Tiril Jackson Visits Section 36 Music!

It's time for another visitor to Section 36 Music! Tiril Jackson is an incredible singer with an EP, "WHO ARE YOU", that you won't want to miss. I was thrilled she wanted to visit with us to discuss the EP, her musical goals, and more!

So, let's see what happens when Tiril Jackson visits Section 36 Music!

I really enjoyed your latest EP, “WHO ARE YOU?. What can you tell me about it?
This EP meant a lot to me. In the last couple of years I had been struggling with my identity not only in who I am but also related to family dynamics and who they were to me. I had problems with vocal health for a few years and that made it so I had to isolate myself at times to stay quiet and heal my voice. The EP brings forward moments in the last years that really stood out to me. Topics like a feeling of hopelessness, deep sadness, renewing yourself, forgiveness, and hope. It has not been easy to release this music but it also feels like this is something I had to do so I was able to move forward.

Do you have a favorite song on the EP?
I like all my songs for different reasons. I like generational trauma because It allowed me to articulate something I had been struggling with since childhood. Writing that song felt like a milestone in my own healing and personal growth. I hadn’t realized how far I had come in my journey before I finished it. I am also connected to faith because, to me, the song mirrors life. It speaks about the experience of regaining hope and joy after a difficult period. I wrote it during a moment when I started to be appreciate the little things in life and the simple fact that I am here, alive. The song isn’t filled with constant happiness but carries a sense of melancholy joy. To me life will never be purely happy -it is beautifully painful, full of up and downs. We have to appreciate the good in our lives but also embrace the sadness because it is also a part of being alive.

You currently attend Berklee College of Music. What made Berklee the right fit for you?
I tried out a few different things back home in Norway. I started music school there for a year, but it never felt like the right fit for me. I often felt like no one around me at the time was interested in making the same kind of music I wanted to create, and I didn’t feel like my voice truly fit into the music scene back home. I ended up taking lessons with an amazing voice teacher who had previously attended Berklee. She referred me to Berklee, suggesting that it would be a great fit for me. I then decided to apply, and luckily I was accepted. I think Berklee is a good fit for me because of the teaching style. Even tough it is challenging, having so many classes at once works well with my style of working. I like to be busy and do a lot of different things at once to keep myself from getting bored. I also appreciate being surrounded by so many different people from diverse genres, I feel like it is expanding my musical taste and helps me grow as an artist. While all institutions has its flaws, I believe out of the options I have tried Berklee is the best fit for me.

 

Who or what would you say are your biggest musical influences?
I have always had a diverse range of music around me growing up, so it is hard to pinpoint one specific influence. In the car growing up I would listen to legends like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Toni Braxton, Mahalia Jackson, Billy Holiday and more. But my mom also played artists like nickelback, Metallica, Freddie mercury, Shania Twain, Askeir, Robyn, and of course, hits for kids. When I started listening on my own I dove in to gospel legends, R&B, Rap and soul music. It is difficult to say who my musical influence is because I feel like I am a melting pot of different genres and artists. I definitely did love Beyonce, and still do. These days I am drawn to artists like Ray, Celest, Leon Bridges, lianne la Havas, Pj Morton, willow, Cynthia Erivo, Jon Baptist and I just love music that can really move me. I also think my biggest musical influence is life itself.

What is the biggest challenge you face when it comes to your music?

My biggest challenge with music has been to stay consistent. I love music but sometimes when you are caught up with bookings, planning, scheduling and managing social media it is easy to lose sight of why I started in the first place. It has also been difficult dealing with vocal health issues. There were periods were I felt like I lost the voice I have always known, and some days I still feel that way. Another struggle is accepting where I am in my journey. I often find myself not satisfied with the result always wanting to change things or getting tired of what I have created. The happiest moments for me in music are when I first create something, before I have to listen to it over and over or worry about numbers and social media marketing. It ́s in those moments of raw creativity that I feel most connected to my music. 

What are your immediate music goals? 

My immediate music goal is to reconnect with music and find more joy in the process again. I am excited to create music for an album that will hopefully focus on lighter topics as I move forward in life, but we will see where it takes me. I want to expand and grow as an artist, showing more of who I am through my music. Another goal is to grow my following and reach more listeners who could resonate with my music, I strive to write lyrics that are raw and honest, often reflecting exactly how I feel. For me, when I listen to artists with similar styles, their openness is comforting, especially when I 'm going through something similar. I hope my music can offer the same comfort to others. 

---

OK everybody. Go listen to her music now! I just know you're going to love it.

As always, I want to thank Tiril for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to accompany the interview.

I'm sure you’ll all want to follow her and see what she has going on. I would follow her on Instagram, and Spotify to make sure you don't miss a thing. 

Thanks again Tiril, and good luck reaching your goals!