In 2022, Stereofox published an article highlighting 10 female producers reshaping the future of electronic music. Among them was TSHA, and in retrospect, it feels like that selection was a fulfilled prophecy. With her latest album Sad Girl, UK-based DJ and producer TSHA offers a distinctive dance experience that balances moments of euphoria with shades of sea-blue melancholy.
After the release of her downtempo-leaning EP Moonlight in 2019, the influence of house, pop, acid, and breakbeat began seeping deeper into TSHA's craft. This led to a vibrant and lively evolution of TSHA's sound that caught the eye of the dance and electronic music community, attracting attention from platforms like DJ Mag, Billboard, and Mixmag, as well as artists like Bonobo and Gorillaz.
Furthermore, this culminated in performances on massive festival stages including Boiler Room and multiple tours across Europe. As she reached the tipping point of her career, TSHA unveiled her long-awaited debut album Capricorn Sun (2022) via Ninja Tune where she presented an emotionally eclectic body of work jam-packed with a variety of styles.
While Capricorn Sun is a sonic kaleidoscopic, her follow-up Sad Girl delivers a more cohesive experience, both thematically and sonically. On Sad Girl, we're introduced to a teenage TSHA filled with angst yet finding solace in the worlds of UK garage, r&b, house, and trip-hop. The first half of the project is bright, bold, and in your face, embodying the youthful energy she channels deep within her and unleashes during sets. The track "Girls" with Rose Gray echoes this sentiment with its raw and somewhat abrasive synth works and lyrical content, especially throughout the chorus that drives the feeling of being forever young.
The themes of young forever seamlessly carry into the next track "In The Night", along with the sound of the 2000s era yet through a different lens. While "Girls" draws from early 2000s electro influences, "In the Night" and my favorite track on the album, "Can't Dance" featuring Master Peace, have a vibe reminiscent of Craig David’s blend of UK garage and R&B, especially with their glittery plucked melodies. Lyrically, the drum and bass gem "Can't Dance" is flowing with angst and frustration and this is ironically supported by energetic production that's brought to life by firey drums and immersive synth textures. This is the single that seems to shed light on the feelings around vulnerabilities as a teenager while simultaneously carrying a hopeful, youthful allure to it.
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"Lonely Girl" serves as a pivotal moment of the album - this somewhat experimental ambient piece serves as the gateway into the deeper, blue waters of Sad Girl. It's fitting that we encounter "Azaleas" featuring Ingrid Witt's vocals at this point in the project. This track, along with their partnership on "Drive" steers toward a melodically organic direction as it's fleshed out by shimmering strings and piano arrangements to heighten emotional appeal. Even though the progressions are intricate and the drums are lively, here is where the sadness is ripe by virtue of the soundscapes we're immersed in and Ingrid's heart-wrenching vocal performances.
It's beautiful to see how TSHA has been expressive about her youthful traumas while giving us a glimpse of what helped her cope through those times, and how she's in a better place now. We're patiently waiting to hear and see what she does next!
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