Last week I happened across this amazing song on one of my late-night YouTube scroll sessions. That song was by Manchester (UK) artist Tasmin Stephens AKA TTSSFU. Reading more and more about Stephens I discovered they’re a bedroom pop /shoegazer and, most impressively, produced, mixed and mastered this whole EP from their bedroom.
Me, Jed and Andy is an EP inspired, in part, by Andy Warhol. More specifically his 12-year long relationship with famous interior designer/film director Jed Johnson. These songs are also about Stephens contextualising the anger, failure and disappointment of their own relationships too. On this subject they had this to say.
“I related to Warhol in a few different ways and felt really inspired to write about him and start afresh. It was a clever way for me to selfishly put myself, experience and my own feelings into the shape of him and that world. It was easy and less draining, but through this inspiration I ended up writing some of the most personal songs I have ever written.”
Opening track ‘I Hope You Die’ is a real statement of intent. Based around a really horrible experience Stephens went through she channels all her anger into the four minutes of this song. The tension is palpable and is unrelenting. That leads to you being drawn in and transfixed by the melody. The shiny lead guitar riff is both eerie and uplifting at the same time. The atmospheric vocal treatment really compliments the song and helps create a moody ambience. This was the song I heard on YouTube. It’s the perfect intro to TTSSFU and it made me smile when I found out it was the first track on the EP.
Next up is ‘Jed’ a leisurely paced tonic of a song. Stephens breathy, measured delivery offset by the quite stunning pairing of organ and slide guitar. The guitar in particular lends the song an off-kilter element that really catches your ear, I could happily live in the final minute of this song forever and be happy.
‘Baggage’ caught me totally unawares on first listen. I absolutely love ‘I Hope You Die’ and thought that would end up being my favourite track. Second favourite from this point on. I must have listened to ‘Baggage’ about five times back-to-back that first time around. That chorus hook is killer as Stephens sings ‘I’m doing it for you, do you know that I love you’ you can feel the sincerity of that sentiment burst out the speakers. The song is obviously an exercise in catharsis but, to couple that with the melodies and perfectly delivered lines it has set this up to be a future classic.
We head into goth territory next with ‘Character’. Unmistakeably drawing from ‘A Forest’ era Cure it darkens the tone of the EP for a moment giving us a flavour of what TTSSFU can be and breadth of Stephens influences as a songwriter.
In stark contrast ‘Wait It Out’ arrives on chugging guitars and a lilting lead riff that peppers this song like little flecks of gold. If you bottled that longing feeling then distilled it down into music, this is what you’d get. I keep having to remind myself this is the work of one person and Garageband. The production on this track is just stunning. Check out those harmony vocals for example and that subtle change in dynamic as they sing ‘I don’t wanna go away now’.
‘Asexual’ has a late-night feel from the outset. A sultry swagger that feels dangerous. Throughout the track a mystery phone rings out in the background. This is a very accomplished track and captures that sensual mood perfectly. I wonder who was on the phone?
The EP closes out with a song set at ‘Studio 54’ named for the famous New York night club. Scene of many a debauched night out for Andy Warhol and his many acolytes. It maintains that late night vibe but this time it feels like we are voyeurs looking in. Observing the man himself in the place he loved most.
Me, Jed and Andy really has taken my breath away. For a DIY set of songs recorded at home this far surpasses all expectations. The emotional impact of these songs cannot be underestimated. Lyrically Stephens connects time and time again. In ‘Baggage’, for example, the line “I was just a child when I grew up.” hits hard. As an introduction this EP more than does its job. I can’t wait to hear what’s next from this amazing artist.
Me, Jed and Andy is out now on Fear of Missing Out Records and is available on limited edition vinyl.
You can follow TTSSFU on social media here…
Photo Credit
Mat Coffey
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