19-year-old singer and songwriter Tulliah’s new single Just My Type (A Little Bit Lonely) began life as a piano ballad called Imagine. The single took on numerous lives with Tulliah and producer Dean Tuza who tinkered, tampered and peeled away the song layer by layer until it found its ultimate home in its final form.
Tulliah who hails from Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula recalls “I remember the exact moment when I sat at the piano and the first verse flowed out of me. I felt like it was something special even at its earliest stage.”
“I wrote the song about falling for someone who you know isn’t good for you, but you still go there – one of those bad decisions!”
Tulliah began writing music in high school and honed her craft while struck down with an ankle injury which saw her bedridden but immersed in the magic of creating music. Just My Type (A Little Bit Lonely) follows Tulliah’s debut single Company from 2019. Following her high school exams, Tulliah launched into a summer of non-stop touring supporting the likes of Amy Shark and GRAACE.
Here, Tulliah reveals her Music DNA to Andy Howells.
What was the first song that made an impact on you?
1000 Sundowns by Emma Louise. I found this when I was in year 8 and it really opened my eyes to storytelling through music. The whole song would play like a movie in my head. She wrote it about her grandparents and their love story. I was always focused on big vocals and hitting high notes but this song made me realise that you need emotion to be able to deliver a song that would impact people, not just how big your vocal is.
What was the first single/download you brought?
I would always download music onto my little mp3 player but I would just copy whatever my older brother had on his.
From what I can remember, it was Forget you by Cee Lo Green. It was constantly on the radio when I first got the mp3 player and I just wanted to listen to what my brother listened to cause I thought it was cool.
What was the first album you brought?
I bought my first album when I was around 11 with my birthday money. I got Adele’s 21 album, Ed Sheehan’s + and Sam Smith’s In The Lonely Hour all at the same time.
What’s your constant go to track?
My constant go to track is Alone Again (Naturally) by Gilbert O’Sullivan. It’s the song I want played at my funeral.
What’s your constant go to album?
My go to album at the moment is Tame Impala’s ‘Lonerism’.
Who’s your latest music discovery?
Holy Moly! I have so many new music discoveries. Ever since working with my producer Dean Tuza, my appreciation for music has been enhanced like crazy. He introduced me to Beach House, The Strokes, Aldous Harding, Frank Ocean, Nick Drake and sooo much more. I’ve only recently started listening to Radiohead, The Beatles and Tame Impala also. I feel like I am very late to the listening party. All these artist/bands are high up in my faves list now.
What’s your own track that best defines you as an artist?
This is hard because they are all so different. If I have to choose one, it’s probably Okay. It will be released in February when my EP comes out. It’s one that is very close to my heart and I think it will pull at some heart strings.
What’s the track that best defines you as a person?
Morning Sun by Melody Gardot