You may have heard us playing Squeeze by TIHANE x Segnon on Phoenix FM recently – and we caught up with both artists to find out more about their lives and love of music.
Tell us a little bit about your yourself?
TIHANE: I’m a Polynesian Croatian artist with a nomadic life who spends most of her time between LA, Hawaii, Ghana, and London.
Segnon: My name is Segnon, and I wear many hats in the music industry—producer, rapper, and songwriter to name a few. While I’ve worked in a variety of genres, I primarily focus on hiphop, R&B, and pop.
When did you first start to develop a passion for music?
TIHANE: Music has always been in my life, from my culture, our chants and hymns. My own relationship to music probably started in the backseat of cars, travelling around, listening to the radio or in my headphones, feeling like music was the safest place I could always go, no matter what was happening in my life.
My mom gave me artists like Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, and my dad gave me Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix. My stepmom gave me SADE and Ms Dynamite. My stepdad gave me Bob Dylan. From there, I geeked out on everyone from Al Green and Miles Davis to Missy Elliot.
Segnon: Growing up, my musical tastes were a little all over the place. Influences ranged from Kanye West and Nas to soul legends like Raphael Saadiq, Erykah Badu, and D’Angelo. I also appreciated rock, like Radiohead and Linkin Park, along with a broad spectrum of hip-hop styles.
How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t heard you before?
TIHANE: Soul. That’s the easiest way to say it. There are lots of influences and fusions in there, but the deepest pulse of every song I make is soul.
Segnon: If you’ve never heard my music before, it’s all about emotion. My lyrics are multilayered yet relatable, and the beats? They always gonna knock, no question.
What music have you recorded and released to date?
TIHANE: I’ve been making and releasing music for many years, but I went through a creative and personal transformation a couple of years ago. During my “death and rebirth” phase, I put out what I consider my first single called “Moana,” followed by my first EP called “Night Flower.” A few collaborations along the way have led up to this new era of my collaboration with Segnon and our first single, “Squeeze.”
Segnon: I’ve had the privilege to produce for some incredible artists like LATASHÁ, Lafayette Stokely, Mariana Makwaia, and TIHANE. I’ve even scored some indie films and worked on musicals and plays.
Which artists do you enjoy listening to at the moment – and do they influence your work?
TIHANE: I love unique fusion artists like Ama Lou, Tems, Nai Palm. And my forever favorites like Kendrick Lamar and Anderson .Paak.
Segnon: Right now, I’m listening to Anderson .Paak, Baby Keem, Hiatus Kaiyote, and FINKEL. While I’m venturing down my own path, I’m definitely inspired by their creativity.
Who would your dream collaboration be with?
TIHANE: Rick Rubin. Hands down, always my answer. Rick Rubin is my ultimate.
Segnon: There are a lot of talented artists i would love work with but my dream collaborations would have to be with Labrinth, Kanye West, and Kaytranada. What I appreciate about them in particular is that they’re both artists and producers like me, always pushing creative boundaries with big sounding production that always makes you feel things.
What are your plans for the future?
TIHANE: Release an album. Tour the show we’re developing right now. Find Rick Rubin.
Segnon: Moving forward, my future plans are to continue to deepen collaborations with artists I’ve been building with, like TIHANE, and create new soundscapes that challenge musical norms. I want to delve deep into underexplored topics, producing music rich where people can really feel the effort, energy, and soul that was put into it.
We’re in an era now where music is extremely accessible, leading to quick and forgettable releases. My goal is to set a high bar,
making experiences people haven’t had before.
Where can we find out more about you?
We’re both on Instagram @tihane___ and @segnontv. You can also find our streaming links here.
