We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tiffany Rachann. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tiffany below.
Tiffany, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
There’s a saying that goes something like, “Whatever you loved as a child is what you should continue to love.”. I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, home of Motown Soul. I believe I recognized it happening for me at about six years old. As an only child, all I had was imagination. Devouring music and books while stuffed animals lined up for me to teach was one indication that I’d be who I am today. In thinking about this question further, I’d also have to say that recounting all of the memories was fueled by music with family and community. I attribute that to my environment, and those impressions have always encouraged me to pursue the artistic path.
Tiffany, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
It all started in elementary school. The playing of a few instruments and eventually singing in the church choir. I don’t think it wasn’t until a friend in high school asked me to sing in a community choir that I took the possibility of singing full-time into serious consideration. Shortly after I graduated, I started having my children. Back then, singing and all things creative as a profession was out of the window for me. I spent two decades in corporate and eventually ventured into entrepreneurship. Literacy, language, and cultural telecommunications have always been passions so I thought exploring that lane would keep me fulfilled and it has, but not like singing. I’d sung here and there during open-mic nights and even had a few one-woman shows but didn’t dig back in deeply. Time was always the challenge.
After working tirelessly through the pandemic and learning that my digestive issues had worsened, I decided to seriously revive my music. I started looking into how to produce my own tracks using samples. Vinyl is everything! While doing so, I stumbled on some dope producers to follow to learn from. One, in particular, caught my ear, and my recent album, Yestertea (link to album> https://rachannis.hearnow.com/) came alive as a result.
Today, I’m intermingling my passions by using funds that I make from the streaming sales of my album as a fundraiser for my literacy development company, Imagiread. I want children to know that being a multipotentialite is what the 21st century is all about.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Understand that the enemy of the creative is exploitation. Right now, there’s a massive amount of creative influence spreading about. Most all of it is online and sprawled about social media. It’s impressionable and loud and colorful, and while it may or may not be deemed art to some, its intention is what should be revered. A mockery is noticeable, but honest and authentic art and the artists who create it should be celebrated instead of persecuted for their art choice.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Future generations. Considering my childhood and the opportunities I had versus the ones I wished were available is what drives my creative journey. As an Afrofuturist, my goal is to envision what needs to be and design a blueprint. If I can do that for children and teach them to co-create their academic, artistic, or both journeys, I feel as if I am fulfilling what I’ve come for.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bytiffanyrachann.com
- Instagram: @rachannis
- Facebook: @rachannis
Image Credits
Photo of me singing with a woman recording it on her phone was taken by Jason Varner with JVarner Media.