REVIEW: TSHA - OnlyL [Ninja Tune]

Text: Stunt Keaton

Ha nacido una estrella. La artista multidisciplinar TSHA llega para traernos su nuevo trabajo titulado "OnlyL". Una auténtica y perfecta mezcla de lo que se puede hacer al mezclar sonidos pop, clásicos sin perder la escencia melancólica que algunos estilos como el downtempo te pueden dar. Un auténtico acierto por parte de Ninja Tune su fichaje ya que está llamada a ser una de esas artistas que va a marcar la diferencia.

"TSHA has today released her new EP ‘OnlyL’, a confident showcase of her impressive production capabilities, it’s a perfect marriage of live musicianship and electronics that takes in the genre-defying, classy electronic pop of its title track alongside the melancholic downtempo of ‘I Know’ and the exhilarating and dancefloor-primed ‘Power’.

“I’m over the moon to share this full EP that features 3 songs that all encapsulate different sides of me, personally and musically. It's been such an amazing feeling to have seen your reactions to “Power” over the past couple of months as the UK has slowly began to open back up again. Hearing the track for the first time in the environment that I wrote it for, at a time when these moments seemed so far away, has been a seriously humbling experience for me. I started writing 'I Know' a while ago and didn’t touch it again for a long time, but decided to pick it back up again in what was quite a reflective time for me in lockdown. I’d like for people to interpret the music in their own way, but for me this transports me to that point in the night where things slow down, and transition into the afterparty. Some of the experiences at that time have been very special to me. It’s been a real journey the whole thing, so finally being able to share it is a real pleasure.” - TSHA

Already praised by the likes of Mixmag (who made TSHA their cover star in August), NME (in their 4* EP review), The Quietus, Resident Advisor, Notion, Billboard and many more, the release arrives off the back of a stellar run for the young British artist including the launch of her own bi-monthly ‘Jackfruit Radio’ show on Apple Music (featuring guests Elkka, Daniel Avery, Effy, Bradley Zero and Maribou State) with TSHA also named BBC Radio 1’s “Future Artist” for January 2021 and “Star of 2020” by BBC Introducing earlier this year, as well as delivering her debut BBC Essential Mix and a coveted Minimix for Annie Mac.

The release of lead single—and titular EP track—‘OnlyL’ saw TSHA grace Spotify’s iconic NMF billboard in NY’s Times Square and the cover of their flagship ‘mint’ playlist with ‘OnlyL’ also taking #1 spot on Apple Music’s ‘Loops’. TSHA was named one of Apple Music’s Up Next UK artists and was on the cover of New Music Daily and DanceXL with Zane Lowe describing TSHA as “An absolute club superstar. DJ, producer... one of the most exciting voices making club records”. Additional support on the announcement came from the likes of FADER, Resident Advisor, Mixmag, DJ Mag, Dancing Astronaut, XLR8R, Magnetic Mag, Northern Transmissions and more.

TSHA’s last EP, 2020’s “Flowers”, made multiple End-Of-Year listings, and was met with widespread praise from the likes of Billboard, NME—who described the EP as “emotion-filled electronic anthems from a star in the making”—NPR, Resident Advisor, Mixmag, NYLON, DJ Mag, Dancing Astronaut and many more. She has also been tipped for greatness by essentially the whole of BBC Radio 1 specialist DJ crew including Annie Mac, Jack Saunders, Jaguar, Pete Tong, Danny Howard, Ricky, Melvin & Charlie and Flava D.

Gearing up for a busy summer schedule at UK festivals including Access, Bigfoot, Boardmasters, Lost Village, ION, Hideout, Inner State and Detonate, TSHA will also be appearing at Field Day in August 2021, sharing the bill with the likes of Bicep, Floating Points, Jayda G and Mount Kimbie.

Artwork for “OnlyL” is by illustrator Felicity Marshall. Alongside digital formats, a limited edition 12” is also released on 27th August 2021."