Start Listening To: TTSSFU

From bedroom recordings to bold performances, TTSSFU reflects on a breakthrough year, with even bigger things on the horizon for 2025.

Hailing from Wigan and now taking Manchester’s vibrant music scene by storm, Tasmin Stephens, better known as TTSSFU, has carved out a unique space in the dream pop and shoegaze genres. From crafting tracks in her bedroom on GarageBand to signing with Partisan Records and supporting renowned acts like Soccer Mommy and Mannequin Pussy, 2024 was nothing short of transformative for the artist. In this Q&A, TTSSFU opens up about her creative process, the emotional resonance of her music, and the unexpected journey that led her to the next chapter in her career. From her introspective DIY roots to the electric energy of live performances, TTSSFU’s world is as raw and compelling as her music.

For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

I’m Manchester based, originally from wigan lol the home of Richard Ashcroft, I’m Tasmin stephens Aka TTSSFU and I make dream pop /shoe-gaze.

Congratulations on signing with Partisan Records! What does this partnership mean to you, and how did it come about?

It came about after me releasing I hope you die, I got a message of interest from Matthew Howes who works for partisan, I was extremely confused and at the time and low-key thought it was spam so I half arsed responded because at the time I had a-lot of emails and messages from a-lot of people and some of it being said spam, but with further investigation I saw in his bio “partisan records” so I screenshot and sent it to the guys who play in my band and was like guys.. wtf and then we did a few calls and Matthew would travel to Manchester to come to shows and I sort of knew that this was gonna be the people I was gonna work with in the future from the start, I got such a warm and welcoming vibe from them all as I met the team throughout the period of getting to know everyone, and me and my manager Maria knew it was the right choice. Was a crazy time for me as id only just done my first show as TTSSFU then released my first ep through a label instead of self releasing and then suddenly had all this interest after years of nothing, was sort of unbelievable for me, and still is.

Your new video for "Studio 54" explores Andy Warhol’s complicated relationship with Jed Johnson. What drew you to tell this story, and how does it connect with your own experiences?

I guess the video is my interpretation of loneliness that lurks In party scenes, nightlife is fun but also scary and to me holds lots of sadness, its a form of escapism and this can make people lose themselves, this is what I read on the end of Jed and Andy and it reminded me of how id handled relationships in the past sort of just pushing people away and lost to chaos.

You’ve been steadily rising in the Manchester music scene, playing festivals and supporting big names like Soccer Mommy and Mannequin Pussy. How have these live experiences influenced your music?

Soccer mommy is a household indie name, it was a honour to support her and her band are lovely was a super rewarding experience, Mannequin pussy was the first tour we did as a band and what a tour it was, playing the Scala on your first ever tour is such wake up moment, I feel like we all was kinda like what the hell on that day, was also the day I signed my contract to partisan, but I learnt so much that tour of the Mannequin pussy crew, Missy is a power house performer and “Romantic” by them has been one of my favourite songs for years, felt like a real movie moment seeing them end the set with that every night, also just small thing with both these tours such as going for dinner with soccer mommy or getting given a spare bottle of tequila from mannequin pussy, we felt pretty cool.

“I Hope You Die” has nearly reached a million streams on YouTube. Why do you think this track has resonated with so many listeners?

Either cuz they like a snappy beat or because sadly a lot of people have been hurt, I’ve had a few lovely messages off listeners explaining why they love the song and it’s been extremely rewarding.

Can you walk us through your creative process? How does making music on GarageBand impact the atmosphere and intimacy of your songs?

Normally I have a idea in my head of a hook or something, sometimes I can hear the whole song written in my head so if possible I will quickly go and record it all in one day, if I don’t get it all done in the same day the idea is normally scrapped as I lose focus. Being in my room alone is when I can be as weird as possible without anyone watching, layering all the tracks and creating something brings me more joy then anything in life, feels like painting a picture, sometimes it goes terribly wrong and can be soul destroying, but when its good you feel awesome, I don’t know if I will ever work differently to be honest, studios make me uncomfortable.

Your debut EP has gained significant traction. What was the biggest challenge you faced while producing, mixing, and mastering it yourself?

Probably just asking myself if it was good enough, and not cringe, sometimes I go in circles of what’s right and wrong and what could be better, I’m very self critical.

“Studio 54” explores themes of self-awareness and taking things for granted. Can you tell us more about the lyrics in this track?

It’s about not knowing what you got till it goes away, or just being a bit of a dick.

What can fans expect from your live performances?

Ive noticed I don’t move much on stage, giggling, however they can expect eye contact because for some reason I’m always looking at people.

Working DIY in your bedroom studio, do you feel a sense of freedom, or are there limitations that challenge you creatively?

Yeah I’m so free, might start recording naked and see if it helps me write better, jokes, but even though I am at home I do take it very serious and work in long hours, I will hold my wee for ages or put off food for hours or stay up all night until I have recorded a guitar line right, its very important to me, limitations would be my own knowledge, I want to know more and be better at producing/mixing.

Partisan Records has a roster of iconic artists. How does it feel to be among them, and are there any artists on the label you’d love to collaborate with?

Nuts. I mean collaboration with cigarettes after sex would be hard core. But no pressure.

What do you love right now? 

The song hellmouth by choir boy, kinky French movies, strawberrys, pistachios.

What do you hate right now?

War.

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you? 

“I thought I was a alien” by Soko, this album has caused me many tears for so many years (didn’t mean to rhyme) but I discovered it when I was a teenager, not only was the songs eye opening and crushing but the music videos was too, this album has followed me through growing up and somehow become more and more relevant, there are songs on that album that I didn’t understand when I was a teen but now are so relevant to my life, to be honest I don’t listen too often as it reminds meow quite a hard time, but it does contain one of my all time favourite songs “destruction of the ugly disgusting hate” which I think is one of he most beautiful songs ever written I hold it close to my heart.

You’ve had a breakthrough year in 2024. What advice would you give to other artists who are navigating the early stages of their careers?

Listen to yourself forever, don’t let people fill your head full of shit, if you think somethings good then it probably is and even if no one else thinks it is that doesn’t matter if you love it just keep pushing.