Tahirah Elizabeth singing a soulful journey - Led by philosophy on love, life
Published:Friday | January 15, 2021 | 12:15 AMStephanie Lyew/Gleaner Writer
Tahirah Scott-Anderson comes across as quick-witted, philosophical, free-spirited and self-aware in the things she says as much as how she expresses it – whether in speaking or singing. Spending most of her time with her studies in aquatic and marine biology, she says the time has come to rededicate herself to learning about the Jamaica music industry.
“I actually hate school, but the physical, outdoor aspect of the chosen area of study motivated me. I know that if I want a more successful and recognised career in music, I need to do more groundwork,” she said.
After completing her bachelor’s degree at the Stetson University in Florida, she started working with producers Danny Browne and Mikie Bennett to immerse herself in the industry, but another opportunity presented itself for her to acquire her master’s degree in marine conservation, which she pursued at the University of Miami. While overseas, she opened a show for veteran reggae entertainer A.J. Brown. Since being back in Jamaica, she secured a position at the Montego Bay Marine Park but unfortunately, with budget cuts due to the pandemic it was no longer financially feasible, which is when she decided to revisit another one of her passions – writing lyrics.
“I am attempting to add that depth to my lyrics, that I believe is missing in recent times, and having it be relatable, so people can connect more through my music. That is my main desire as I take on a journey in the music industry.”
Her music is all about the interplay between soulfulness and mystical as her siren-like vocals float surreally over acoustic or digitally synthesised soundscapes. Similar to Ariel in The Little Mermaid (those of us born in the ‘90s can relate), the real-life mermaid combines the pulsating flow of reggae and dancehall with her modern flair that though new, is reflective of an era of classical soul and jazz music that is reminiscent of the likes of Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott. She leans heavily on the universe that these artistes, working with rapper and songwriter Common, galvanised in the mid-1990s. It’s airy, compressed vocals and powerful harmonies that remain her happy place.
RELATIONSHIP WORK
Recording as Tahirah Elizabeth, she has been exploring her sound through her covers of popular tracks like Lioness on the Rise by Queen Ifrica; King by Lauren Aquilina; Pretty Hurts by Beyoncé; Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson; and Bruises by Lewis Capaldi, but is also finding a niche with her originals Behind Closed Doors and Runaway. The singer’s most recent single, See You Never, is an expression of how the passion can cast a shadow on purpose, as she illuminates the way a relationship changes in seconds and forces one or both of the persons involved to grow up. The work that goes into making a relationship work, or even leaving one, as Tahirah Elizabeth sings, “Packed my bags, I’m out the door, I know that I deserve more, I will wait no more, me nuh want no waste man, me want a love weh secure.”
“I wrote it almost immediately after receiving the rhythm and it was more of a combination of what I know people go through, giving their heart to a person and being taken advantaged of, and from my own perspectives on feeling second best, while knowing you deserve more than that,” she told The Gleaner.
“For me, it’s not only related to love, but any type of relationship. A person should never settle for less than what he or she is worth; it’s just that the idea for the visuals captured the boy meets girl, girl likes boy, but it ends up she is sitting around waiting for him to change, that type of real-life situation,” she continued.
It just so happens that the role of the boy in the video, shot and edited by Anorak Productions, is played by fast-rising recording artiste D’Yani. Of course, some of the scenes had to include the outdoors, by the beach.
Tahirah Elizabeth shared, “I am frequently asked what my target audience is, but that’s hard to answer. I do know that I don’t want to be known as a girl that sings only love songs; my catalogue will be uplifting and memorable.” Like her career as a marine biologist, she has had to disentangle and essentially take herself apart, she said, “I didn’t know much about Jamaica’s marine community, primarily because most of my studies were overseas, but with time I learnt.”
With this “modern-day soul music with contemporary attitudes and sensibilities”, fused with the energetic, soulful pulse of Jamaican tones, she promises a pleasurable awakening of music palates globally. “My hope is to release a five-song EP later this year and to broaden my scope in my writing lyrics. I definitely think there is a sundry of new sounds and I am one of the newer sounds that is emerging,” she said.