Authentically Expressed
Delivering spoken-word, live looping and vocal effects––in combination with hip-hop beats and original pop hooks––Hosein performs her one-woman show under the moniker, Trishes. The name is a nod to Sigmund Freud’s theory of constructs (Id, Super Ego, Ego) and Hosein uses her looper pedal and vocal processor to give a unique voicing to each part of herself. Having witnessed first-hand the challenges faced by immigrants and other underserved communities, Trishes (stylized as TRISHES) has a lot to say.
Born in Trinidad as the youngest in a large extended family, Hosein was encouraged to perform from the age of three and quickly fell in love with it. Piano lessons and writing pop songs began shortly afterwards, before moving to the United States at age seven, but American media messages implied that “brown girls” should remain quiet and studious, and Hosein began to doubt her place in music. When her lyrics were stolen and read aloud to students in her school cafeteria, it took Hosein five years to feel safe enough to start performing again. “After I moved to the U.S., it was the first time that I consciously thought that if I wanted to do this for a living, people have to want you to do it,” she shares. “It took until middle school to feel like it was something I was allowed to do.” A performance of Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” in seventh grade reignited her passion.
After attending an arts high school in San Diego, Hosein went on to study at the Berklee College of Music, inspired by the stylings of Björk, Regina Spektor and Fiona Apple. Moving to Los Angeles after college, Hosein still found herself trying to deliver the “socially appropriate” version of herself, and began asking “what makes you different and what do you have to say to the world that is important and that only you are uniquely positioned to say?” A college class introduced her to tabla-style voicings, sparking her love of vocal effects––and creating with the looper pedal presented a way to make a big sound while disrupting the subconscious pull of conformity: Trishes was born.
Touring followed across the States and internationally and Trishes has performed at SXSW and the Cannabis Cup, and has opened for Damian Marley, Vic Mensa, K. Flay, Neon Hitch and Gavin Turek. Recently featured by MTV/VH1 India for World Music Day: Lift Up, she had a full-circle moment playing Linda Perry’s Rock-N-Relief concert this year (Perry composed/produced Aguilera’s song “Beautiful”).
Debut EP Ego was released in 2019 as a museum-style experience, with participants checking out headphones for an audio tour of the album, alongside Hosein’s spoken word, essays and physical art pieces. She loves immersing listeners in her projects and is committed to building community through music, as well as those she serves through volunteering. Hosein concludes that, “At the end of the day when I think of who I want to be, I think of who would make my parents proud. In my family, we really measure value in love and service, so I'm proud that I continually make space for serving in my and in underrepresented communities.” Hosein volunteers with refugees in Los Angeles, works with Rock ‘n’ Roll Camps for Girls, and serves on the Board of Elder Entertainment Organization.
Full-length album The Id arrives October 22, expressing exactly what Hosein wanted it to. It explores fear, shame, anger and violence––especially around expectations we put on ourselves and others. Hosein’s directorial debut for the “Gaslight” video (which premiered on NPR’s All Things Considered) was filmed remotely during lockdown, and tracks for the new record include “Venom,” “Big Sunglasses,” and “Animal”––the latter introspective having launched the project.
Watch the latest single "Big Sunglasses" Below:
For up-and-comers, Hosein says, “The thing I wish I had told my younger self would be to lean into the things that made me different. The best art is about unique perspective––and you need to figure out why your perspective is unique. That is not only what art needs, but that's what the world needs. That's how we create change; that's how we make breakthroughs.”
Contact Fiona Bloom, The Bloom Effect, [email protected]
See Trishes.com
