started this journey and so repping it really is just a no-brainer. There aren’t many of us, and that gives me so much breath to scream about it from the rooftops haha. It’s something I know a lot of Niuean and Pasifika kids growing up in the diaspora will have thoughts about.

Honestly, I think my heritage is yet to show itself fully in my music. Of course, my music is made from my perspective which is always going to be fueled by my identity, but I’ve a lot more to explore before I think I’ll fully understand what my cultural perspective is. Being able to share my perspective as someone figuring all of that out is really where it’s showing up in my music for now.

AdV: Are there any particular lessons or advice from your family or culture that keep you grounded?

T: Yeah, my mum and sisters are a constant reminder to stay grounded because they’ll roast me up if my head starts to get too big hahaha. I have always admired my mum’s strength in her kindness. I’ve also grown to understand the importance in identifying what is, and isn’t, worth your energy from my dad. Small things, but they’ve guided me through a lot of my adult life. I’ve learnt a lot from growing up with my parents and my sisters as my role models, those lessons will always keep me grounded.

AdV: You co-founded All My Friends—what is it and what need does it address in the community? Are there any events coming up or just passed?

T: AMF is an Asian and Pasifika-led creative collective—we produce events, exhibitions, creative projects, and club nights. We centre our Asian, Pasifika, Queer and creative artists, providing space for our communities to be represented, celebrated, platformed and connected. In simple terms, we do cool creative things that bring really cool people together for a good ass time. We just had our last event of the year OMW! late last month which showcased some amazing Pasifika musicians from Tāmaki Makaurau. Shoutout to Big Fan, Avito, Finau and SPDRTWNBBY! Now it’s time for us to enjoy things from the other end for a bit, yay!

AdV: What do you think of the state of New Zealand music right now?

T: I am excited to see it grow in its sonic diversity, and representation. It’s so exciting for me right now—there are so many up-and-coming artists in the local scene that are producing such quality mahi. It makes me feel like there’s something bubbling right now, so it will be so exciting to see where so many of our local artists go!

AdV: Which artists do you look up to? Who inspires your sound? Who did you grow up listening to?

T: I love Ariana Grande, yes, it’s true. I just enjoy pop vocalists honestly, specifically female vocalists (hehe hey girly pops). Having the duality of both powerful and floating vocals is really beautiful to me, and it’s just something she does really well. Tinashe also is a huge inspiration for me. I’m inspired by R&B and pop, and I love when artists can transcend the bounds of these genres in unique and exciting ways. I also really love K-Pop, it’s easy to see so much genre fluidity here and content overload (it never ends!!!!). So while I usually let that all inspire me, I’m open to exploring different sounds, because it means I get to challenge how I can make it into something you recognise as ‘Tyrun’.

AdV: Your new single ‘sailor’ has just come out—what is it about and why was it important to make this song?

T: ‘sailor’ was written after my first trip to Niue, and talks about my journey discovering my connection to it. It was really overwhelming, and confronting to spend a week there, but I loved it so much. I have so many feelings, many I’m still unpacking, but I wrote ‘sailor’ about knowing that it’s ok to navigate all these feelings in my own way. There’s no textbook about how to be a Niuean, and given that our lives are so engrossed in the diaspora now, I’m sure whatever would be in that textbook would be incorrect—we, as Niueans, are still evolving to this day. Talking about my journey is really important for me in reclaiming my identity as a Niuean, but I think it’s also something that’s really relative to Poly kids in the diaspora.

AdV: You always hit the stage with a bit of choreography—tell me about your journey into dance.

T: Honestly, it’s not a very long journey! I’ve always appreciated and adored dance, so when I got the chance (and built up the courage) to, I started going to open dance classes with friends down in Pōneke. Now I just dance when I can, taking open classes every now and again. Music has always made me move, and I love being able to make people move with mine. Dance and movement can really encourage how someone engages with music or visuals, so it’s fun to have this aspect in my music. Dance really is just an outlet for me, I find so much comfort in being able to express myself with my body, it’s so much fun, and honestly, I just feel so hot when I dance hahahahaha. As someone who always struggles with body image, it’s encouraging to feel these things, so I really mean it when I say I love being able to make others move with my music.

AdV: Tell me about the quintessential Tyrun performance—what can people expect from you?

T: I like to be in the party, so even though I’m performing for you, I want you to be in the party with me. Move with me, sing along, dance with the person next to you! I’ll always provide good music to move to, tasty vocals to woo you, and a chance for you to see me throw that ass in a circle

AdV: What makes you excited about Forage Fest?

T: My first fest performance wtf!!!!!!!! I’ve also been to so many shows at Basement, so being on a lineup for them is so cool to me haha.

AdV: What do you think is the value in festivals that celebrate young, new and emerging artists?

T: There are so many different values to having festivals that celebrate young, new and emerging artists. Fresh perspectives, innovative styles, and experimental approaches are often the playgrounds of young artists and no less is true for this lineup. Festivals that celebrate emerging talent contribute to a dynamic cultural landscape, encouraging diversity and exploration. We have so much talent here in Aotearoa and Tāmaki Makaurau, people need to see it! I’m so grateful for the opportunity because it doesn’t come around so often, trying to make it as an artist is benefited immensely by having the opportunity to perform. Love u Basement!!!!!! x