From the familiar and comforting rhythm of Manila to the bustling pantheon of entertainment powerhouses of Los Angeles, singer-songwriter Tiana Kocher is making a smooth takeover.
In every sense, the young artist’s rise is not just about talent—which she indomitably has and, in so many ways, she has harnessed and nurtured through the years—but it’s about taking ownership of her narrative. Already a smooth operator in every sense of the word, she combines her raw musicality with a keen sense of strategy, navigating her young career with an unmistakable sense of purpose. Fearless and grounded, she is an unapologetic reflection of her roots that emerge into a new kind of artist—one who’s not waiting for permission to shine.
Kocher’s creative exploration started at a young age. “I personally don’t really remember much from my childhood, but the one thing I do remember is just always being creative—whether it’s singing, dancing, acting, painting, reading, writing poetry, sketching, you name it,” she recounts. No small thanks to her parents, who earlier on, nurtured her creativity with musical theater camps, dance classes, and lessons in various instruments. “I would say that my environment really pushed me to pursue a career in being creative.”
Her exposure to musical theater bore fruit as she was accepted into the prestigious Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts in the United Kingdom, which led to a turning point in pursuing music as a career. “When I got accepted into performing arts school, that’s when I thought, ‘Oh, you know what, I think I do have the talent to actually do this full time.”
Delving deeper and deeper into her music journey, Kocher drew inspiration from Western music icons, especially from the ’90s and the early 2000s R&B scene. “Groups like SWV, TLC, Brownstone, Envouge, and Destiny’s Child. As well as artists like Aaliyah, Tamia, Brandy, Monic, and Ciara to name a few,” she shares. This foundation shaped her distinct sound, a soothing blending nostalgia with a contemporary twist.
Years into her treading her path into music, it was at twenty years old when she released her self-titled EP, in 2020. Her debut in the music industry was an epoch of a remarkable artistic journey as Kocher referred to this project as her firstborn. “I always referred to this project as my first baby because it is, and at the time, I thought it represented me really well and who I was as an artist.”
Crafting her very first EP, she says, “Whenever I’m making a project, I don’t make music specifically for it. I’m just consistently making music throughout the entire year, and then once I decide it’s time to release a project, I look at the music I’ve made and pick the top five or six that I think work best together and sound most cohesive, then I put that together into the project.”
Her evolution as an artist is reflected in how she views her past work and makes insightful critiques of her growing body of work. “I don’t think it’s bad, but looking back, I could definitely do better. But at the time, you know, I was still very young and still a teenager for the most part making the songs, so it made sense back then thematically and sonically.”
When it comes to her music, Kocher thrives in the creative energy of the studio. “I definitely prefer being in a creative environment like the studio. I like it dark, and I like moody lights,” she reveals. Her songwriting process begins with melodies. “I normally work with the producer, sometimes with a co-writer, and start by singing melodies over the beat. I pick and choose what works for the verses and chorus, then replace the mumbled words with actual lyrics.” This meticulous approach is evident in tracks like “Daisies”, “blue n’ green”, and “Dive”, which she cites as some of her best lyrical works to date, with “Slow it Down”, a dreamy track on the trappings of a blossoming relationship, landing an ‘honorable mention’.
“I write from experience,” she says on the songs from her artistic vault released years since they were written. Each track reveals a different dimension of her artistry, from its sultry R&B vibe down to its introspective lyricism.
Her recent string of singles—”Daisies”, “Lesson”, and “Position”—all of which have been released in 2024, reflect her evolution as an artist. “I think that all three songs are so starkly different from each other that it does represent my evolution as an artist because I want to try different things to see what my audience likes and doesn’t like. I want to be able to grow with my listeners and I want to show a different side of me whether or not they like it.”
