Tasmin Nicole Stephens is a Manchester, UK-based producer, singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and creative mastermind behind the emerging and rising DIY shoegaze solo recording project TTSSFU (pronounced phonetically as T-T-S-S-F-U). With TTSSFU’s debut EP, Me, Jed and Andy, which was released earlier this year, Stephens quickly established an enormous and atmospheric sound that according to some deftly combines the dreamy and eerie qualities of The Cure with the breakneck BPMs of bands like The Strokes and The Drums.
Me, Jed and Andy EP features “I Hope You Die,” a track that is nearing one-million plays on YouTube. Stephens has begun to make the rounds of the British festival circuit, playing sets at Green Man, Bristol Sounds and Manchester Psych Fest, as well as opening slots for acclaimed JOVM mainstay Soccer Mommy and Mannequin Pussy during those two acts’ UK tours. Adding to a growing profile, Stephens recently signed to Partisan Records, the label home of PJ Harvey, IDLES, Cigarettes After Sex, Blondshell and more. The label will be releasing the rising British artist’s forthcoming new material next year, a scheduled EP and a full-length studio debut.
“Partisan is a label that holds a lot of the bands I’ve looked up to for years, and for them to see enough potential in me to be signed was just mind blowing,” the rising Manchester artist says of her recent signing to Partisan. “I’m so grateful to be taken on by such a kind group of people who care about my music and future and are totally on board and patient with me. Biggest thank you goes to Matthew at Partisan who found me in the first place. Without him none of this would have happened x.”
And to close out a massive year, the Manchester-based artist will be opening for English Teacher during their upcoming November UK tour. But in the meantime, Stephens’ latest single off the Me, Jed and Andy EP “Studio 54” is a brooding and uneasy bit of sheogaze featuring an angular bass line, layers of eerie, reverb-drenched vocals and gently buzzing guitars that serve as a woozy bed for for the British artist’s ethereal, achingly tender lead vocal. “Studio 54” reminds me a bit of the big, reverb-soaked sound of My Gold Mask but with an eerie, dreamy quality. It’s slick synthesis of goth and shoegaze that sounds almost as though it could have been released during 120 Minutes MTV-era alt rock days — but subtle, modern sheen.
“‘Studio 54’ is about how Andy Warhol got swept up with the New York party scene and how it eventually pushed his partner Jed Johnson away,” Stephens explains. “Andy let Jed down many times, the drugs made him uncomfortable, and Andy seemed to care more about partying and hanging out with his famous friends. Jed eventually had enough and left him for someone else which ultimately broke him. The story resonated with me because sometimes I don’t recognise what I’ve got when I’ve got it and take things for granted.”
Directed by Seth Lloyd, the accompanying video follows Stephens as she prepares for and heads to a drug and booze-filled party that also features couples hooking up, fighting and breaking up in a seemingly infinite pattern.
“The video was super exciting to make with my good friend Seth,” the Manchester-based artist says. “It was amazing to create the vision that’s been sitting in my head for a while now and bring it to life with such a talented team. We also had some amazing extras who were so fun and helpful all night.”
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