TASH SULTANA today (October 29) announced the official release date for their forthcoming sophomore album TERRA FIRMA. The highly anticipated new body of work from TASH SULTANA is set for release on February 19, 2021 onMom + Pop Music and is available to pre-order NOW. With a title inspired by the need to slow down and re-ground TERRA FIRMA is the work of a more confident, dynamic and experienced musician. The manifestation of a period of self-reflection in which TASH slowed down to find time for surfing, studio, family, gardening and a healthy balance from the hectic touring lifestyle that defined their existence.
“I didn’t realize that I needed to create a space and home for myself to feel like a person again,” explains TASH. “I just went inward and found a really peaceful place and wrote an album, and I feel really happy with it.” Returning to earth after the dizzying heights of success, TERRA FIRMAis the sound of a more content and grounded TASH. Spiritually, the album finds the artist reconnecting to their roots, reminding themselves who they are and what it means to be human. Musically however, its 14 tracks take root into far-reaching sonic territory.
From the previously released evocative “Greed”to the enthralling “Beyond The Pine,”TASH departs from looped and layered jams towards meditative combinations of soul, funk, RnB, folk, rock, hip hop–you name it. “It’s Aretha Franklin meets Bon Iver meets John Mayer meets whatever,” says TASH. “It’s recognizably Tash Sultana, but deeper and more nuanced.”
Almost every note on TERRA FIRMAwas once again composed, arranged, performed, engineered and produced by TASH. But to kick-start a new era, the solo star–for the first time–opened themselves up to collaborators, starting with a 10-day writing session with fellow ARIA-winning Australian musician Matt Corbyand producer Dann Hume (Courtney Barnett, Amy Shark, Angus & Julia Stone).
“Matt was very helpful for me at the beginning of this process, because I was experiencing writers block,” TASH explains. Together, they crafted lead singles“Pretty Lady”–an infectious tune kicking around since TASH’s busking days–and “Greed.” “They only give a shit when you make it big,” TASH sings in a soul-funk examination of the corrupting influence of wealth and fame.
Corby also assisted on the richly detailed “Beyond The Pine,” in which TASHintones “I need you to save me because I can’t save myself,” and “Crop Circles,”a rumination on death disguised by its smoky, minimal piano licks and horns. “I went full jazz on that one.” In line with today’s announcement, TASH has teamed up with fast rising Melbourne artist Jerome Farah to deliver a soul powered new single “Willow Tree” filled with thundering trumpets and shimmering guitar lines.
“There ain’t no fast pass up the mountain and you’ve got to clock the hours in to achieve the things you want in life,” explains TASH. “You can’t just skip the entire middle section of your journey to try and rush to the finish line. Whatever that may be for you. There is no use comparing yourself to someone else’s success. It’s your time when it’s meant to be and it’s only meant to be if you get up day and night and strive for the things you want. No one’s going to serve it to you on a golden platter, you’ve got to get it yourself.”
TERRA FIRMAwas made with a lot of effort but feels effortless. Its intoxicating grooves and hypnotic riffs are instantly inviting, but with depth that reveals its rewards the more you absorb it.
Forever thinking of future career steps, TASH has assembled a live band to bring the record to life on stage (whenever that’s safe to do so). “The new live show is everything the live show already was, plus three other people on the stage for a small section of the show,” TASH says. “And they’re already greasing the wheels to begin producing and mentoring other artists.
Keen to get back out on the road doing what they love, TASH has recently been announced as part of Great Southern Nights at The Hordern Pavilion in Sydney on Saturday 28 November. For more information on this show, head HERE. For TERRA FIRMA though, the goal seemed simple: to make music that comes from a place that’s real and from the heart. “Because if it does, you’ll never fuck up,” Tash reflects. “I just really wanted to like the art I was putting out… I just wanted to feel better, be better, perform better, play better, sing better. To be a better musician.” ABOUT TASH SULTANA
Since dropping their debut album two years ago, TASH has only gone from strength to strength in a career already abundant with highlights. With over one billion total worldwide streams, 500,000 tickets sold globally including a sold out Red Rocks Amphitheatre, performing stand out sets at Coachella, Lollapalooza, Governor’s Ball, Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits and more, TASH has also made their US debut TV performance on “Late Night with Seth Meyers.”
In Australia, TASH’s debut album FLOW STATE was nominated for six ARIA Awards including winning the ARIA for Blues and Roots Album Of The Year, they undertook a massive sold out Australia headline tour with over 70,000 tickets around the country, whilst “Jungle” and “Notion” are ARIA accredited 2x Platinum, “Mystik,” “Murder to the Mind” and the NOTION EP all ARIA accredited Gold.
Stay tuned for more news to come from TASH SULTANA.
