Catherine Peake speaks with jazz singer Tiana Young.
The winner of the 2MBS Ken Weatherley Scholar 2025, Tiana Young trained at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and has performed in public since her teens. Her compositions are focused on contemporary jazz and in her new album, Serendipity, she performs with her trio and jazz musician friends and collaborators.
Can you tell us what led you to jazz?
I grew up listening to all kinds of music but initially had a more classical focus. It wasn’t until I joined the Central Coast Conservatorium’s Little Big Band that I started really engaging in the vibrancy of jazz performance. The room in which we rehearsed had terrible acoustics and I could hardly hear myself, so I only actually knew what my jazz voice was like during the first concert I appeared in – and I loved it. From there I maintained my deep appreciation of classical music, but felt myself being drawn more and more to the freedom, collaboration and ecstasy I experienced when making jazz music.
What are some of the challenges and rewards in creating your music?
I have been performing since I was 14 and music helped me navigate the treacherous waters of being a young person trying to find their way in the world. It’s given me constant purpose and meaning. I was also so lucky to be supported by countless amazing musicians who gave me a chance when I had the love, but not necessarily the technicality, of the art form. A huge challenge, however, has been to accumulate the confidence to finally present my own original work. There is something incredibly vulnerable about sharing that level of intimacy with the world and I’m thrilled that I can finally take that leap.
You will be working with your trio and other musicians while at 2MBS Fine Music Sydney. Can you tell us about the group and some of the works you will be creating?
There are eight artists including me featured on the album. My main trio is me, Andrew Scott (piano) and James Shortland (bass), plus an expansion including Hilary Geddes (guitar) and Abby Constable (drums) for the main band. Additional guest features will include Sarah Purdon (trumpet), Billy Ward (saxophone) and Jacob Parks (trombone). The album is quite substantial, with 11 original compositions and four arrangements. I really wanted this project to be a diverse showing of my compositional range, so there are many stylistic twists and turns within it. The first single, Comedienne, which is out now, really highlights my devotion to the golden era sound, with little modern-day twists.
What are some of the more unusual places you’ve played in?
I have played all over the place, but the most interesting would probably be when I got to sing in the Jenolan Caves. The echoes made me feel as though I was in the grandest concert hall in the world. Another funny one was the first wedding I ever performed for. I initially met the bride at a dress shop where my mom was encouraging me to sing in the different dresses I was trying on to ensure I could breathe/sing properly. She booked me for the wedding in the shop! The actual event took place on top of the Skillion in Terrigal, so there was no power. This was rectified by my dad ‘MacGyver-ing’ a generator to an extension lead and to my speaker so I could have power for the big day.
You will be aiming to record your debut album, Serendipity, with your scholarship. What can we expect from the album?
It’s already recorded. You can expect a vibrant, energetic momentum pulsating through the album – probably because we are all such great friends and collaborators and so excited – and because we adore playing so much. As storytelling is the driving force in my compositional vision you can expect rich lyrical content. We held a preview concert in January and one attendee couldn’t believe it was over when we reached the final song, while another described it as leaving her ‘ravenous’ for more. So, if you’re curious you can indulge in the first single to have a small taste of what’s to come!
What are some of your future plans?
Now that I have opened the original music ‘can of worms’ I intend to continue writing and releasing more original music and sharing my unique compositional perspective. Alongside this I will always still honour the jazz tradition and offer my musical takes on the vast catalogue of pre-existing jazz. More structurally, I want to perform at jazz festivals around the country and follow in the footsteps of great Australian jazz singers like Emma Pask, Kate Wadey, Kristin Berardi and Virna Sanzone by expanding my reach and allowing the greater Australian public to meet me to share my music and hear me tell my sonic stories and continue deepening my craft.