We have covered TIFFY (ALL CAPS) since she started out way back in 2019, and we think it’s pretty safe to say that on her new EP I Wanted to Know, the Boston-based Asian-American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has really hit her stride. Clocking in at less than 10 minutes, this new 5-track EP is a perfectly proportioned slice of single-minded, fuzzy, pop-rock goodness.
It opens with “IRB” (featuring legendary Speedy Ortiz head honcho Sadie Dupuis), a prior single that we previously reviewed here. Full of Fortitude Valley-esque, Weezer-inspired sunshiny style, it’s a vibey piece that feels perfect for summer and the ridiculous heat we’re currently experiencing in London right now. We’re just missing a perspiring alcoholic beverage to go alongside it. Seemingly about the trials and tribulations of being a gigging independent musician (relatable to many I’m sure), it chronicles exhausting exchanges and crafts an inarguable sense of burnout. Despite the somewhat bitter-feeling lyrical sentiment, the song is melodic, sweet, and knowing and is imbued with a confidence and assuredness that only comes with time.
“IRB” is followed by “Scam Likely”, another single we previously reviewed. A woozy, dreampop indie-rock tune that is built around the anxiety of spam calls in the modern age, it’s reminiscent of the sound of The Raveonettes if they were crossed with a heavier act like, say, Bleached. Whilst definitely leaning into the overall hazy feel, there’s also elements of many other genres at play here. Shoegazey scuzz and almost country-esque guitar tones courtesy of Tommy Stevens’ syrupy pedal steel and JK Wong’s New Order-like basslines all fuse together to make something unforgettable and individualistic.
An ethereal vibe takes over on the next track which is actually a brief interlude. “Intro (Drive Thru)” is a dreamy, shimmering 20-second guitar-based divergence that bridges the gap between the washed-out feel of the last song and the full throttle start of the next.
“Drive Thru Deja Vu” has an unmistakable, driving ’90s feel and sounds like it could’ve soundtracked a coming-of-age movie from that era. Whimsical-feeling, but at the same time seemingly imbued with a neurotic nervousness (compounded by lyrical phrases like “rounding the drive thru / panic inside cue”), it develops a tension that has not been seen elsewhere in the EP. “I really hate when we fight like this / it always ends in silence”, TIFFY croons, as we’re reminded a bit of Best Coast and Bethany Cosentino’s ability to paint pictures with her words.
The EP closes with a live track, “Scam Likely (Live At Big Nice Studio)”. We’re reminded of Third Man Records cult-faves Sheer Mag as the musicianship and musicality of the song comes to the fore even more so than on the earlier studio version. The players on it dovetail perfectly with no element coming across as overblown or disproportionate in the mix. (Shout out to Bradford Krieger at Big Nice Studio who recorded, mixed, and mastered this version of the track).
A special mention must be made to Justin Pizzoferrato who recorded, produced & mixed the EP (with the exception of the live track) and to Jett Galindo who mastered it. We must say, between them, they did a damn fine job.
A thoroughly loveable jaunt through multiple rock sub-genres – from slacker to dream to garage – navigated by Somerville, Massachusetts’ finest, there’s a bit of something here for most. We defy you not to enjoy it.
I Wanted To Know is available as a beautiful sky blue cassette tape with exclusive bonus tracks, AND – as if that wasn’t enough – an entirely unreleased additional EP entitled Divine Hand. TIFFY is on tour now, with dates available on her website. Catch her while you can!
Written by Kinda Grizzly
