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The very essence of artwork takes you to a place of undiscovered experiences. It also could provide a resource for nostalgia. Look at many paintings and you will reflect on either. It is also possible that you may encounter something that you never acknowledged before. Thus, it becomes something real, and enjoyable to discern.
Propaganda is information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.
There is a darker side to art, that takes on negative vibes. One that is often used with propaganda. Which is used to destroy, convert, or dismantle. The distributor of the propaganda has an agenda, that only benefits them. Doing so without feeling, or remorse for the results of their actions.
In all my years of studying and absorbing lyrics, sounds and vibes, I have come to determine that music can be both. It can be used as a weapon to destroy, and a tool to bring about positive results. It all comes down to agenda, and what the artist or music resource is trying to accomplish. The artists we have encounter, are genuine about their intentions. They want to make a positive impact on their fans and audiences. There is an exception. There was an artist that appeared on a popular news outlet. The artist is musically gifted. However, there was a specific agenda. One that was hidden by a topic affecting many people in the world. Especially within the U.S. In this case, I considered it propaganda.
In the interview that never got published, I tried focusing on the topic at hand. However, there was a determination for that artist to push their own political agenda. I always state, that CMV Magazine will always be neutral when it comes to politics and religion. We are not interested in becoming controversial.
There is a band we encountered recently. When contacted by their publicist, I did some research on the band. One of the first things, I looked at was their social media page. The introduction on their page said the following “In Today's world one artist still believe that songwriting is an art form and not propaganda”. Surprisingly, there is some truth in that. Songwriting should be about “art” and not “propaganda”. Remember what defined them both?
Art - The quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance
Propaganda is information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.
Is there a distinction between the two words? Yes, without a doubt. Ponder over both definitions. Then ask yourself, is that statement factual? Let’s find out from our special guest today. The group name is Tizane.
Tizane is a native of South-East London, where the smoke wafts down to the borders of Kent. Filled with aspiring middle-class commuters with no real access to commuter infrastructure, it’s a cut off enclave of the M25 carpark. Nobody really cares about Dartford – not even the London Underground tube network can be arsed to swing round!
The young musician was cursed with chronic anxiety issues which all but destroyed her school years, though as Karma may provide, when one is too terrified to leave the house, one must focus one’s energies elsewhere. And so it was that at the tender age of fourteen she battened down the hatches, picked up a wounded guitar and started to compose those wonderfully fragile songs of love and loss.
Even the untrendy environs of Dartford provided more exciting ways of burning up one’s teens, but Tizane, scared of the night, was on a mission to make music. In those years she became a prolific writer of twisted, surreal ballads, all recorded to varying levels of quality and completion.
By 2019 she was venturing out from the ‘fortress of solitude’ and gingerly bashing out her dystopian ditties to the unsuspecting foot tappers of open mic nights around the West Kent / London borders. Sometimes on guitar, sometimes on keyboard, she would showcase her catalogue of ill-begotten gems – ‘Stay here’, ‘Floating’, ‘Oblivion’. At one such atmospheric occasion Tizane was approached by London based independent, Burning Girl Records, who in turn set about assisting her along the creative path.
Tizane now has an impressive following across all digital music and media platforms and one sultry, brooding debut collection in the shape of double album, ‘Cherry’ to keep them sweet.
‘Cherry’, released in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, suffered with low retail coverage but enjoyed enormous critical acclaim.
In the words of BBC’s Leo Ulph, we are seeing the rise of what will inevitably be one of Britain’s biggest ever superstars.
GT: I want to start by acknowledging that it isn’t my next guest that felt songwriting was propaganda. At this point, we are not sure what they are going to say to us regarding this topic. However, we felt compelled to bring in a neutral party, to find out what their thoughts were regarding Art and propaganda.
GT: I want to thank you for interviewing with us today. It is the first time, that we had the opportunity to have a question, and answer session. So, welcome.
Tizane: Thank you – I’m very excited.
GT: What defines songwriting to you? Do you believe that it is artwork, or some form of propaganda? There is no right or wrong answer. Just looking for your honest and open opinion.
