Q&A: Indigenous R&B Artist Tia Wood Stuns in Debut Project, ‘Pretty Red Bird’
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY CHARLOTTE ISIDORE ☆
Photo Credit: Ashley Osborn
FROM THE DIRT ROADS OF THE SADDLE LAKE CREE NATION to the bustling streets of Los Angeles, rising star Tia Wood forges a bold path for Indigenous artists in pop and R&B. Hailing from Saddle Lake, a community of about 6000 people in Alberta Canada, Tia’s journey started with traditional music, performing alongside her family at powwows and community events. On top of having a rich musical education in the music from her Plains Cree and Coast Salish culture, Tia is a student of various modern genres. She grew up studying talented vocalists such as Etta James and Leon Bridges, and looking up to fearless female lyricists, such as SZA. It is from this musical foundation, that she built her own sound.
Her debut project, Pretty Red Bird, is a breathtaking introduction to her sonic world. Blending together music from her upbringing with modern aesthetics, Tia creates a soundscape that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. “This project celebrates who I am as a young, proudly Indigenous woman, making music with meaning and purpose,” says Tia.
Creating Pretty Red Bird was a process of both exploration and growth. Tia traveled to Los Angeles to create this EP. Collaborating with top writers and producers, Tia crafted songs that capture her rich storytelling and emotional depth. Tracks like “Dirt Roads,” “Losing Game,” and “Catch & Release” showcase her stunning voice and refined songwriting, while the accompanying visuals celebrate her roots and her rise. She describes songwriting as therapeutic, allowing her to express her identity and process life experiences through artistic experimentation.
Read below to learn more about this incredible rising singer-songwriter and the making of Pretty Red Bird.
Photo Credit: Ashley Osborn
LUNA: Congratulations on releasing your debut EP, Pretty Red Bird. What influenced you to choose the title for this EP?
WOODS: Thanks so much, this really is a dream come true. I named my first EP “Pretty Red Bird” because that’s my middle name and that’s what my family called me growing up…where it all started!
LUNA: Your upbringing in Saddle Lake was a huge source of inspiration for this EP. Describe some of your first memories of music and songwriting in your hometown. How did that landscape shape the songwriter you are today?
WOODS: I grew up surrounded by Indigenous singers and ceremonies and we traveled a lot for pow-wows. For most of my life, I’ve been singing with my family in the backseat of our car, and the plains is where I’ll always call home.
LUNA: How do you spark inspiration or motivate yourself creatively when you have writer's block?
WOODS: When I have writer’s block, it’s usually because I have something weighing on my mind…So, I have to get it out somehow. I’m a very shy person and what motivates me is speaking up for the younger version of myself (who was too shy to speak sometimes). It can be daunting sitting in a session when the ideas aren’t flowing, so it helps to collaborate with people and have support.
LUNA: Who are other Indigenous singers, songwriters, producers, or creatives you look up to, or would like to collaborate with someday?
WOODS: There are so many talented Indigenous singers and I can’t wait for the world to become more aware of them. A few on my list are Sebastian Gaskin, Aysanabee, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Jeremy Dutcher, and Ruby Waters.
LUNA: What is a project, collaboration, or event you are looking forward to in the future?
WOODS: I’m currently in LA (on a writing trip) trying to finish my full-length album…so, stay tuned for that! I have a few dream collabs that I’m hoping will come true. We have some exciting shows coming up which I can share soon…
Kacey Musgraves invited me to one of her last shows in Nashville, so I’m looking forward to meeting her and finally seeing her play live!
