Introducing TULLIAH With 'JUST MY TYPE' (A LITTLE BIT LONELY) We Talk Music & Career Aspirations
Introducing 19-year-old singer and songwriter, Tulliah. Hailing from Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, Tulliah writes from a place of heartfelt experiences with melodies that seamlessly wash over you. Today, she has revealed her captivating new single ‘Just My Type (A Little Bit Lonely)’ - a deluge of earnest songwriting with a profound sound that catapults Tulliah well beyond her young years.
Beginning its life as a piano ballad called ‘Imagine’, the single took on numerous lives with Tulliah and producer Dean Tuza (Stella Donnelly, The Rubens) who tinkered, tampered and peeled away the song layer by layer until it found its ultimate home in its final form as the extraordinary ‘Just My Type (A Little Bit Lonely)’. “I remember the exact moment when I sat at the piano and the first verse flowed out of me. I felt like it was something special even at its earliest stage,” Tulliah reminisces.
Dean Tuza (Stella Donnelly, The Rubens) sat in the production hot seat across the entirety of Fre$h Hugs, working closely with Tulliah to finesse each track that will feature on the EP in addition, Grammy Award winning producer David Kahne (Lana Del Ray, Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks) produced string arrangements which feature on the EP due out in 2021. Through her art, Tulliah is eager to share songs that explore all the peaks and troughs of what it means to come of age as a teenager - examining very real topics ranging from mental health struggles, relationships, and even friends being cheated on whilst in a coma.
Of ‘Just My Type (A Little Bit Lonely)’, Tulliah explains, “I wrote the song about falling for someone who you know isn’t good for you, but you still go there - one of those bad decisions!” During the recording process, Tulliah and Tuza paired the sounds they were creating with imagined images of bygone days on the seaside. ‘Just My Type (A Little Bit Lonely)’ begins with a prelude track “Teenagers” - a BBC audio sample from an interview called ‘It’s The Age of the Teenager’ featuring Lady Lewisham during an interview about what she thinks of young people.
The accompanying low-fi music and lyric video mirror the nostalgic sentiment of the imagery conjured up during the recording process - but with a distinctly modern take. Tulliah enlisted friend and drag artist Miss Ovary Action who splashes about the shore, drenched in threads of the 50s and 60s. Shot with friend and videographer Charles Buxton Leslie immediately after the Victorian lockdown restrictions eased, the sense of freedom and frivolity evident is authentic and absolute. Watch the video HERE.
Tulliah began writing music in high school and honed her craft while struck down with an ankle injury which saw her bedridden but immersed in the magic of creating music. ‘Just My Type (A Little Bit Lonely)’ follows Tulliah’s debut single ‘Company’ from 2019 - which saw the young artist as a finalist in triple j Unearthed High competition last year. Following her high school exams, Tulliah launched into a summer of non-stop touring supporting the likes of Amy Shark and GRAACE. With her big heart on her sleeve and a gift her very own, Tulliah’s star is just beginning to rise.
What was it like having the opportunity to work with Grammy Award-winning producer David Kahne who has worked with the like of Lana Del Ray and Sir Paul McCartney?
It’s hard to believe to be honest. David added some stunning string arrangements for my song “Okay” which will be on my debut EP. For someone like me who has not much exposure and is fairly new to the music industry, it feels very humbling that David took the time to even listen to my song, let alone compose string arrangements on top of Dean Tuza’s production. The strings were the missing piece. The track was already so heartbreaking with just doubled nylon guitars, piano and vocals that stood right at the front of the mix. When the strings were added it tipped my heart over the edge.
Your music video included a sample from a BBC interview ‘It’s The Age of the Teenager’ Why did you choose to include this?
It was very random actually. You know when you listen to a song and you can see an image in your head? That’s what Dean and I would do in the studio. We would search up movie trailers or random videos and we’d sit back and watch the scenes with the song playing over the top. When we were listening back to one of the “Just My Type (A Little Bit Lonely)” demo’s, we must have searched up something like “Teenagers in the 1950’s” and stumbled across the interview with Lady Lewisham. This is where we got the sample from. In the interview it skipped to videos of teenagers dancing, playing music, shopping, listening to music on records and young love. It fit so perfectly so we couldn’t part with the audio.
As you worked with Drag Artist Miss Ovary Action for this project, how did you meet?
Miss Ovary Action and I met in High School. She was the year below me and we only really became friends towards the later years of school. I think we met through friends. Ovary is crazy talented, and I love everything she does. She is also the most kindhearted, down to earth person too. In the video you’ll see Ovary in 1950’s beachwear having fun at the beach, all captured on a VHS camcorder. I came up with the idea very last minute and thought it was fitting for the song 1) because of the BBC audio track which is set in the 50’s 2) because of the waves that wash throughout “Just My Type (A Little Bit Lonely)” and 3) because I love Miss Ovary Action.
You were a finalist in the triple j Unearthed High competition in 2019, what did you gain from this experience?
It was such a great experience! It was the reason my career got a bit of a kickstart. It opened so many opportunities and introduced me to lots of lovely people. I recommend any teenager (who is at school) in Australia to upload a song because you never know what it might lead to.
You have supported a few more established Aussie artists including GRAACE and Amy Shark, who else would you like to support in the future?
I would love to support artists like Aldous Harding, Big Thief, Beach House and Radiohead. It would be an absolute dream to play alongside them.
How did your relationship with music start and how has it evolved?
I would constantly sing around the house when I was young. My mum used to sing so I have definitely got it from her. She stopped singing a very long time ago before I was born, I think she regrets giving it up. My whole family is very supportive of me following my dreams. I started to explore more music when I was in year 7 and would watch Mahogany Sessions on YouTube. That’s where I discovered so many singer-songwriters that would have me in tears listening to their lyrics. In year 9 I started writing myself. I then started busking which led to playing local gigs, kept working on my craft for years and was lucky enough to meet some amazing people who have helped me along the way :)) I am very grateful.
What are your career aspirations?
I would love to tour the world and bring people that I love with me. It would be amazing to meet strangers from other places that I can connect with through music despite any language barrier.
How have you evolved your artistry in these unpredictable times in light of the pandemic to stay productive?
I’ve been listening to a whole heap of podcasts on music, discovering new artists and working on production skills. I had a pivotal moment last year while I was in the studio. I was introduced to artists like Nick Drake,
Radiohead, Beach House, The Flaming Lips and so much more. I had never listened to these artists before, which is crazy because they are so huge and amazing artists. My appreciation for music has grown a tonne over the past year so I’m just experimenting with my sound to keep my mind interested and busy.
You’ve been getting a lot of buzz from the music press in the UK, are you currently based here or in Australia?
It’s so cool to hear and see!! I have never been to the UK and it’s the first place I wanna go to after everything settles with covid. I am based in Australia, Victoria, in a little suburb along the coast about an 1 hour from the city.
What music are you listening to at the moment?
Currently, I have been listening to a lot of Connan Mockasin, Frank Ocean, The Beatles, Adriene Lenker and Tame Impala. They are my favs for the moment.
What’s next?
I was going to be doing a mini-tour around Australia for my upcoming EP but I don’t think it’s going to go ahead because of the covid restrictions with crossing borders. But after the EP is released I’m hoping to be back in the studio recording new music that I’ve been writing.