Tiny Habits is a trio of singers that met and began their rise while attending Berklee College of Music in Boston. Since those early days, which apparently began in a dorm building stairwell — singing harmonies in acoustically precise privacy — they've captivated audiences with creatively arranged and excellently executed three-part harmonies.
But they're more than just a few pretty voices. Their personal, self-accepting song lyrics and deep vibe live shows have earned them industry acclaim and a growing global audience. The band has toured alongside James Taylor, Sarah McLachlan, Gracie Abrams, Noah Kahan, and more. Tiny Habits' new album Keepers is out today!
There's a lot of meaning in all of this for the group, and I wanted to talk about that.
Here's our conversation. Enjoy!
Hypebot: Hey Cinya, Judah, and Maya, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions. Congrats on Keepers, the whole album is gorgeous. What exactly do you call your genre? It’s so many things at once I wanna call it like "acoustic soul?"
Tiny Habits: "For a while we described our music as 'Folk-pop,' but this album definitely expands far past that label. I think it’d be almost impossible to give it just one name but maybe: 'folk-r&b-disco-acoustic-habit-pop.'"
H: So I heard that you met in a stairwell. Tell me about these intimate and metaphorical origins!
TH: "We technically met online and then in a dorm room, but started singing together often in stairwells! We just loved the acoustics in there and it was also just a great place to congregate and sing together. The stairwell was such a good place to hear all of our quieter harmonies and so it stuck!"
H: For a group like yours, what is the recording process like typically? What’s written in advance and recorded first versus made up in the studio on the fly?
TH: "It totally varies from song to song. There’s been a lot of times where we start a song from scratch all together, and other times where someone has written a full song or nearly finished song, that we just flesh out together arrangement-wise."
The songs usually exist long before we even step foot in the studio, but they tend to transform in some really beautiful ways once we get in with a band and a producer."
"The songs would be too bare without our lovely band, especially with these faster and more energetic songs. Get ready, it’s going to be a feast for the senses."
H: Harmony is very important to this crew. What inspiration do you draw from when crafting vocal harmonies?
TH: "Honestly from each other. When there’s 3 chefs in the kitchen there’s always an abundance of ideas. Also, the greats, Crosby Stills and Nash, Destiny’s Child, ABBA."
H: What is the Salt Lick Incubator and what was that experience like for you all?
TH: "The Salt Lake incubator is a nonprofit organization that helps support up-and-coming artists get off their feet with certain projects. They were crucial in the beginnings of our career. They helped us to fund so many of our projects and tours as well and have really connected us with such an amazing artist community. We love them and every artist should check them out for grant opportunities!"
H: What did it mean to you all to perform at the Newport Folk Fest? That’s such a coveted, historic stage, enriched with so much meaning.
TH: "It meant so much to us to perform at Newport. We were there a couple of years ago, performing at the foundation tent and to be back on the main stage this year really meant everything."
We’ve been on so many stages that have felt so special; however, when we opened for James Taylor on tour last year that felt like a really huge moment for us as a band. He’s one of the most iconic songwriters probably in the world and to be sharing a stage with him every night for so many months and his legendary band was such a dream and privilege."
H: Speaking of live performance, you’ll be going on an extensive tour this fall. Will that be with the full band or trio? How much does that change your approach to a gig?
TH: "We’re bringing our amazing band, yes! So many of these songs are so instrument oriented. The songs would be too bare without our lovely band, especially with these faster and more energetic songs. Get ready, it’s going to be a feast for the senses."
"[Touring] can be a little tough given the circumstances sometimes, but it’s important to have a positive perspective and think of it like summer camp...It’s totally worth the bumpy bus sleeps."
H: What’s something you’ve learned by spending time on the road?
TH: "We’ve learned a lot about patience and resilience. It can be a little tough given the circumstances sometimes, but it’s important to have a positive perspective and think of it like summer camp. The bus rides are filled with laughter, and the shows are always filled with such beautiful energy. We’ve learned it’s totally worth the bumpy bus sleeps."
H: What do you like to do on days off from tour?
TH: "We love to explore! Especially in a cool city. It’s a good time to bond with the crew and relax! We all love coffee and thrifting, so always looking for those spots in every city."
H: How do you avoid burnout or breakdown?
TH: "We love a little time apart. Because we spend so much time together, it’s important that we have some separation and hobbies outside of this. Also, we do a lot of checking in with each other."
H: If you could vote for an animal to be President of the United States, which animal would it be and why?
TH: "We would all vote for an elephant because they seem really wise and level-headed."