Tizane: Well for me it’s largely an expression of emotion – songs about me and other imaginary me’s. Whether any of it would be filed under ‘Art’ has to be probably left to the judgement of others. Propaganda is a less likely fit for me. I’m too busy being self-obsessed and self-distressed to find energy for flag waving.
GT: Why is that you feel that way? Especially when there is a variation of viewpoints.
Tizane: It’s not so much about feeling a certain way. Songwriting is a DNA thing – it’s non-negotiable. As I say, when I pick up a guitar or indeed, a pen, what comes out is a simple natural, emotional response – not a contrivance. If I did, one day feel so motivated by a particular issue, I may well pour that out in propaganda but at time of writing I’m too wrapped by love and joy and pain and death.
GT: I can see both sides, and there are some relevant points to consider. However, when it comes down to, songwriting is an artwork in many respects. It shouldn’t change, and no one should hide an agenda behind the music. Even if they have their own personal philosophies and experiences. There is a problem that develops when hidden agendas are hidden behind awesome tunes, and vibes. What topics get you charged up and excited for songwriting?
Tizane: Well, I’ve spent many years battling issues of anxiety and social dread, and though I’m so much better now and able to function in a fairly mainstream fashion, all those demons and years of self-imprisonment still lurk in my dreams and very often cross over into the light and into my lyric stream.
GT: What have identified about your music, that connects with your fans? Is there something specific? Also do you take that into account when you write music?
Tizane: Well commerciality must be a factor whether one likes it or not. In some respects, music is like any other entertainment genre – it exists within given norms and structures. Football games are always 90 minutes – movies are generally 2 hours. Mainstream radio will give fairy strict guidelines about running times and intro lengths etc. It may be that one takes the view that one is engaged in the writing, recording and performance of music purely and entirely for artistic reasons and therefore pay scant regard for the commercial guidelines as set down. This is laudable but sadly not the greatest method for gaining fans and listeners.
GT: You have a successful future ahead of you. What have you done to stay grounded, during all the attention that you have received thus far?
Tizane: If anything, I’ve struggled more with the concept of taking off rather than remaining anchored. In truth I haven’t really experienced the adoration or focus to threaten my stability levels. Of course, I know it happens and I hope I handle it as and when it does but right now, I’m comfortable and cool.
GT: I have read your bio, and there is a topic of mental health that I would like to talk to you about. However, I think this would be great for a future topic, that we could cover soon. Until then, I would like to know just a couple more things about Tizane. Who is she, and what makes the band so unique?
Tizane: Well, I have to say, it’s been quite a journey and I feel I’ve made some mighty transitions enroute. When I started out on the open-mic circuit, I was desperately shy and in some measure, I don’t even really know why the company signed me up. I had the voice, which is the element that is most lauded by the public, but my presentation skills and general demeanor were quite pitiful. The truth is that one is developing all the time and actually you are never really the finished article. I’ve transitioned again through working with my current band who are just mind blowingly good. They’ve made me better, sharper, more focused, a better writer, a stronger performer – so many things that even as late as last year, I couldn’t have foreseen
GT: What are you accomplishing in the studio now? Do you have any releases to speak of? It’s a consistent question that I ask, because promotion is a key element to the success of any artist or band.
Tizane: Yes, I’m really loving our studio work now – more than at any other time. We feel powerful, really dynamic. I’m working with the producer Pat Collier with whom I’ve developed a real bond – a real musical synergy. He’s creative and disciplined. He’s done so much brilliant work. His production CV reads like a Who’s Who of guitar royalty – Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, Xray Spex – quite unbelievable! We just finished ‘Off the Edge’, our new single with Pat and that’s dropping on the 28th October.
GT: That is awesome. There is no doubt that you will succeed at every level. Which is not easy to do, especially with the level of competition in the music industry. We want to thank you for taking the time to interview with us today. Again, we look forward to having you back soon. How does that sound?
Tizane: I really want to thank you. It’s been an utter pleasure and of course I’ll be back anytime you like. My fondest love to you x
GT: Awesome. Take care until then.
