TIA WOOD RELEASES DEBUT EP

TIA WOOD RELEASES DEBUT EP

PRETTY RED BIRD

LISTEN HERE

(Toronto, ON – September 27, 2024) – Today, rising R&B/pop singer-songwriter Tia Wood releases her debut EP, Pretty Red Bird, with Sony Music Entertainment Canada. LISTEN HERE.

Pretty Red Bird is an astonishingly assured debut project from Tia. “This project celebrates who I am as a young, proudly Indigenous woman, making music with meaning and a purpose” says Tia. “I’m so, so proud of what I’ve accomplished here, and I can’t wait to share it with the world.”

Tia, who calls her younger self “the shyest kid,” was raised surrounded by music, and always harboured the thought of becoming a solo artist. As a teen, she gravitated toward all kinds of artists – from Etta James and Hank Williams, to SZA, Amy Winehouse, Jessie Reyez, and Leon Bridges. Those influences, along with the music of her Indigenous heritage, are evident on Pretty Red Bird, which is rich in style, genre, and spirit. Threading everything together are Tia’s smooth and stunning vocals and luxe R&B and pop production.

The title of the EP also has a deep resonance for Tia. It is her middle name and what her family called her when she was a child growing up in Saddle Lake, a community of about 6000 people in Treaty 6 territory, about a two-hour drive from the Alberta capital of Edmonton.  The EP title references her home, her community, and her core identity – all driving forces in the lush music she creates.

Pretty Red Bird also calls to mind flying – soaring and moving – which is what Tia did in creating this body of work, moving to Los Angeles for a time, and collaborating with a series of writers, musicians, and producers to call forth her songwriting and make these songs glimmer and shine.

Tia is one of Canada’s most exciting singer-songwriters, forging a bright path for Indigenous artists creating pop and R&B. The dual Plains Cree and Coast Salish artist brings the full force of her history to her songwriting and artistry, seamlessly blending Indigenous sounds with a modern sensibility to create something so special. 

Tia’s first single, “Dirt Roads,” was released June 21, 2024 after years of anticipation from the strong fanbase she built across social media. The accompanying music video beautifully captured intimate moments with her family and friends in her hometown of Saddle Lake, creating a piece that is grand and deeply personal. “Dirt Roads” was followed up by subsequent releases “Losing Game” and “Catch & Release,” each of which expanded her pop sensibility and grew her fanbase. Pretty Red Bird is rounded out with tracks “Plastic Trees” and “Sky High”; all five of these outstanding songs showcase her effortless vocals and uncannily poised songwriting. LISTEN TO THE EP HERE.

Pretty Red Bird Tracklisting

1. Dirt Roads
2. Losing Game
3. Plastic Trees
4. Catch & Release
5. Sky High

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ABOUT TIA

It’s a long way from the dirt roads of Saddle Lake Cree Nation in central Alberta to the bright lights of Los Angeles, California, but Tia Wood followed her heart from the Rez to the City of Angels to make her musical dreams come true.

Her powerful, soulful voice carries the spirit of her peoples’ songs that have echoed from her homelands since time immemorial, and the musical roots of her family tree run deep. Growing up in a home rich with music and culture, she began singing as soon as she could talk, inspired and nurtured by her parents, siblings, and her dual Plains Cree and Coast Salish heritage. So Tia believes it was inevitable that she’s now blazing her own trail as a solo artist.

“When I was younger, this kind of stuff is something I dreamed about, but just never would say out loud because I never thought it was reachable,” says the 25 year old. “But it’s just so cool. I’m just so grateful.”

Saddle Lake Cree Nation is where Tia’s musical journey began; her first experiences on stage were performing with her family, singing traditional music at powwows, schools, community events, and various showcases. In her 20s, Tia developed a massive social following as a creator, and many of her videos introducing Indigenous sounds to a mainstream audience have gone viral and brought her widespread acclaim.

Her debut songs are as eclectic and rich as the young adult experience. The instrumentation under her sonically rich vocals ranges from classic sounds like piano and guitar to the modern beats and hooks that flourish in modern R&B. “I feel like I dip into a lot of different things,” she says, “but as of right now, it’s more like R&B, and since I grew up right along with traditional music, I kind of try to add that in when it calls to do so.”

Tia says exploring self and identity through songwriting and honing her musical skills has been therapeutic. “It’s really allowed me to open up and really dig into feelings,” she says, and she hopes her journey and her music can inspire people everywhere, especially young fans in Indigenous communities.

“Just to show somebody that they can do it no matter where they come from, and what circumstances they were given and what cards they were dealt out. It’s doable.”