Tatum Tides is more than just a musician: she's a storyteller, a healer, and a connector.
Wonder and awe are the first emotions that wash over you the first time you hear Tatum Tide sing, and then the second, third, and forever. Her voice is soothing, haunting, sensual and authentic, all combined with extraordinary storytelling lyrics. When she's onstage it's magical, and when you see her your heart pounds.
“Music is my absolute passion and has been part of my foundation since I was a child,” said Tides. Her style is a vibrant mix of covers and original songs, each imbued with a unique, uplifting atmosphere, which is how she likes to arrange them. “My original songs have been written on guitar and ukulele for the last few years, each with a special, moving atmosphere,” she said. The occasional inclusion of harmonica in her set adds a soulful layer to her performances. Her vocals, guitar, and carefree ukulele tones complete the overall image.
Healing and connecting souls through music
Tides recently performed in Gauteng for the first time at the invitation of organisers of the Gin and Rum festival. “I believe music can heal and if I can at least share my music and reach a few souls on my musical journey then that would be the greatest honour,” she said.
And it's the event and festival circuit where she wants to first make her mark: “My dream is to perform my original songs and play at the biggest music festivals in South Africa and abroad,” she says, pointing to influences such as Aurora and local South African musicians.
She aims to create music that resonates deeply with people. “We are all African. It doesn't matter what color our skin is. It doesn't matter what language we speak. We all have the same roots. It's important to me to bring that into my music and connect people to nature and to each other,” says Thais. “I'm smiling a little more than usual and I love connecting with people!” she says.
From busking in Europe to festival stages in Mzansi
Thais grew up surrounded by music. With her father a jazz musician and her mother filling the house with music on Sundays, melody and harmony were as commonplace as conversation. “Whether it was lazy Sundays gardening, swimming all day with my mother's radio playing, or enjoying the music of my father, who was a full-time musician, music was always around me,” she says.
Despite her musical background and inevitable journey, it wasn't a cakewalk. “I tried out for talent shows in high school and failed miserably,” she says. “I broke my tooth on the microphone while performing and it chipped my tooth. It was a horrible experience. A terrible experience. I thought I'd never do that again,” she smiles. But a trip to Europe reignited her passion for music. “I ran out of money, so I bought a ukulele and learned how to play. I started playing on the streets and it just got bigger and bigger from there,” she says.
Busking on the cobbled streets of Modena, Italy and other European cities allowed her to hone her craft, and upon returning home she pursued her dream of live performance, playing at festivals such as Splashfen and the Ballito Pro Surfing Championships and opening for some of South Africa's biggest names, including Matthew Mole, Jeremy Loops, Mikasa and Goodluck.
Making music and connecting hearts
But given Tides' wealth of talent, it won't be long before she headlines the festival.
Tatum Tides is more than just a musician. She's a storyteller, a healer, and a connector. Sitting across the table with her is like exploring a maze; there's so much to discover that you can't help but want to keep talking.
Her songwriting process is natural and intuitive. “Sometimes the song comes first, or just the lyrics,” she says. “Sometimes they come to me in the middle of the night. It's weird, but the songs just come to me,” she explains. Her songs are often inspired by nature and her experiences growing up by the sea. “That's something very special to me,” she says.
Outside of music, Thais is a Montessori teacher by day, running a small school on Durban's north coast. “The kids are just so cute and seeing them get creative is nice to give back to that, it's amazing,” she says. Thais loves tea, surfing and experiencing different cultures, and she channels these passions into her music and performance. “I love curry and samosas, they're my life!” she says.
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