Tatiana DeMaria The singer-songwriter on music, fans, and performing solo
By Alex A. Kecskes After fronting her celebrated punk-pop band TAT and touring with legendary artists and bands like Joan Jett, NOFX, and The Offspring, Tatiana DeMaria is breaking out in a new direction as a dynamic solo artist. With a passionately devoted following on both sides of the Atlantic, the Vans-Warped-Tour fan-favorite channels contemporary R&B in her latest indie singles, which include "Make Me Feel," "London Don't Lie," and "What It Is About You." Thanks for taking the time for this interview. How did music affect your life when you first started writing and performing? Tatiana DeMaria: When I was fourteen, I struggled with anxiety. But I had a passion for music and started playing guitar. Music was the only thing that relieved the pressure. It allowed me to breathe and reduce my anxiety. I felt I’d found the cure. And I wanted to share that with as many people as possible. I also started writing music. Everything I wrote had to feel the way music made me feel when I was listening to it and it gave me relief. In terms of bands or artists, who were some of your earliest influences? DeMaria: Michael Jackson, The Clash, NOFX, Green Day, Stiff Little Fingers, Tupac, Snoop Dog—I kind of went across the spectrum. For me, there are two kinds of music: good music and shit music. It depends on the person and how they feel. It’s a subjective thing. I love that today’s music is so accessible. When I was growing up, people would pick the music they liked and it would define them. Today, everyone listens to every kind of music. It’s rare to find people now who say I only listen to hip-hop or rock. And that’s the beauty of it—it’s just expressions across these mediums and we all feel the same thing.
14 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
Something every artist dreams about—that first big break. How and when did it occur for you?