02 Tierra Umi Wilson

By Barbara C

To put it simply Umi lives in my mind rent-free. Umi’s one of the most talented songwriters that I have ever listened to. The half-African, half-Japanese artist brings a new spirit of self-discovery into music. Using simple lyrics combined with lo-fi beats into addictive songs. Her spirituality in approach to life and music makes her content so charming to her audience.

whoisumi/Instagram

Her latest EP Introspection is a look into the young artist’s mind as she explores love, family, and race. The EP opens with the title song “Introspection”, which she notes as a look into her brain using velvety melodies. Her second track “Open Up” follows the artist as she comes to terms with an ending relationship and the feelings of guilt and freedom that come with it. Her second single from the EP “Pretty Girl hi!” is one of my all-time favorites as Umi sings about exploring her insecurities and self-love as she grows into her features. The EP closes with “Broken Bottles” a light approach as she opens up about her relationship with her father and substance abuse. Overall, the EP delivers wisdom and good vibes in 6 songs.

Her music creates a welcoming environment as it’s similar to reading her diary. Through her lyricism, she invites you into her world and allows her experiences to comfort you. Each song she releases revealing a new side of herself as her vulnerability is exposed allowing the listener to find a piece of themselves in her words or to understand her world better.

Umi poses facing mirrors for the EP, “Introspection,” released on June 21. Umi describes her music as not, “music for hurting but for healing.”

whoisumi/Instagram

Outside of music, she’s a student at USC and a happy spirit that spreads positive vibes. If you go to her Instagram, you can see how her spirituality and creativity flows through art and meditation. She’s consistently sharing her journey of self-discovery through spirituality and self love. Her self-expression makes her presence as a whole comforting.

Umi’s presence in the music world is like a breath of fresh air as she shows her vulnerability through visual arts and music. Her ability to use music to take a look into her head and use social media as her visual diary creates a welcoming environment that draws in an audience as they feel connected to her and the positive atmosphere she provides. I would say no one is doing it like her, but the charm is we can all find a little bit of ourselves in her.