I recently had the pleasure of reviewing TaniA Kyllikki's latest single, HUMAN. A pulsating and soulful piece of music, the Berkshire-based singer/songwriter once again demonstrated why her music should not be ignored.

Getting the feeling that TaniA had an interesting story to tell, I reached out to the musician, hoping that she'd be up for an interview. And, much to my delight, she was only too happy to indulge me.

Chatting with us about her love for legends like Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey, what it's like to run an independent label (Awe Inspiring Records), and why she believes that providing a timeless sanctuary for a listener's heart is one of the most powerful things an artist can do, please welcome the immensely gifted TaniA Kyllikki!

Hey TaniA, welcome aboard! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us - I'm really excited to re-introduce you to our ever-growing audience!

Let's kick things off with an easy one...Who is TaniA Kyllikki, what first drew you to music, and how did you discover your passion for it?

Thank you so much for having me! It’s wonderful to be here with you and your audience.

If I had to sum up who I am in a few words, I am a singer-songwriter, a bit of a quirky loner, a realist, and honestly, my very own tidal wave. I’ve realised over time that I often feel like I wasn’t quite made for this fast-paced, modern world; I was an old soul even as a toddler, with my first song to sing being Etta James' At Last. But I don't see myself being different from the faster-paced world as a flaw anymore. It’s just the price you pay for carrying a distinct, original soul.

What first drew me to music, and how I discovered my passion, comes down to survival and expression. I’ve battled through some incredibly heavy, hard times since birth, and still now. Growing up, music wasn't a hobby; it was the only place where I could completely safely pour out an ocean of raw emotions. I discovered my passion the moment I realized that a microphone, lyrics, and a melody could turn my deepest pains into something beautiful and healing. I’m incredibly observant of the world around me, and from a young age, I knew I wanted to create songs out of real, raw situations, whether they were my own experiences or what I witnessed in others.

Which would you rather:

Have one of your songs featured in a massive movie, or have it become the favourite song of your musical hero?

Oh, this is such a brilliant question!

Look, don’t get me wrong, if my absolute musical hero called me up tomorrow and told me my track was their favourite song, I would probably pass out on the floor from sheer joy and validation LOL!! It would touch my soul deeply. But if I am being completely honest and looking at the bigger picture of my musical journey, I would choose having my song featured in a massive movie.

My husband Rynellton (Garry D Hairston) and I are building something incredibly rewarding and independent under our own label, Awe Inspiring Records. I am fiercely proud of what we are doing. Part of that vision and the journey I’m on is to see my music successfully reach a massive global audience through film. I want my songs to underscore those deeply emotional cinematic moments because I write from a place of raw, unvarnished human truth. A movie allows that truth to connect with millions of people at once, and that's exactly where I'm steering this ship!

Let's chat HUMAN, your pulsating and soulful new single. Firstly, as I've told you before, I'm a massive fan! It's taken me out of my sonic comfort zone in the best possible way!

Secondly, and more importantly, what do you hope listeners take away from HUMAN once the final note fades?

First of all, thank you so much!! I appreciate you. Hearing that HUMAN pushed you out of your sonic comfort zone in the best possible way means everything to me as an artist.

The story behind this track is actually incredibly raw and spontaneous. It wasn’t initially planned for my upcoming album, FREE-SPIRITED. It all sparked from a moment of pure frustration when I witnessed a lot of online hostility directed toward people of different races, cultures, and backgrounds. It deeply upset me, so I wrote a very honest social media post. I just couldn't shake the heavy feeling in my soul, which led to a late-night bedroom conversation with my husband and producer, Rynellton. I looked at him and said, "Look, I know you just wrapped up the last song, don’t be mad, LOL! But we gotta do another track. What if we combine my gospel and soul vocal delivery with a soul-techno-house beat? It would be incredible to create a hybrid song with a powerful message, don’t you think?" Thankfully, he agreed! We wanted to turn all that digital division into dancefloor unity, reminding everyone of our shared empathy, equality, and compassion.

The thing is, we live in a world heavily saturated with algorithms and people copying each other just to survive. The digital age has also given people the power to be absolute bullies and get away with it. HUMAN strips all of that away. By packaging a message of raw, universal truth into a track that makes you move, I'm refusing to chase temporary, filtered trends or make the music everyone else is making. I want this song to be a sanctuary for people who are utterly exhausted by the clutter. Instead of us all being trapped in separate boxes fighting wars with each other, why don’t we learn to understand one another with love and respect so we can live peacefully together? Look, it’s not about being perfect; there ain’t no such thing! It’s simply about asking that one vital question: what does it truly mean to be human?

When that final note fades, I hope it leaves a permanent mark on people's hearts, reminding them that while the world and the internet feel like a dysfunctional, taxing maze, true, unvarnished human depth is what is needed to keep us from being divided. We are stronger together in love, understanding, and patience. And that at our core, we are all beautifully, collectively human.

Who are some of your biggest musical inspirations?

And, if you could "steal" one song in the world and claim it as your own, what would it be and why?

