TANSU is a London-and-Connecticut-raised singer-songwriter of Turkish-Irish descent from New Jersey. Not too long ago, she released a stunning indie R&B single, “Easy Love,” via Little Planet Music.
TANSU – “Easy Love” single
“‘Easy Love’ is a song about letting go of a friend while respecting the life and beauty the relationship once shared. A loving tribute to someone you can no longer be there for, the song helps us all tell our former friends to take it easy, love.” – TANSU explained
“Easy Love” is a cathartic soft goodbye. The track is enticed with soul-drenched vocals, heartfelt melodies, and kaleidoscopic synths. An understated finale, “Easy Love” finds TANSU charting the ups and downs of a long-term relationship with grace and clarity. Recalling the rich maturity of classic 2000s R&B, TANSU’s words are accented by Dave’s sumptuous production, the perfect backdrop for TANSU’s conversational vocals.
TANSU
TANSU has been training to become a diva her whole life. The longtime Harlem resident has an irrepressible spirit, a renegade sense of fun, and an ear-pleasing voice, honed through years of training with the masters and absorbing the work of her favorite soul divas.
TANSU always felt connected to soul music. Specifically, some of her core memories involve Whitney Houston: as a toddler, she refused to eat her dinner unless “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” was playing. She remembers waking up every morning, playing with her Barbie dolls, and listening to the “Waiting To Exhale” soundtrack on repeat, entranced by The Voice emanating from her speakers.
Throughout TANSU’s youth, the pop stars of the day were like gods: she worshiped at the altar of Mariah and the Spice Girls, artists who combined vocal chops and platinum-plated charisma with a gonzo attitude and fierce commitment to their art.
It was artists like these who inspired TANSU to throw herself into performance arts at high school. But the limited training she was able to receive – only Broadway or classical, hardly the kind of high-glitz, forward-thinking music TANSU loved – felt lacking.
TANSU
When she enrolled in the Berklee College of Music, in Boston, TANSU was finally able to study pop music properly, as well as the kind of technique that would allow her to try her hand at any style she wanted – setting the stage for artistry defined by effortless genre-bending and a deft musical ear.
After college, TANSU moved to New York and began working in fashion, a field that she describes as “another performing art,” much like music. TANSU loves fashion – and still has a lot of connections in that world, a must for any future pop star – but she says that “fashion can eat you alive.” She speaks from experience: working for one of the major fashion houses early in her career, she began spending upwards of 15 hours a day chained to her desk, rarely seeing family and friends, and burning herself out trying to be an A+ worker.
Then Whitney died.
The passing of TANSU’s prime inspiration, someone who had provided solace and connection to her for her entire life, was a wake-up call for TANSU. She realized that Whitney’s singing for the world was a great, selfless gift, and given that she too had a remarkable voice, it would be selfish if she didn’t try to do the same. From then on, fashion took a backseat to her true passion: music.
“The City” EP
TANSU’s upcoming debut EP, “The City,” was recorded with friend and longtime collaborator Dave Rublin (American Authors). The project is a chronicle of a life lived well, delivered by a sterling, astounding voice; spanning indie-soul, sparkling pop, and hypnotic trap, it’s a brilliantly defined debut for the lifelong musician. The “Part One” in its title says all you need to know: TANSU has a lot more to say from here.
Working with Dave, whom she had met at Berklee, in a handful of different apartments and recording studios, “The City” slowly took shape. Even when she found herself hamstrung or unmotivated, or when life got in the way, Dave was relentless in pushing her to finish this body of work; their collaboration was one of perfect symbiosis, his sharp musical knowledge a perfect match for her acrobatic voice.
TANSU – “Downtown” single
The sultry neo-soul epic “Downtown” is a prime example of their creative chemistry. TANSU floats among Dave’s rich, undulating backdrop, the bassline hum slowly building to an ecstatic climax, mirroring TANSU’s bittersweet tale of love, sex, and jealousy, which attempts to interrogate the emotions that fuel nights of recklessness and partying.
TANSU – “Got 2 Me” single
The City’s undeniable centerpiece is “Got 2 Me,” a simmering ballad on which TANSU allows her resplendent, powerhouse voice to shine at its fullest potential. An “emotional followup” to “Downtown,” it’s a song about learning to be vulnerable in a relationship, despite your best instincts. Smoky and tense, it’s a showstopping piece of soul-pop, TANSU’s voice slipping between an ingratiating low register and a clarion belt. A remarkable work of patience and skill, it’s a song that feels effortless, belying the fact that TANSU has been working for this her whole life, and then some.
TANSU – “Easy Love” single
We recommend adding TANSU’s “Easy Love” single to your favorite indie R&B playlist. Also, let us know how you feel in the comment section below. Mel Blanc’s famous catchphrase, That’s All Folks! Thanks for reading another great article on Bong Mines Entertainment – the hot spot for new music and positive entertainment news. Always remember that (P) Positive, (E) Energy, (A) Always, (C) Creates, (E) Elevation (P.E.A.C.E). Contact us on social media via Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook, and let us know what’s going on. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter, support our merchandise, and become a Patron of Bong Mines Entertainment. Disclaimer: This post contains Apple Music affiliate links. We may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through links on our site. That little compensation will be used towards keeping this website up and running.