Tanaë is the stage name of up-and-coming Belgian singer-songwriter, Shana Seminara, who has been building the case for herself as a rising star with her unique blends of infectious pop and soul. From humble beginnings of posting covers on Youtube of songs by Drake, Twenty One Pilots, Imany, Kodaline, and others, she began building a name for herself and eventually transitioned into releasing her own productions. 2018 saw the release of her first EP, Introspection, an appropriately reflective four-track creation with the lingering “Still Beautiful” as its centerpiece. She hasn’t looked back since.
2019 heralds a new era for the young talent, with the release of her debut album Talking to Myself offering an intimate and thoughtful eight-track foray into the mind and life of the artist. Glimpses of her influences, which include an array of everything from Amy Winehouse to Lana Del Rey, are there for the taking, but the album is uniquely her own stylings and by and large it’s an extremely impressive freshman effort. With a summer filled with performances in her home country, she’s sure to cultivate her ever-growing following, and shortly after we hope to host her here in Istanbul.
To prepare for her eventual arrival, we took some time to speak with Tanaë. Her full album is available via Spotify.
Tanaë, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us. Could you tell us a bit about yourself? We know you’re an exceptionally talented up-and-coming artist from Belgium! Beyond that though, we’d love to learn a little about the real you.
Hi there! My real name is Shana, I’m 22-year-old and I live in Liège, one of the biggest cities in Belgium. Besides singing, I study graphic design at the Art School of Liège (Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts).
How’d you find out you had a talent for music? Have you always wanted to be an artist?
I’ve always loved singing but until the age of 19, I had only sung for my close family. I got pushed several times by my entourage to go on stage for school events or to participate to “The Voice Belgium” but I never accepted because I’m quite a shy person. So I had never thought of being a performer, all of this because – or thanks to I should say now [laughter] – of my mum that sent a video of me singing on “One Dance” by Drake to Manu Freson, my producer and manager. It was only in 2017, after posting a few covers on social media that I started my first gigs and that I gained little by little confidence on stage.
What’s the meaning behind ‘Tanaë’?
I wanted my artist name to be different from my real name, to have a particular meaning to me. I have a little brother and when he was a baby, he couldn’t call me “Shana”, he used to say “Tana”. As his name is Maël, I took the “ë” from it and Tanaë was born!
In listening through your work, there’s certainly a broad spectrum of influences – from soul to pop and everywhere between. Are there any artists in particular that have shaped who you are today or have an influence in your current sound?
I got bathed in music by my mother who is a big fan of bands like Portishead or artists like Björk. She gave me the taste of music. My main influences are Amy Winehouse, Jorja Smith, Kali Uchis and Lana Del Rey.
Could you share with us the story behind your new album? It certainly gives off a very personal feel, is there a story you’re hoping to tell here?
When I started music, I didn’t know anything about it. It’s been a whole learning process for me as I released my EP in early 2018 and barely one year later, my first album. It was the opportunity to participate much more actively in the songwriting process but also to invest more in the composition of songs. I knew what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go, talk about topics that touch me like my childhood or people I met, the search for his identity and so on.
Are there any lessons you’ve taken out of your debut effort that you think have influenced you as an artist or professional?
I had to grow very quick as my project developed quite fast. One of the things I’ve learned, and that frustrates me sometimes, is that I can’t control everything. I’m quite a perfectionist and things go fast, so I’ve learned to let go.
How did you come together with Turkish music and production company Razaki Muzik? Have you ever been in Turkey before?
Since we discovered that “Still Beautiful” reached the most viral tracks, Manu Freson, my producer and manager, thought it would be a great opportunity to find partners in Turkey. Thanks to Ipek Ozcoy, an artist manager that works both in the UK and in Turkey, I was introduced to Razaki Muzik that immediately showed a great interest for my project.
Now that you’ve dropped a new album, what’s next on the horizon for you? Any plans for an Istanbul visit in the near future?
This summer, I will play in a lot of festivals in Belgium. I also hope to come very soon to Istanbul. I can’t wait for it! Maybe in the coming months?
You also have several really lovely covers in your musical portfolio that are very much done in your own unique style, such as Aqua’s ‘Barbie Girl’ and Drake’s ‘One Dance’. What goes into the selection process behind covering a song and making it your own?
I choose songs that I like, that are relevant, I always try to do something that stretches as far as possible from the original, that’s what’s interesting.
When Manu suggested me “Barbie Girl” I didn’t want to do it, cause it’s a weird and really original song but I said to myself that no one would expect such a version. The results went even beyond our expectations as more than 100k people saw it on Facebook. It was unbelievable!
Keep up with Tanaë via her official Facebook page. All images courtesy of Juliette Reip.
