We were lucky to catch up with Tanja recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tanja , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

This is something I discuss all the time with my friends who are also creatives. For me, I always knew this is what I wanted to do- I’ve been singing/writing since I was a little kid. So this career always felt like my calling and the thing I was meant to do. I did have a few jobs and internships before music was my full time career but I never felt satisfied. I would spend most of the time working while secretly writing down song lyrics or coming up with new ideas for songs. I think this idea of living your life the “right” way (9-5 job, finding a partner settling down, having kids) is so reinforced in society today that it’s hard for some people to see that there are multiple ways of living a life and being fulfilled. Some of my friends have “regular” jobs that they love and that lifestyle works for them and that’s great! Everyone deserves a chance to follow their passions and lead a life of happiness and fulfillment. And for me, that’s through my career in music.

Tanja , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve been singing/songwriting since I was a kid- my first performance was in kindergarten for the school talent show. I started taking voice lessons in the first grade and was trained in the style of broadway musical theater, but my passion was always pop music. I went to college at Santa Clara University and got a degree in communication, then came straight to Los Angeles and have been here pursuing music ever since. It took me awhile to find my footing in LA- I moved here without knowing anybody. But now I’m at a place where I have great friends around me and an amazing team I work with. My upcoming project is my debut EP coming this fall. It’s a concept EP heavily inspired by Stevie Nicks, Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love album, and Gothic literature.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect for me is seeing my ideas come to life. For an example I’ll use my debut EP that’s coming out this Fall. This project started out with a song I wrote in my bedroom one night. And now it’s flourished into a concept EP with four songs and four music videos that go along with it. It’s amazing to me that this little idea I had one night turned into this huge project. It’s also extremely rewarding when people message me and tell me how much they love my music. I make music for myself, to work through difficult feelings and express them in art- it’s a form of therapy. But when someone can relate to the art you make and it resonates with them deeply- that’s one of the best feelings in the world. Music helped me feel like I wasn’t alone when I was growing up and going through difficult things, and I want my music to be there for people who need to hear that they too aren’t alone. I want them to feel like someone is reaching out and holding their hand and saying “I see you”.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Women are conditioned from a young age to be “nice” and polite, to never rock the boat or inconvenience anyone. One lesson I had to learn is how to take charge and let go of my fear of being perceived as disagreeable. As in indie artist, you are your own boss. There is so much more that goes into this career than simply writing and singing songs. I have to be my own social media manager, figure out how I’m going to promote myself and market myself, lead my team etc. I had to learn how to assert myself and stand up for my art and my vision even when it felt difficult and uncomfortable. I think we really need to pay attention to the words we use when referring to men vs. women in this space. For example, a man gets called dedicated while women get called difficult. He gets praise for his meticulous attention to detail while she gets called naggy or nitpicky. So it’s been a lot of learning how to navigate this space professionally and in a positive manner without compromising my ideas/vision and being walked all over.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tanjaofficial.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanjaofficial/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TanjaMusicOfficial
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tanjaofficial

Image Credits
Benjamin Farren Gregory Wallace Don the Creator