Back in the 1980s, a girl with hopes and aspirations of becoming a singer, would find her dreams morph into reality. Going simply by the name of Tiffany, she would rise to stardom at a very young age, striking a number one hit with her cover of Tommy James & the Shondells’ “I Think We’re Alone Now,” thus finding herself in the unlikely position of teen icon.
A whirlwind of success, Tiffany would set records, becoming the youngest female artist to top the Billboard charts with a debut album. Happening faster and bolder than she could have ever fathom, like any story, there have been a few bumps in the road along the way. Now a full grown woman, Tiffany is counting her blessings and taking nothing for granted, as she continues to make music, most recently releasing her latest album Pieces of Me.
Out since September of last year, Pieces of Me is a mature and well-rounded record Tiffany has anxiously waited her whole life to make. Compounding it all, she will be on the road all summer long as part of the Mixtape Tour with her friends in New Kids on the Block, ready to recollect fond memories, while on a path toward new ones. An exciting creative time for the singer-songwriter, she recently took the time to chat about following her musical instincts, finding happiness, learning from mistakes, plus much more.
Cryptic Rock – You have been involved in entertainment for over three decades now. Attaining success in music while only a teenager, you have released 10 studio albums, topped charts, and toured all over. First, briefly tell us, how would you describe your journey in music?
Tiffany – Well, I think I’m still living that journey. It’s been a wild ride. Being a little girl in Norwalk, California, wanting to be a singer, and it happening… which doesn’t really usually happen. Being famous at 14-15 years old, touring the world, that’s a success story and a dream come true. I think the wild ride really came after that to keep your place. There are so many people who want to build you up and then tear you down; that’s the industry and nature of the beast. You get a sense of that when you are not on top of the charts.
I think there was also a time period where there were 16-17 million record sales… but a lot of people don’t know, a lot of these things do not happen nowadays. Some of the songs we are listening to now, which are on the radio that seem so successful, aren’t generating the numbers that used to be. Back then, you put out a single and it would do really well. You then put out the next single, but maybe it falls a little bit short, it’s a catastrophe, it’s like everyone wants to kill you, and your career’s over! (Laughs) Once you get out of that, you look at other people’s careers, and you realize, this is just the norm.
I think that happened to me in the late ’80s when there was different music; I was also changing and growing up a little bit. For me, I grew up in the spotlight, so you are going to make your mistakes out there, you are not going to know what to do, but you are also going to know what to do and people aren’t going to like it. It’s just all out there and exposed. I think that’s been the wild ride, but all of that led me here.
I’m very happy with the person I am now. I’m very happy with where I’m at in my career, all the great opportunities, and what I have to say about myself as a songwriter. There is probably more grit there, but I had to live that to be able to have that. Through heartache, pain, and things everyone goes through it… I think if I could look at it now, I would go, “Yea, some of those things are unpleasant,” such as business failures or things I thought would be really positive that didn’t work out, but again, they led me here. Now I have a clear understanding of what I want to do; I have some experience, I know what doesn’t work. (Laughs) I’m loving and living the new music. I think that’s been my journey now. I think my musical journey, really as an artist, probably is just starting to begin.
Cryptic Rock – It sounds as if it has been a very interesting ride, one that you are continuing with an enlightened outlook. Speaking of new music, you released your new album, Pieces of Me, back in September. This album is a harder Rock with a little bit of a Country vibe. What was it like putting this record together?
Tiffany – This record was great. We went all over the place; we recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales, as well as Sound Emporium and Blackbird in Nashville. It’s a much different process of recording as a band and you will hear a different sound on the record. A lot of my other records were ‘the voice’ ahead of everything. Now it’s a little bit of all of it, the guitars, the bass, etc. It’s a well-grounded and well-rounded sound, it’s more a band sound on this record, which I love! I think I’m addicted to that and not going back to any other style. This has really been something I’ve envisioned myself to be for a while because I’m a huge fan of Rock!
