Written by Sandeep Sehbi

TTUM is a young queer Central Ohio performer whose been making the DIY rounds lately in a big way. Her influences are electronic and she’s got plans for a band in coming months. In the meantime you can catch her playing solo sets with her guitar. 

TUNED UP: How long have you been playing music?

TTUM: I’ve been playing music all together for about… 10 years, but it was a very slow start up. Originally at the age of 4, up until about age 9, I had decided I wanted to be an actress, but there was something about music that was more appealing. It was a lot more emotional and personal, I guess. I just was convinced I would absolutely never be able to 1. Play an instrument of any kind 2. Ever have the voice strong enough to become a pop/ R&B style vocalist and 3. Being able to connect with a crowd because I’ve always felt so completely different than everyone else. But, now I’ve been singing since I was 11, started piano at 16 and for the past 3 years I’ve been developing a sound and look for myself that is original and unique enough so that my sound shines through any other solo act and so I can hold my own when playing shows with bigger, louder bands. All the positive feedback and support I’ve been getting still surprises me. You only truly begin to doubt yourself when everyone is on your side.

TUNED UP: You went to ACPA (a well known arts high school in town). How was your experience there? Do you feel like it encourged you as an artist? As a person?

TTUM: Going to ACPA was without a doubt one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. It couldn’t have came at a better time. I had been going to my hometown school for all of Middle School and my Freshman year of High School and to say it was a living hell is an understatement. When I came to ACPA my Sophomore year I had just started playing music, but it was such a great place to be a new kid. The environment was so welcoming and the teachers and students were so nice and accepting. The school helped me regain my confidence and helped me to be brave enough to explore who I was again. It was there that I had the confidence to come out as being transgender, there were at least other trans kids in my school. As far as music goes it was the definite focal point of all my musical studies and endeavors. It was there that I realized I had a natural talent for it and I really enjoyed sharing my feelings and stories through my music. You see me and you assume I’m shy, but I’m not. I’m just a quiet confidence.

TUNED UP: You have a soundcloud with alot of chill electronic sounds. You also perform live acoustic. Is your goal to eventually incorporate those sounds in your life performance?

TTUM: Yes, the goal is to have an entire electronic set list eventually. I’m attending beauty school right now so I have a job to support my music career when I go for it head on by the time next year comes around. So, at the moment I’m really just into doing acoustic stuff while I’m producing my EP. I also have a lot of friends in the music scene who want to record stuff for me so that helps.

TUNED UP: You have in your set a trans anthem. Do you feel like trans issues are important to you as a musician?

TTUM: As a queer artist of color in general I have been faced with numerous challenges. I’m not only a fucking weird ass motherfucker, but I’m also black (well half, but in this society that’s enough to where that’s all people see) AND I’m trans. People are just generally confused by me, but I also carry myself with a lot of confidence, so people have also said that they felt intimidated by me. At the moment the most important issue to me is the fact that Black Trans Lives matter and need to be heard. There have been 16+ murders of black trans woman in 2015 alone, that’s fucking ridiculous! It makes me scared for my own life, but I don’t wanna be afraid and I shouldn’t have to be. I want to be a brave voice that shines through and shows other trans woman and trans woman of color that we can do anything we want.

TUNED UP: Do you have plans to record a full-length solo disc?

TTUM: Yes, eventually. The EP I’m working on will have 8 songs on it. After that I might do another EP, I just really want to be at my best when I go to record my album. Someone told me a long time ago, “only put your best stuff out there.”

TUNED UP: I heard you’re also interested in putting together a band. What kinds of stuff are you looking for?

TTUM: I would really like to have a guitarist and drummer to back me up. I’d be the front runner on lead vocals, synths, my piano and iPad. As many vocalists as possible, I love harmonies. For a long time I was looking for a producer, but everyone’s flakey or too busy. So, I said fuck it. And started teaching myself.

TUNED UP: Whats next for TTUM?

TTUM: I’m slowly transitioning my sets into something bigger and more electronic. I wanna buy lots of lights for a unique set up, I have a very good aesthetic. I’d like to go on a mini Ohio tour as well and then do something nationwide in the spring with some friends. Come Halloween time I’ll be really getting into the grind of music. Expect great things.

Relevant Links
https://www.facebook.com/welovetatum
https://soundcloud.com/ttummusic