Today we’d like to introduce you to Tahina.
Hi Tahina, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am a guitarist/bassist/producer/composer currently based in Nashville, TN. I moved here from Nairobi, Kenya but have been living here since 2016. Since I was a child I always knew that I had wanted to be doing something creative for my living, which I’m incredibly grateful that I am able to be doing that now. I always loved things like music, art, and really anything involved in that, so I always gravitated to those types of things in school.
I didn’t really start dipping my feet into music though, until I was in high school. Before that, I always loved to listen to video game soundtracks, and my parents were always playing music like Earth, Wind & Fire and Stevie Wonder around the house and in the car, so I feel like that definitely played a part. When I got to high school, I was taking some music classes which had interested me, and eventually started playing guitar around the end of my sophomore year of high school – and from there it was a wrap. I spent a lot of my free time teaching myself the guitar, and always striving to be better.
That’s what brought me to Nashville. Since I was so interested in music, I wanted to be in a city where I knew I could learn from people and have them push me. When I got to Nashville, I started studying guitar at Belmont University, which had really pushed my ability while I was there. It was one of those situations where I was thrown in, and just about everyone I was around had more time and experience in music than me – so I either had to sink or swim.
I ended up doing both my undergraduate and graduate degrees there, but the people that I met both in and out of there really contributed to my growth as a musician – and I had plenty of opportunities to work with people that I looked up to and pushed me. Having graduated from there now, I was able to start doing music full-time, and even since then I am always meeting and learning from new people – and I’m happy to say that it keeps me excited to be doing this, and also thirsty for more.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely wasn’t a smooth road. One of the biggest obstacles I had to face was getting myself an O-1 Visa. If you don’t know what that is, it is basically an immigrant visa for individuals with ‘extraordinary ability’ in their fields. The reason this was so tough for me was because as an international student, you’re not allowed to work off-campus for the four years in school – unless you have an internship through a class that you’re taking. After the four years are done, you get one year of work authorization to do work that’s related to your major.
Keeping this in mind, when I graduated from undergrad, it was 2020. So as a musician I was already at a disadvantage with my work limitations – and then when I finally get to work the world shuts down. Thankfully during this time, and as the world was starting to open back up, I was able to make a lot of connections in the music world online. At that point, there was no opportunity for me to viably get the artist visa, so I ended up having to go to grad school. The name of the game for me at that point was to keep these connections I had, and continue to expand by going out to shows, events etc. and meeting new people. I had to be incredibly intentional about things, but also keep faith that everything would work out how it was supposed to.
Thankfully while I was in grad school, I was able to do an internship with a mentor of mine which had allowed me to make even more connections that would end up being very important in this process. When I had finally graduated from grad school, I had one year to make things work. During that year I had taken as much work as I could, and I really was blessed with many opportunities that I can only give credit to God for which helped me get this artist visa. Not only was I blessed with the work, but I was blessed with an incredible immigration lawyer as well who really pushed me to prepare the best case possible for myself. Today, I’m lucky enough to be able to do this as a living, and I don’t take it for granted because I literally got what I prayed for!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a guitarist/bassist/producer/composer, and I specialize in doing live and session work in the R&B, Gospel, and Hip-hop scenes here in Nashville. I think one of the things that sets me apart from others is my ability to approach music from the point of view of a listener versus just a musician. While I think both sides are super important, I feel like sometimes us as musicians get a sort of tunnel-vision that sometimes keeps us from hearing music the way a first-time listener would. I’m lucky enough to have worked with many producers who have, wether intentionally or not, taught me how to develop this muscle. Because of this, I think it makes it generally easier for me to adapt to different situations, and also for me to somewhat turn off my analytical brain when I need to.
As a musician in working in these genres, I am also lucky to have been able to work with many great R&B and Hip-hop artists and producers in town/who have lived in town. Some of my favorites I’ve had the pleasure of working with are A.B. Eastwood, Shelldhn, Tim Gent, Bryant Taylorr, Nick Drake, and many many more great artists that I cant even name at the moment.
Working with some of these artist and producers also gave me some accomplishments that I am very proud of. One of these is having had the chance to co-produce the song ‘If’ by Starlito feat. Robin Raynelle, working with my good friend A.B. Eastwood on that song.
Through Tim Gent and A.B., I also had the chance to work on a song with the late Tay Keith- Rest In Peace. I had the chance to work on Tim’s song ‘How You Feel’, as well as get some cuts on some of his new records with A.B. and Tay Keith.
I am also currently on tour with the artist Iam Tongi, winner of American Idol Season 21, which I am happy to be able to travel across the country and perform with people I enjoy being on stage with.
Overall though, I’m just thankful to have met the community I did here in Nashville, because there are so many artists and musicians that care so much about the art, and are so intentional about it which is inspiring to me.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Honestly, I feel like this music industry changes so fast – so I’m not even sure what’s going to happen. I do feel like communities are going to start becoming more tightly-nit because of all the predatory behavior that does happen in the music business. I think at this point, independent musicians are starting to push back more and more, and I hope that this pushback will help create something that’s more sustainable for artists and musicians – because people are less afraid to call things out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://soundbetter.com/profiles/340826-tahina-fiaferana
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tahinathepiranha/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@tahinafiaferana77
