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T-Yah (Tia Longkumer) is a gifted young singer, songwriter, and performer from Nagaland. He began his musical journey as a child, using song to convey his emotions. He has recently penned several new tracks that he will be releasing soon.
He is active on Instagram (tyah_music) and YouTube (TYAH), where he has amassed over 3,000 followers on each platform. To find out more about him, read on…
Eastern Mirror: Please introduce yourself to our readers.
T-Yah: I am T-Yah, formerly known as Tia Longkumer. I am a singer-songwriter-performer, and I am signed under the label Infinity Inc.
Eastern Mirror: Can you share the story of how and when your journey with music began?
T-Yah: Well, my music journey started when I was a kid as a way to express my emotions and stories through music.
Eastern Mirror: Did you have any apprehensions when you ventured into the increasingly competitive music industry?
T-Yah: The industry is indeed competitive but it is also a place of creativity and talent. So as long as one is sharpening his tools and not giving up, there is nothing to be afraid of.
Eastern Mirror: When was the first time you performed on stage? And what was the experience like?
T-Yah: The first time I performed on stage was when I was still taking classes from my mentor, and it was in a performance lab. The amount of anxiety and tension was high, but the words I still remember are, 'The people you see from the stage may look terrifying, but they are just people like you and me, not extraterrestrial’.
Eastern Mirror: What is your favourite part of being a musician?
The opportunity and the ability to create music and travel.
Eastern Mirror: Talk us through your creative process for writing song lyrics.
T-Yah: For me, it starts with a concept—things I want to say and what I am going through. I then record the words as they come while jamming, and later rephrase and rewrite them.
Eastern Mirror: What is your greatest strength? How does it help you as an artiste?
T-Yah: The confidence I have comes from my identity as 'me'—not as someone’s shadow or an outsider, but also, most importantly, as God's child.
Eastern Mirror: What is the biggest challenge you face as an artiste?
T-Yah: There are certain challenges I face as an artiste, including creativity block, where I cannot write or create new music, and identity crisis. As an artist, the things I wear and portray can sometimes mislead people, leading to ambiguity about whether I am on the right track.
Eastern Mirror: Apart from singing, what interests you?
T-Yah: I enjoy cooking and designing, as they help me stay occupied and motivated.
Eastern Mirror: Are there any upcoming projects that your fans can keep track of?
T-Yah: Well, I have some songs written and am excited to share them very soon. Just wait a little longer.
Eastern Mirror: Any message for the readers?
T-Yah: I would say that not every day will be our best or our worst. It’s a season for everyone. Remember to learn from the season and apply those lessons to your life, because there is always something special to learn from everything and everyone around us.