My biggest inspirations are always artists who sing from the absolute depths of their souls, legends like Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey. I also appreciate Xtina, Adele, Beyoncé, CeCe Winans, and many more. I am drawn to voices that carry a weight you simply cannot ignore. And I have a huge love and respect for Prince. He was a musical genius and, in my opinion, the most extraordinary artist we have ever had.

Honestly, my husband Rynellton is much like Prince in what he stood for: not being afraid to push musical boundaries. He is also an extraordinary musician, songwriter, and producer. He can literally create any genre; it’s incredible to witness.

Now, to be completely transparent with you: I actually cannot answer the second part of that question about "stealing" a song and claiming it as my own! Doing that would go against absolutely everything I represent as an artist. I can’t sit here and talk to you about living and breathing in my truth, owning my authenticity, and standing apart from the crowd, only to turn around and say I want to take credit for another artist's hard work and creative soul.

What makes music so magical is that a masterpiece belongs entirely to the spirit of the person who created it. I don't want to steal anyone else’s magic. I love and respect other artists' work too deeply for that. My only focus is on digging deep into my own raw experiences, staying true to who I really am, and creating a catalogue of original music that is completely, unapologetically mine.

When you’re not creating music, what keeps you busy and happy? Walk us through a non-music day (if there is such a thing) in the life of TaniA Kyllikki.

Hehe!! You are so right to ask if there’s even such a thing as a non-music day! LOL!

When you run an independent label like Awe Inspiring Records with your husband, music and business are pretty much running through your veins 24/7. But when I do intentionally step away from the microphone, what keeps me happy is the simple, real stuff. I am a self-professed loner and homebody by nature, so a perfect non-music day involves shutting out the noise of the outside world completely. You’ll find me spending quality time with Rynellton and probably having a good laugh, because you need a sense of humour to navigate this life!

I love cooking a comforting meal, watching a great movie (and secretly analyzing the soundtrack, let’s be real!), or just sitting in total silence with a cup of tea. I also love horses and enjoy being peaceful with them, or even enjoying a cuddle with my beautiful cat, Precious.

Because I give so much emotional energy to my songwriting, and of course being a chronic illness sufferer, my quiet time is my sanctuary. I need that peace to recharge my batteries so I can be a tidal wave again the next day!

With so much happening in the world right now, do you think artists should feel compelled to address it through their music, or is there just as much value in creating something personal and timeless?

I am a realist, and I believe there is immense, vital value in creating something personal and timeless.

I don't think artists should ever feel compelled or forced by industry pressure to write a certain way, because forced art becomes artificial, and the world is already drowning in imitation. The internet has made it easy to copy, but impossible to fake true depth.

When an artist creates something deeply personal from their own raw experiences, they are addressing the world. Human pain, love, heartbreak, and resilience are universal. Trends and political talking points expire, but human truth endures. By focusing on the raw honesty of the soul, you create a lifeline for people who are utterly exhausted by the daily clutter and social media antics. Providing a timeless sanctuary for a listener's heart is one of the most powerful things an artist can do, as long as the songs actually come from a true place in their own heart.

How do you navigate the balance between staying true to your artistic vision and adapting to changing trends in the music industry?

To be completely blunt: I don’t adapt to them. I have always flat-out refused to play that game.

To me, a trend is just a tiny ripple on the surface of the water. It comes, it goes, and the people chasing it are like runners on a treadmill, absolutely terrified of falling off. I prefer to be the tidal wave. A tidal wave is a massive, natural force driven by deep, underwater energy, and it moves with a weight that can't be stopped.

By not seeking cheap attention or changing my sound to fit a temporary algorithm, I might occasionally become an outsider to the crowd. But that isolation protects my creative source from being contaminated. It ensures my music has a shelf life that will outlast any internet fad.

People might not always know how to handle raw honesty initially because they are so used to artificial filters, but honesty is the only thing that leaves a permanent mark. Refusing the trends allows me to attract a completely different calibre of supporters, a community of people who feel as deeply as I do.

TaniA, thank you again for taking the time to chat with us! It's been a pleasure getting to know you better!

Before we say farewell for now, what comes next for you musically, and do you have any words of wisdom you'd like to leave us with?

The pleasure has been entirely mine! Thank you for such wonderful, thoughtful questions.

Musically, what's next is more raw honesty, more soaring melodies, and continuing to push the boundaries of my sound alongside Rynellton at Awe Inspiring Records. We are focused on expanding our reach, working toward those big cinematic placements, and continuing to nurture the incredible community of deep-feeling listeners who support us.

As for words of wisdom, I’ll leave you with this: Maybe it’s not that you weren’t made for this world. Maybe you just weren't made to fit into the world as it is right now; you were made to give the world something it doesn't already have.

Never dilute your honesty just because the world is too crowded or distracted to grasp it right away. Whether you get zero response or thousands of reactions, live in your truth. Raw, honest truth always wins in the end, and you are already winning the moment you choose to stay true to your own soul.

Follow TaniA Kyllikki on Instagram

TaniA Kyllikki: “Growing up, music wasn't a hobby; it was the only place where I could completely safely pour out an ocean of raw emotions”

manuka: “I remember listening to my mixtapes on my boombox as a young teenager, shouting out the lyrics to Lauryn Hill’s I Get Out”