It was 2023 when I first witnessed TSHA perform in Detroit, MI for the annual Movement Music Festival (formerly DEMF – Detroit Electronic Music Festival). As I explored the grounds of Hart Plaza, moving between stages and catching all my senses could handle of the bevy of entertainment, fresh rhythms and fun melodies beckoned me towards the Pyramid Stage. As I reached the outskirts, the crowd danced and swayed along with groovy tunes flowing forth from a demure talent on stage, TSHA. I found my way to an elevated position where I admired the scene that lay before me. The sun shone prominently overhead within a blue sky dappled with tufty strands of cumulus. Boats traversed the Detroit River behind, and across the channel gazed the Canadian city of Windsor. A beautiful setting to behold, and TSHA’s music served as my invitation to drink this all in.
As I prepare to return to Detroit for the 22nd edition of the Movement Music Festival, I was blessed with an opportunity to speak with TSHA in the week preceding. It was a pleasant conversation where we talked about Detroit and Movement, her new Jackfruit brand, our shared admiration for the Netflix show Midnight Gospel, as well her mission to keep dance music thriving wherever she goes. Settle in with your fine self, for I am Bear Swiftly, the Electro Scribe, and this episode contains plenty of details from my electric conversation with TSHA.
As TSHA and I began, we touched off about the city of Detroit and Movement. Her 2023 set was certainly one of my favorites, and she glowed when recollecting details from her Pyramid Stage performance. “It was one of my highlight festivals I’ve ever played to be honest. Not just for my set, just for the atmosphere of the festival, full stop. I’m super, super excited to be back, and yeah, you’re right, the Pyramid stage is pretty awesome, and it’s crazy that Canada is just across the water!”
One of the things that stood out throughout our conversation was how humble TSHA is. Music is a global passion and innovation comes from far and wide. I reflected on how Chicago spawned House, Detroit birthed Techno, and London and the UK are responsible for genres like UK Garage and Drum and Bass. I asked TSHA for some insight into her approach to music and how it’s special, and the feeling she gets when she’s performing. Simply put, she loves music.
“I wouldn’t say anything is special about it, I think just for me, I just really love music. I really love the feeling it gives, I love groovy music, I love house music, I love techno, and for me when I play music or DJ, people can feel how much I love it and that kind of sort of transfers to them.”
I appreciated how she brought this point up, the transfer of emotions between spectator and performer. I often think of artists as storytellers, songs akin to short stories in my book. In my mind, they hold meanings that make a listener feel good or harbor messages that are received when needed most. I asked TSHA if she considers herself a storyteller, and she supplied a corresponding viewpoint to her role in curating a dance atmosphere.
“I think of myself as more a vehicle for people to get away from their everyday lives. I don’t know if there’s storytelling within that, but for me, I feel like I’m more of a joy bringer. That’s why I think dance music and these kinds of festivals, nightclubs, and things are so important to humans as, y’know, where we go to reset. Being able to sort of let loose and dance like no one is watching and meet new people, and meet like-minded people, and just be in that moment and not worry about what’s happening at home, or in your week, and give you that break. It’s like therapy, really.”
TSHA recently launched her Jackfruit brand complete with a radio program on Apple Music dubbed Jackfruit Radio with TSHA. Earlier this year TSHA completed a Jackfruit tour through eleven Canadian and United States cities from February 28 to March 23. One of the aims of her tour was to remind attendees to remain present. When, and where she was able, she implemented a ‘no cell-phones on the dance floor’ policy. This is a great way to encourage folks to mingle and interact with each other, so I inquired if her brand aimed to retain that sense of unity and community on the dance floor.
“For me DJing over the past few years and playing on like, quite big stages or big clubs, the DJ is so far removed from the crowd, and the phones are out. I feel like dance music is losing a little bit of its community in that way. For me with Jackfruit, it was a way to put the audience, the people coming to the shows, at the center of the show and not me. The idea is to kind of have me more level with everybody, have people behind me, no phones. So there’s a no phone policy. Not all of them, but when I can implement that, there is a no phone policy. I put stickers on the phones as people come in. It’s been more about everyone dancing and being with each other; we’re all having a fun time together rather than putting me on a pedestal.”
The artwork that accompanies her Jackfruit radio program evokes recollections of Midnight Gospel, from Duncan Trussell, and Adventure Time, by Pendleton Ward. These are shows I adore, and it turns out TSHA thinks highly of them as well. She had this to say about Midnight Gospel. “It was one of the things that really touched me, particularly the episode where he speaks to his mum who’s passing. I was very inspired by that concept of… world building.” I furthered that it kind of represents escapism in a way. The show deals with some tough concepts and makes them feel less foreboding. She agreed. “I think it’s a very beautiful show, and it’s not spoken about enough.”
When it comes to producing music, I queried TSHA about her creative process. Does the magic happen in the studio? Where does her inspiration come from? “My productions are usually inspired by what I’m feeling at that time in my life.”
Throughout our conversation, we touched on how cellular phones can have a negative impact on dance floors. I’m certainly guilty of this myself. Sometimes a hot track drops and I want to capture a video to share with others. Unfortunately, it’s never as good after the fact as it was in that moment, which I inadvertently take myself out of attempting to capture the moment for reflection later on. TSHA shared these thoughts. “There are so many things people miss out on by looking through their phone screens. Y’know, the moment of actually being in the moment, and no one really looks back at those videos anyway.”
Before my conversation with TSHA concluded, I asked her to enlighten me to her overall mission statement through her music and Jackfruit brand. Is it about curating spaces for people to gather, find their tribe, and celebrate? Or is there a larger aim and grander vision in mind?
“For me, it’s more about making sure to keep the essence of dance music alive. Which is, like you said, about gathering and sort of losing yourself. Having these safe spaces and sort of not being pretentious in it. Everyone being welcome. I want to make sure that’s not lost. My dream is to be one of the people that helped keep that alive rather than it being lost in the sort of way things are done now.”
TSHA is an exciting and energetic performer who gets dance floors moving with groovy beats that entice and excite. She’s a kind and thoughtful woman who exudes a gentle aura. Soft-spoken with strong ideals. She’ll be performing on Movement’s Waterfront Stage on Sunday, May 25, at 5PM. I’m looking forward to getting down with her and the crowd, once again.
For more information about TSHA and to stay in the know about upcoming announcements, check out her website at TSHAmusic.com. Furthermore, I recommend you listen to her radio program, Jackfruit Radio with TSHA, on Apple Music. You can also find her artist page on Facebook, TSHA, and follow her on Instagram @tshamusic.
Be well, be successful. Bear Swiftly.
–Electro Scribe–
