R&B / Future Soul artist featured on: #1 charting song on Hype Machine, Apple “Brown Sugar” playlist, Spotify “Alternative R&B” playlist, Best New Artists (Pigeons & Planes), BBC Radio 1, Zane Lowe’s Beats Radio show, KCRW
My focus as a songwriter and vocalist is storytelling and communicating emotion. I believe that music is most effective when it communicates a sincere perspective and experience.
I'm open to alternative arrangements with publishing splits. My rates are calibrated so that I can be totally dedicated to your project without feeling like I'm "on the clock".
I am more than happy to work collaboratively, and I'm not happy until you're happy.
My music has been played for millions of people on Spotify playlists, Apple Playlists, BBC Radio 1, KCRW, Pigeons and Planes, The Fader Magazine, Mass Appeal, Hype Machine, and more.
My main genres of interest are R&B, Soul, and Pop music. Music is my passion and my livelihood.
Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.
Languages
- English
16 Reviews - 1 Repeat Client
Endorse Tien
check_circleVerifiedTien has a wonderful voice and is a delight to work with — definitely recommended!
check_circleVerifiedTien is an amazing singer, he understood exactly what i wanted.
I'm honestly blown away by his lyrics and the way he's singing - it's extremely authentic, beautiful & honest. 100% recommended, can't wait to work with him again!
check_circleVerifiedTien has a superb voice and great training too. He was able to take my lyrics and merge them with a keyboard guide melody and really bring my song to life with a fresh and groovy interpretation. He listened to my requests and was happy to change a few things here and there. He also worked with me to make sure the song was in the right key for both vocalists’ voices, which is really going over and above. I’m really looking forward to with Tien again soon!
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I very much like Tien’s voice and style. He is also super easy to work with, and he was able to alter his interpretation of my song based on my input and collaboration. I’m looking forward to working with Tien a whole bunch more!
check_circleVerifiedTien is definitely a top-tier singer & songwriter. He understood the brief very quickly and was responsive & reliable. He delivered a flawless recording, needing very few additional treatment to fit in the mix. Would definitely collaborate again ! A true pleasure
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It was so easy to collaborate with Tien and he's super responsive. Tien was very agile and provided solid and unique vocals! Great experience with more to follow
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Super awesome to have worked with Tien; His quality and passion can be heard back well in the vocals. Definitely reccommend!
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Super responsive and excellent demo provided. A pleasure to work with. We'll definitely be reaching out again when another opportunity arises.
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Excellent, top-notch. Very professional result, clearly paid attention to detail and delivered on the brief.
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Tien is above and beyond my expectations! He is very communicative, and provides a truly unique vocal. Great experience from start to finish, and really proud of the project we created.
check_circleVerifiedTien gave me everything I asked and was extremely nice, true pleasure to work with!
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Tien has a unique and awesome vocal. His performance was very cool and the recording was great :) A pro!
check_circleVerifiedTien was a dream to work with! Quick turnaround time and delivered a serious vibe.
check_circleVerifiedOne of the best experiences I had so far!
check_circleVerifiedTien has a really soulful voice,he is a great musician.
I was so happy to work with him.
Brilliant.- check_circleVerified
Tien is great to work with... Future Star......
Interview with Tien
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Thoughtful soul music.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I travel around the world with my Macbook, Apollo Twin X Duo, and JZ BH1S microphone. In addition to this, I almost always have access to a professional studio, whether I'm living in the states, Europe, or South America.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Guitar, violin, flute, pandeiro, and trumpet. If I'm on a desert island I'm going to shed.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started as a violinist and a choral singer in my youth. I fell in love with Soul and R&B music, driving my first car around my hometown in rural Maryland. I moved to L.A. in 2004 and I've been collaborating with artists in the L.A. scene and around the world for over 10 years.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I usually work on R&B and Soul tracks, but I collaborate with all genres in the pop realm.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Taste. I want to be a part of great songs, creating accessible, engaging music that avoids cliché.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I have a unique high tenor voice, which is a nice complement to modern bass-heavy tracks. I love creating lush background vocal arrangements, and as a producer, I use my ear and my taste to deliver what the song needs.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I get the session started and begin rapid iteration, recording ideas, and finding a spark of inspiration for the song. From there, the hard work of lyric writing, song craft, and vocal tracking ensues.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I'm inspired by the greats: Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, D'Angelo. As a songwriter I look up to Jackson Browne. I'm also very inspired by Brazilian musicians like Tom Jobim, João Gilberto, and Novos Baianos.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I specialize in toplining and songwriting. Whether the client is starting with a subject, voice memo, or a full instrumental, I take it and deliver a full song idea with a lead vocal.
I was the Vocalist & Songwriter in this production
- Singer - MaleAverage price - $250 per song
- Songwriter - LyricAverage price - $250 per song
- Songwriter - MusicAverage price - $250 per song
My typical turn-around time is 10 days for a full song lead vocal. I'm open to buyouts, splits, or a mix. Please send me a message to get started!
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- BBC Radio and KCRW Plays for "No Sweat off My Back"Dec 22, 2021
"No Sweat off My Back" entered into rotation on BBC Radio 6 & KCRW. It's also charting in the top 100 on the college radio charts.
- Will Smith vlog Feature - "Thieves", "Unidentify", 4m+ viewsOct 23, 2018
Featured on Will Smith's vlog:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ_7e3RXj3U&t=50s - #1 Charting Song on Hype MachineOct 23, 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo8F4JXl20s
