Meet Tatiana

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tatiana and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tatiana, how does your business help the community?
I think of music as a universal language. No matter who or where we are in the world, music has this really special way of bridging the gaps between all of our stories. As a singer and songwriter, I hope that the stories I tell through my music not only make others feel less alone but inspire the bravery to share their own despite all the odds. As an artist, I think one of the most fulfilling and beautiful parts of what we do is creating connection in the most unlikely places. It reminds us that we’re all human, and I think we really need more of that gentleness and relationality in our world and communities right now.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been singing for as long as I could speak and writing and releasing music for the last few years. I’ve always been a writer and have thought of my passion for music as a perfect way to share stories and connect with people.

Being introduced to the creative community out here in Portland was what really propelled me into the industry and encouraged me to share my art. As an artist, it’s really easy to feel siloed and uninspired, but the people in my circle have always pushed me beyond my creative limits and fed my belief in my ability – it’s made all the difference in how I see myself and my confidence in my craft. It can be daunting to share something as vulnerable as music with the world, but it’s been so worth it knowing that there are people touched by my lyrics and performances and it has opened so many unimaginable opportunities. I’ve worked with people from all over the world and reached audiences that I never would have had I not chosen to put myself out there. The journey has been far from easy and navigating the complexities of the industry and the world while trying to stay genuine and authentic to myself personally and artistically has been really hard, but the people along the way have always inspired me to stay true and keep going. Music is and has always been a constant for me, and it is difficult at times balancing that passion with my full-time career as a social worker but those two worlds manage to intersect in beautiful ways that make me who I am.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
That’s a tough question! As someone who doesn’t typically like having an intinerary and loves being more spontaneous, I think I’d follow the vibe and see where it takes us. I will say that I love going out to eat and enjoying live music and events with friends. As the weather gets warmer, Portland folks really show up and show out and it’s a beautiful thing. Every time I come back to Portland after being in a different city, I’m always reminded that despite its size the people are really the heart of it.

Keys Lounge is one of my favourite lowkey spots for a stiff drink and live Jazz on Tuesday nights, but on a Friday night you’ll probably catch me at Two Wrongs dancing on the bar with my friends. As a musician, the DJ or soundtrack at a place always sets the tone for me so I frequent places that don’t miss in terms of their music selection. Mississippi Studios and Kelly’s Olympian house a lot of showcases and events for local talent, so it’s always great to support fellow artists and connect with other people in the industry at those events too.

My dad grew up in North Portland and I live there now, so I love staying in the area and revisting places I’ve been to hundreds of times because it brings so much comfort. One place that I love to take friends to when they visit is the Skidmore Bluffs, which is a little park that overlooks the industrial area. Watching the sunset there with a little bluetooth speaker and laughing with friends over a few beers is one of my favourite things to do during the summer.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I give so much credit to my community for showing up for me unconditionally. It really takes a village, and it’s the people I am in beloved community with that push me to follow my passions and create the impact I want in the world. i

Instagram: https://instagram.com/tatianajane

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatianajnguyen/

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0pgA3XRLY1VwELG2NT2CdG?si=6_aztCmtSkyAEOube4apTA

Image Credits
First image taken by Allison Barr

Second imagine taken by Rikiya Lasen

Third image taken by Aviel Hirschfield

Fourth image taken by Adam Kocka