TiaCorine Has No Limits

TiaCorine’s first viral moment was her hit single Lotto in 2018. Next came FreakyT, which debuted almost a year ago. This song was so viral on social media that it led to Latto hopping on the remix soon after Latto brought her on stage at Coachella. Since then, TiaCorine has performed at more festivals and events than ever before. Now, she’s selling out venues, and FreakyT and Lotto are still rising in streams. She just finished a tour with Key Glock; a duo that no one expected yet works perfectly.

Her unparalleled style isn’t just present in her music, but also through the different clothes and makeup she puts on every day. Whether she’s dressed up in pastel colors and face full of fun makeup or sweatpants and a t-shirt, she emphasizes that like her music, cannot be bound to one concept.

Do you think that any of your upcoming songs or projects will be as viral as FreakyT and Lotto?

That’s a hard question to ask because you really never know. I didn’t know it was going to be FreakyT, but I hope so. I feel like it has to do with the fans, the listeners, and the supporters. I have some new music coming out and it’s always the songs that I don’t like that go viral.

Why do you think those songs went viral?

FreakyT is just really relatable. The beginning of the song is ‘Look at me, where she wanna be…’ I feel like a lot of people feel the same way. I feel like they felt, ‘Never needed you, but you needed me…’ A lot of people understand that lyric and it hits everybody at the same time. 

I Can’t Wait was your last project. When can we expect new music?

Of course – definitely more features. I’m never really a feature person. A lot of my projects have just one or two features, but they’ll have more features and bigger features. I’m putting together an EP right now and working on an album as well. 

Will your sound be any different?

It’ll always be different because I’m always changing and always growing. I never know what I’m going to make. Everything is really natural and organic when I make music. I don’t go into the studio and say ‘I’m going to make this type of song.’ I just go through beats, get with people, and then it just happens. That’s why I put I Can’t Wait together the way I did; so you are used to expecting something out of the box from me at all times.

You often incorporate anime and cute stuff in your music. What does that representation mean to you as a Black woman rapper?

I’m not just Black. My mom is Native – I’m more Native than anything. I feel like if I just say that, I’m ignoring the other sides of me as well. I just call myself an artist and a person. I’m just doing what I’m doing. It really just boils down to being all the way myself. I’ve always been into anime/ I’ve always been into Toonami, Dragon Ball Z, and Inuyasha. That is where I started. It’s a core memory of being a kid and unlocking that aesthetic. I feel like those things keep that inner kid in me alive. I also make sure that my music is always fun because this is my job, but when something feels like work, you don’t tend to love it anymore. It keeps that passion and fun stuff alive, as well as that very creative, imaginative part of me.

TIACORINE wears TOP and BAG by ZITA TAN, SKIRTS by NODRESS OFFICIAL, SHOES by FLORENTINE LEITNER, RINGS by NINNA YORK, NECKLACE by MOCO

You’ve recently performed at a lot of festivals. How does that feel for you?

It’s crazy. Every week it was like, ‘They want you to come, they love you.’ I’m like, ‘What?’ I’m always shocked that these people like me. I’m just this person from Winston-Salem. But I did my first tour with Key Glock and that was awesome. He called me personally and asked for a favor. To feel wanted and needed for your craft and music is way different than somebody setting it up for you. It was a challenge that also broke a lot of barriers for me.

Can we expect a tour soon?

We were thinking about November, but I did express that I have to get surgery on my cords. It’s why I sound so hoarse right now. I have a polyp that I have to get removed.

You have a seven-year-old daughter. Do you ever center your music around her?

Of course – like things me and her go through or something funny she said. I like to include her in videos so people can see her grow. She was in the videos for Lotto and IKYK, so she’s well-incorporated into my music. 

What is your songwriting process?

It’s a mixture of a lot of things. Sometimes it’s random. My friends may say something funny and I’ll write it, then I’m finished. I might hear a beat and go through the little stuff and it’ll be perfect. Starting off a song is so hard, it’s very important. I’ll find something on my phone to start me off. I’ll use that and freestyle in a way to find the tone. I get on the mic and close my eyes.

Do the beats usually come first?

You have to find the perfect beat. I go through three or four beats before I even record. Sometimes I won’t like it anymore and might spend three hours on it. People take a long time on beats because there’s a lot of sampling. I don’t always like sampling because of the clearing process. I’m also a co-producer so if they’re making something I tell them to do something. I always pick my own beats.

Who do you usually produce with?

Everyone. I don’t have a specific person. I always co-produce. If not, it’s because somebody on Instagram sent me something and I’ll fuck with it.

TIACORINE wears HOODIE, TIE, TOP by LUAR, GLOVES are STYLIST’S OWN, BOOTS by PIFERI

In regards to your style, how does each look come to life on a daily basis?

It’s just like making a song. You just feel it. Some days it’s like I’m going to the grocery store the whole day. I think I’m just really in tune with myself and I don’t lie about how I feel. Some people say I dress like this because people are watching me; no I don’t. I do not give a fuck. Tia’s gonna be comfortable. A lot of people are like, ‘Is she gay?’ You would know if I was. I’m gonna go all the way with it.

What do you think makes you unique?

I’m like a chameleon. You’ll never know. I’m really home to myself. I really don’t feel like I sound like anything. I can do a rock song and be inspired by Doja Cat, but it still sounds like me. I feel like I just have a very unique voice.

What does being from North Carolina mean to you?

It means a lot, simply because a lot of people told me I couldn’t make it out of North Carolina, especially from Winston-Salem. Now that I have actual support, it proves that I’m actually really good. I don’t think anyone from my city has performed at Rolling Loud. People will come up to me in the mall and the way they’ll approach me is just so cool – but I can still be normal and they inspire me to go back to do what I want to do. They make me feel like I can make it from here, I can chase my dreams. I feel like I’m really making history and I’m like a hero, especially being Native. Sometimes I forget that I’m Native because they always categorize me as female and Black. As much as I am, I’m also Native too. I don’t meet a lot of Native people and I’m a Native artist…It’s such a different history, like mom was born on a reservation.

Is there anyone you want to collaborate with?

I really wanna collab with Tyler, the Creator. He’s number one on my list. I was really sad to see I wasn’t performing at Camp Flog Gnaw. I definitely want to do something with Key Glock because his fans are amazing. Also, of course, Frank, Kali Uchis, Don Toliver, and Future. I’ve got a long list.

TIACORINE wears DRESS by ACNE STUDIOS, SLEEVES, HEADPIECE, and STUFFED ANIMAL by R4BBIT TEETH, RINGS by NINNA YORK, SHOES by ACNE STUDIOS

What are some of your personal goals aside from music?

I want to start doing voice-overs. I want to make a soundtrack for a movie. I want to be an actress in a thriller. I used to want to be a bartender. When I’m back home, I always like to make drinks. One day I want to put together my own bar called Tia’s Drinks so that people can drink like Tia. I want to make toys and collectibles that are limited edition.

You’ve blown up so quickly. Is there anything you want to say to your fans?

I want to say thank you. I love that y’all love me and I truly do love y’all because where would I be? I truly thank y’all for giving me a chance and actually listening, supporting me, coming to my shows, Tweeting me, and reposting my things. I’m really grateful. I just hope that y’all stick with me.