“Moonlight” by Tiana Rie hit streaming services on April 10, 2022. The Queensland, Australia based singer and songwriter says that she hopes the song will have the same calming effect on her listeners when life gets to be too much. Why? Because that’s what happened to her when she wrote it. As she put it, she wrote “Moonlight” at one of her lowest times. She was overwhelmed with the thought of leaving everything she had ever known to move to Queensland. I think she made the right move, hard as it must have been.
“Moonlight” opens with Tiana Rie sort of humming this melody before we are hit with the lyrics. “Take me back to the place where we met, back to the sunset…” Everything about these lyrics is feel-good, relaxing fun, but not in a hyped up way. It’s like sitting with your friends and each of you are comfortably doing your own thing, but you’re together.
Musically, the beat is simple and it works, allowing you to focus more on Tiana Rie’s voice and incredible range. The soprano is definitely the star of this song as she should be.
While Tiana Rie may have been in her low point while writing this, it’s clearly a mood lifter. I love it and highly recommend it for anyone who needs a boost. What’s next for this Aussie singer? To know and stay up to date, follow her socials linked below the following interview. I don’t think she’s going anywhere but up anytime soon.
Q&A with Tiana Rie
Q: “Moonlight” reminds me in a way of Toni Braxton. What inspired the song?
TIANA RIE: Moonlight was inspired by the popular fusion of Spanish music and Commercial pop. I have also always been attracted to commercial pop, I love its transparency and relatability to the listener. My reference tracks for “Moonlight” were “Senorita” by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello as well as “ily” by Surf Mesa and Emilee. I loved how dominant and catchy the bass line is in “Senorita”. “ily” really inspired the vibe of “Moonlight”, super chilled vocal line, and hidden sound effects to really create that beachy imagery.
Q: “Moonlight” was written in a way to calm your own anxiety about change. Was there anything you enjoyed most about making this track?
TIANA RIE: What I loved most about this track was the simplicity of it. The lyrics just flowed out of me and landed straight on the page even though I had so much anxiousness skewing inside of me at the time. My mind was foggy; I knew I had to quit my stable job in Adelaide as a singing teacher and wedding singer and I was leaving my family and friends to move to a place I had never been and a place with no familiar faces. The weird thing is, Moonlight is so happy! You’d think I would have written a sad song, but I didn’t. Moonlight was my way of escaping something I had no control over.
Q: Was there a pivotal moment in your life when you decided to pursue the path of musician?
TIANA RIE: I’ve always loved singing and music but if I had to pinpoint a moment, I would have to say it happened in year 10. We had to do something called the personal project, where you had to explore something of interest to you. I was interested in finding out what I wanted to do with my life after I finished high school.
I had 3 options laid out in front of me. I was either going to become a professional tennis player, a professional soccer player or a professional singer and musician. Half way through completing the project I broke my ankle at soccer training and had to quit soccer. That option was ruled out. The tennis game was strong and very political plus I just didn’t have that same passion for it like I did music. So, I concluded I would live to pursue music in my future and all my decisions following were to lead towards that goal.
I’ll be honest, after making that decision, I sometimes second guessed myself because so many people told me “you will never make an actual career out of music”. I am so happy I didn’t listen to them as I now get to do what I love every single day. Be creative, think of new ideas, new ways I can pursue what I love.
Q: How is the music scene in Queensland?
TIANA RIE: Queensland is alive! There are weekly festivals and markets with live music on every corner! There are also loads of great agencies you can sign up with that will help find you gigs! This place is full of opportunity. I think moving to a brand new place provides you with new experiences and new things to write about so I would highly recommend it.
Q: What is your go-to karaoke song?
TIANA RIE: Okay this is probably going to sound so weird and random but I would say Thrift Shop by Macklemore. I love belting out a good rap song!
Q: What’s next for you?
TIANA RIE: More new music inspired by my new experiences! I will also be dropping a new Spotify playlist called “Beachy Vibes 2022” that includes all my favourite summer tunes as well as my new single Moonlight. As far as teaching goes, I’m designing a fun online, fully interactive, instructional program that can be used by singing teachers, singing students and closet singers all over the world. Many studies have shown that singing and music helps with mental health, I want my program to be accessible for people in rural parts of the world so that everyone can learn how to sing no matter where they are.
Reviewed & Interviewed by Dana L. Sullivan
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