Even now, being on the Mixtape Tour with New Kids on the Block, people know me for “I Think We’re Alone Now.” Although, if you really look at all the old articles and such, I was that girl, with the feathered hair and hooped earrings, listening to Mötley Crüe and Van Halen. (Laughs) Nothing has really changed, but I think that is the progression here, I’m really just finally living my sound.
I’ve always been very inspired by Stevie Nicks and Blondie; a lot of different genres. That is what you are going to hear on this album, all of those influences on one album. It’s more of a Rock sound, but it still has the Pop elements to it. I want my music to be fun and make sense because it’s coming from me; I don’t want to throw you a total curveball. (Laughs) I definitely have the chops to sing that type of music and it’s in my heart to do it. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time and I said, “I’m going for it!” The album’s gotten great reviews, it’s opening up a lot of doors for me, so there’s no stopping it now, I’m going to keep going!
Cryptic Rock – Fantastic. The album did come out very well and should open a lot of eyes. Will you be able to sneak in a new song or two on The Mixtape Tour, or will that be reserved for solo shows or one-offs?
Tiffany – That will be reserved for one-offs and solo shows. The Mixtape Tour is really just a retro show, so we’re going to keep it retro, fun, and keep it in the moment. Like I said, everyone who is connecting with me, has been with me, or they are reconnecting with me now. I hope everyone will check out the new music.
On Mixtape, we are going to have a fun night of celebrating our youth, our memories, and our connection. Here we are 30 years later; we’re still rocking in, looking great, loving life hopefully, and everything is good. I think people will continue the musical journey with me once they get this album in their hands. That is where we’re livin’ now; the good, the bad, the ugly, and the hopefully that didn’t work out. That’s really on my album, I’m a storyteller, and that’s what I wrote about. I wrote about my life, my failures, and the people around me. There is a lot of realism on this album; it’s probably the most vulnerable I’ve ever been, but I think people will be able to connect with it and understand it. The music is obviously very good from a listening point too. I’m very proud to get the album out there. There will be lots and lots of shows after that to celebrate the new music; we are putting it in its own show and really making it something special.
We’ve got 30 dates right after the Mixtape Tour, I’m really excited! We’re going to do something very new for me, which is on the back of my bus, I put a studio. We’re living music, I’m out here, I might as well continue to write and produce. Everyday is going to be a little different, but it’s going to be live; 30 minutes a day at the same time at the back of the bus, checking out what we’re doing creative wise for the new album. I’m very excited to have all the fans being a part of that. It’s a lot of exposure, especially for me; oh god I don’t want to do my hair and makeup everyday! (Laughs) You’re going to get to see Tiffany in a ponytail, there are new things there. (Laughs) You’re not thinking about that stuff when you’re creating.
Cryptic Rock – It sounds like a very musically inspiring time for you. We spoke briefly of The Mixtape Tour, which extended through July with New Kids on the Block, Debbie Gibson, Salt-n-Pepa, and Naughty by Nature. How excited are you to be on the road with this tour?
Tiffany – I’m beaming actually. I’m nervous and excited, we’ve been waiting for this to happen, it’s been planned for a long time and now it’s at the door. I just want to get on stage, I don’t want to talk about it anymore, put me out there! (Laughs) I think that’s the thing, you get a little nervous the first couple of times; I still get butterflies no matter what. I think the first couple of shows I’ll be a little nervous, but eventually we all hone in, and it will be like second nature to us.
As soon as we start, it will be over, and we will be saying goodbye, which is kind of a sad thing. You have to be in the moment, you have to enjoy every day. I’m looking forward to seeing and connecting with the fans. I know it’s going to be a great night of music, and the energy will be off the chain. Having that music, having that connection, again, being in the moment, which might sound silly, but it’s really cool and a fun thing to be a part of.
Cryptic Rock – It should be a great tour. As you said, it is a celebration, but it should also allow fans to reconnect.
