Tash Hollins
Powerhouse R&B artist, Tash Hollins, brings a soulful dynamic brass section to her second single, “Send For Me”- on all platforms now!
With the rise of nu-soul this year, Tash Hollins has been the immediate one to watch. With only two singles under her belt, her latest release, ‘Send For Me’, is a stunning testament to the sound she is building. With vocals like warm honey and an incredible three-person brass section that’ll make you melt into butter, you’ll immediately fall in love with Tash Hollins.
‘Send For Me’ is such a powerful statement, calling to her desired lovers to approach her, woo her, and let her take you into her world of romance. Her laid-back approach to the vocals allows the listener to really dive into the arrangement of the music and you truly can’t help but put the song on repeat to pick up on all the micro-moments of joy happening in this single.
We were so excited to chat with Tash about the creation of the single and more, be sure to listen to ‘Send For Me’, out on all platforms now!
GRRRL Music: I adore the dichotomy between your laid-back feel but paired with this intense delivery from your voice, was this an active choice or did it come through naturally in the song?
Tash Hollins: Certain lyrical phrases and musical moments throughout the song definitely stirred up some more passion in me, which I think impacted my vocal execution naturally. I really liked the idea of having the vocals be sweeter at times and building in intensity at other times for that contrast. I also think that with a song that’s almost five minutes long, dynamic elements from the vocals have an immense impact on the overall feel.
Photo Credit: Provided By Artist
GM: What was your experience like when you first performed 'Send For Me' in front of an audience?
TH: It was such a special experience, and I had so much fun getting to see first-time reactions from a crowd. I love to observe and learn which parts of the song light up someone’s eyes as they hear it initially. I remember just trying to take it all in and enjoy the moment. I spent most of my life singing other people’s songs, so it’s definitely a completely different feeling to tell your story and sing your own words to an audience.
GM: Where does the inspiration for the retro sound of 70's soul and R&B come from?
TH: R&B and soul, specifically from the ‘70s, has had a place in my heart for as long as I can remember. It was the first music that really struck me when I was a kid, and it’s for sure been a primary source of inspiration ever since. Whether it was Earth, Wind and Fire, The Stylistics, or The Jackson 5, it’s just that live, human feel that does it for me. When it comes to the ‘70s, specifically, I think of lots of live instrumentation. I have a deep admiration for seasoned musicians and the way they story-tell with their instruments. I deeply respect the craft and all the hard work that goes into mastering it. With “Send For Me”, I wanted to incorporate the live aspect that feels so warm and inviting. As an artist, I'm very passionate about incorporating elements from the eras of music that speak to me in a profound way into my own music.
GM: 'Send For Me' is such a strong phrase, can you talk about the inspiration for these three words and how you turned it into a full single?
TH: The story I was trying to express was relatively clear to me as I began writing; however, the title took a minute to click. I wrote the verses before even having a title in mind. I wanted something that would distinctly convey the sweetness, the romance, the longing, and the assertiveness all within one title. “Send For Me” was all of those things, and the minute it rolled off my tongue, it made perfect sense to me. It is also a phrase that we don’t hear or say much anymore these days. That’s something that always intrigues me. To turn this into a full song, it was vital to create a musical atmosphere that supported the message. One of my favorite things about the song is its meticulous arrangement. I love the slow burn of the intro and the instrumental breaks that allow the song to breathe. The production itself went through many versions and changes, but ultimately it arrived in a place that I couldn’t be happier with.
GM: The visual aspect of your music seems important to you -- can you talk about that artistic process as well?
TH: The sound of the music definitely has a direct correlation to the visuals for me. While the song is in the creation process, I slowly start to envision the textures, color palettes, specific scenes, and anything else that can assist in developing a look or atmosphere that mirrors how the song feels to me. When it comes to visuals, I personally tend to gravitate toward styles that are aesthetically grand. I definitely have a “more is more” mindset. More glitz, higher heels, bigger earrings—all things “over the top”. In the case of “Send For Me”, since the song has such a vintage feel musically, it just made sense to pull beautiful things from that time. I intentionally maintained the retro style with a black and white color scheme and a newspaper prop as the main visual component, once again reflecting a bygone era.
GM: What is next for you?
TH: I’m already in the studio, working on some upcoming songs and projects. I found a very special sonic world while creating “Send For Me,” so I’m really looking forward to sharing more music within the same realm in the near future. I’m super excited to continue growing relationships with fans and introducing my sound to a new audience that will hopefully love it.