Great to have you on Xttrawave. Please, introduce yourself.
Hi! My name is Tanja Jeramaz, I’m originally from the Bay Area but moved to Los Angeles about a year and a half ago.
What got you into music and made you realize that it was your chosen path?
I’ve been singing/songwriting since I was a kid. I remember 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. Music was and is my therapy, it is the way I make sense of the world around me.
Tell us about your new song, “Boy Tears”? And what’s the story behind it?
I wrote “Boy Tears” after I found out my college boyfriend was cheating on me with his hometown girlfriend. After ending things with him, he continued seeing his hometown girlfriend until she too found out about his relationship with me. Soon after, his now ex girlfriend started dating his best friend. The song alludes to the “girl code” and is a feminist anthem to unite the ladies. Instead of pitting us girls against each other in a tug of war for this boy, his ex and I both left him in a pool of his own boy tears.
What makes your music unique? How would you describe it?
My style of music is pop with an edgy feminist twist. Growing up I was always told that I should stick to writing songs about fairytales with happy endings, and princes who sweeps me off my feet. However, that wasn’t reality, and isn’t reality for anyone. I write music about all aspects of life, the good the bad and the ugly. I think too often people are pigeon-holed into an idea of who they and society thinks they should be. I want to be a little bit of everything. I am the strong feminist singer who has, at times, forgotten her worth and dated guys who treated her badly – a girl who sings about empowerment but is still trying to figure out how to love herself.
Who are your biggest musical influences? And any particular artist/band you would like to collaborate with in the future?
My biggest musical influences are Dua Lipa, Miley Cyrus, and Stevie Nicks. In the near future I would love to collaborate with ayokay, I love his sound.
How do you balance your music with other obligations – family, friends or work?
Right now music is my full time job. My friends and the people around me are all creatives so we have the ability to hang out while we all work on our own projects and collaborate so there is a good balance.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?
Don’t let anyone’s negative opinion stop you from doing what you love. This industry is harsh and you are going to hear one hundred “no’s” , but it’s that one “yes” that makes it all worth it.
If you had one message to give to your fans, what would it be?
My goal is to make empowering music that people can relate to. By listening to the stories of the mistakes I’ve made, failed romances, struggles with mental health and more, I hope people can see a piece of themselves in my music. I want them to take comfort in knowing that we all have our crosses to bear, but it is not our struggles that define us but how we chose to face the burdens we’ve been given that shows our character.
What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects?
I’m currently working on my first EP with my producer BOIA!
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