She opens up matter-of-factly, “To be completely frank, no one in the Philippines had minded me at the time I was presented an opportunity to have a distribution and a publishing deal with Universal Music Group in Los Angeles and so I took the opportunity and I was with them for about a year.” Treading the next phase(s) of her musicality, she is taking all of her learnings from her whirlwind musical adventures on the international stage, now exploring more of her Filipino heritage, opening doors, and even building her own platforms as an independent artist, with a firmer grasp of her overall identity.
She shares, “I actually use being Filipino as an advantage when it comes to my music career especially because I grew up with such a diverse background. [So,] I am able to tap in to a lot of different genres and different styles when it comes to my own music to make something really unique.”
Kocher’s career has since beefed up with collaborations with remarkable artists, including SB19’s Josh Cullen upon her return, with whom she performed during the MassKara Festival. “It was my first time experiencing a festival like that in the Philippines,” she enthuses. While performing at the festival in Bacolod serves as a highlight for the year for her, it was made even more significant with the collaboration with the celebrated pop juggernaut. On this, she shares, “I think he’s very talented and I would love the opportunity to work with him again. Even though Josh and I had conflicting schedules, we weren’t able to film or record together, I was still super happy with how the video turned out,” she shares.
If anything, this collaboration is a signal fire to bridge more creative partnerships with other Filipino creatives, like the Davao City-born R&B/hip-hop group playertwo. She notes, “I would love to perform in the Philippines more now that I am spending more time out here and also collaborating with more Filipino artists and writing for a different Filipino artist. Hopefully, I get to release a single of mine in [Filipino] which would be really nice. So, hopefully I get to work on that soon while I’m out here in the Philippines.”
The limit does not exist though, as working with the likes of international artists Kehlani and JoJo in the future, for her, is always a possibility. As she waits for this to materialize in her creative bucket list, coming out with more tracks is in the horizon. “As for the three records that I released in 2024 I think I’m just going to keep those as singles and try to work towards a project that doesn’t sound like any of the three. Hopefully I get to work on a full length album soon because I’ve never been able to release one, so who knows maybe 2025 or 2026 is the year.”
“Because I’m an independent artist I really do consider everything in my career to be a milestone,” Kocher says. But navigating the music industry fully as an independent artist is no easy feat, but she embraces the challenge. “But if I had to pick one thing I take great pride in, it’s being able to work with truly some of the greatest names in the industry.” Her collaborations with industry legends from Faith Evans, TLC, Sage The Gemini, and AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys, are resounding declarations of her unstoppable gift.
Forging ahead, Kocher is not one to play coy on what the future holds and why not? Looking at her now, it is easy to be intoxicated with that quiet confidence and the admirable laser focus she radiates with to do more and be more right at the very zip code she started, enough to earn accolades such as Grammys, AMA’s or even Awit Awards. “I see a few in my future,” she adds without flinching.
Tiana Kocher’s journey is one of persistence, creativity, and unrelenting passion. With her magnetic voice, verve, and a clear sense of self, she’s poised for a remarkable takeover of the global music scene. Whether she’s bringing audiences in on the universe of hypnotic melodies she weaves on stage or crafting soulful tracks in the studio, one thing is certain: she is staking her claim and her time now—all gas, no brakes.
Produced by Rank Magazine
Creative, beauty, and fashion direction, styling by Leo Balante
Photography and art direction by Ver Sacol (@ver.sacol)
Makeup by Mayesa Delos Santos (@mayesadelossantos)
Hair by Patty Cristobal (@patty.cristobal)
Location and creative partner Studio LAJ (@studiolajph)
Editorial and multimedia associates: Patricia Kate Azicate, Graziella Mateo, Angel Cruzada, and Bella Dela Merced
With fashion from Nina Amoncio (@ninaamoncio), Jan Garcia (@jangarciadesigns), Proudrace (@proudrace), Randolf (@randolfclothing) and accessories from Thian Rodriguez (@thianrodriguezmnl) and 9Lives at Vision Express.
With acknowledgments to Ahwel Paz (@ahwelpaz) and Kate Adajar (@kate.adajar)