Tiffany – We don’t have a lot of days off, so it’s going to be a working tour. We’re here to get the message out there for new things that we are doing, but also connect and reminisce that we’ve not only been doing this for 30 years, but, first of all, loving it and are still able to do it. I think this is more of a celebration of the fans. I’m in awe of my fans, they just love me so much and support me so much. They allow me to create music that’s in my heart and they don’t question it. They are willing to be open-minded to hear me, see me live my life, tell my stories and what’s important to me. To have their support, respect, and opinions, means a lot to me.
Having the studio on the bus is going to lead to a lot of great moments where you are in that mindset, and you can get up and create. You don’t have to wait, you don’t have to book a session, you don’t have to call anybody, you can just live in the moment! I think great songs are going to come out of that.
Mixtape Tour Dates:
Thursday, May 2, 2019 – Cincinnati, OH
Saturday, May 4, 2019 – Cleveland, OH
Sunday, May 5, 2019 – Indianapolis, IN
Tuesday, May 7, 2019 – Kansas City, MO
Wednesday, May 8, 2019 – St. Louis, MO
Thursday, May 9, 2019 – Nashville, TN
Friday, May 10, 2019 – Memphis, TN
Saturday, May 11, 2019 – New Orleans, LA
Monday, May 13, 2019 – Corpus Christi, TX
Wednesday, May 15, 2019 – Houston, TX
Thursday, May 16, 2019 – San Antonio
Friday, May 17, 2019 – Dallas, TX
Saturday, May 18, 2019 – Oklahoma City, OK
Tuesday, May 21, 2019 – El Paso, TX
Wednesday, May 22, 2019 – Phoenix, AZ
Thursday, May 23, 2019 – San Diego, CA
Friday, May 24, 2019 – Anaheim, CA
Saturday, May 25, 2019 – Las Vegas, NV
Sunday, May 26, 2019 – Los Angeles, CA
Tuesday, May 28, 2019 – Bakersfield, CA
Wednesday, May 29, 2019 – San Jose, CA
Thursday, May 30, 2019 – Sacramento, CA
Saturday, June 1, 2019 – Tacoma, WA
Sunday, June 2, 2019 – Portland, OR
Tuesday, June 4, 2019 – Boise, ID
Thursday, June 6, 2019 – Salt Lake City, UT
Friday, June 7, 2019 – Denver, CO
Saturday, June 8, 2019 – Lincoln, NE
Sunday, June 9, 2019 – Des Moines, IA
Tuesday, June 11, 2019 – St. Paul, MN
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 – Milwaukee, WI
Thursday, June 13, 2019 – Grand Rapids, MI
Friday, June 14, 2019 – Rosemont, IL
Saturday, June 15, 2019 – Rosemont, IL
Tuesday, June 18, 2019 – Detroit, MI
Wednesday, June 19, 2019 – Toronto, ON
Friday, June 21, 2019 – Buffalo, NY
Saturday, June 22, 2019 – Columbus, OH
Sunday, June 23, 2019 – Pittsburgh, PA
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 – Washington, D.C.
Thursday, June 27, 2019 – Philadelphia, PA
Friday, June 28, 2019 – Boston, MA
Saturday, June 29, 2019 – Boston, MA
Sunday, June 30, – 2019 – Uniondale, NY
Tuesday, July 2, 2019 – Newark, NJ
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 – Uncasville, CT
Friday, July 5, 2019 – Atlantic City, NJ
Saturday, July 6, – 2019 – Hershey, PA
Sunday, July 7, 2019 – Raleigh, NC
Tuesday, July 9, 2019 – Charlotte, NC
Wednesday, July 10, 2019 – Greenville, SC
Thursday, July 11, 2019 – Atlanta, GA
Friday, July 12, 2019 – Jacksonville, FL
Saturday, July 13, 2019 – Orlando, FL
Sunday, July 14, 2019 – Hollywood, FL
For more on Tiffany: tiffanytunes.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Purchase Pieces of Me:
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