TTSSFU on what it feels like to be young: 'Blown' EP review

TTSSFU is one of those artists who remains underrated, even as her sound continues to evolve in ways that feel both experimental and deeply authentic. Tasmin Stephens, known as TTSSFU, shines on her latest EP, ‘Blown’, which sees her exploring extremes and vulnerability with intent. Just recently surpassing 100k followers, this project could be the one that propels her into a wider audience, and her work truly deserves that recognition.

Photos via Instagram: @ttssfu

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Opening up the EP, ‘Cat Piss Junkie’ immediately establishes TTSSFU’s tension between quiet introspection and explosive expression of distain. Ethereal vocals float over the guitar melody, creating this hushed, introverted take on indie rock. The verses feel almost antagonistic, lingering in your mind like a nightmare you can’t escape, but captures something addictive nonetheless. Lines like ‘I’m just spinning round and round’ perfectly encapsulate the swirling, obsessive thoughts carried throughout the track. Her vocals hover at the edge of the track's mixing, with the drumbeat driving the energy forward. When the absence of this isolates her vocals right at the end, it becomes even more haunting, like a lingering thought. The final moment, in the form of hysterical laughter, feels like a true peek into Tasmin's creative mind, and it leaves something unsettling to keep you invested in the project. Every element feels intentional, yet spontaneous and free.

We experience an emotional pivot in the form of the second track, ‘Forever’, as she drifts from something eerie and tense into a more airy, dreamy space. Lyrically, it is simple, laying bare the longing for everlasting connection with lyrics like ‘please don’t leave me / we’re in this together / I wanna be with you.' The repeated ‘forever’ communicates both simultaneous yearning and insecurity, evoking the same platonic intensity Wolf Alice captured on 'Bros' where this friendship actually feels tangible to the listener. Something seemingly carefree but layered with emotional weight is created, with happiness and nostalgia practically embedded in the lyrics and sound.

'Sick' leans into a slower, more shoegaze-infused sound while maintaining that built-up momentum. This is a track that feels like the collaborative lovechild of Kurt Cobain and Pale Waves. The track builds slowly, with a haunting story unfolding, and culminates in an explosive guitar riff that feels both cathartic and confrontational for not only us but Tasmin too. The climax that follows mirrors the aftermath of the narrative, and the raw imagery pulls us deeper into the memory that she has illustrated. It allows the listener into that same reflective space, and it permits us to see the art for what it is.

With ‘Everything’, the EP dives even further into intensity and extremity. The lyrics flit between moments of tenderness with ‘am seeing stars / everything with you by my side’ and stark, visceral imagery with ‘so romantic / I need you frantically / rip out my organs / I see them in your teeth’. We witness the coexistence of obsession and vulnerability, where ultimately, desire can dominate your entire existence. It even veers on feeling like life or death, reflected by the cries of ‘will I survive?’ and ‘I will die without you’. TTSSFU balances the delicate with the dramatic, and it makes every track so enticing.

'Call U Back' feels like a high-speed chase of unrequited attention, capturing the desperation of chasing someone who remains just out of reach, leaving you to look like a fool from your efforts. Lines like ‘I’ll call you back / can I stay at home with you?' and ‘everything we had burnt in the fire that I know you made’ convey this fear perfectly as she lays out how far she is willing to go to make it work, yet they ignite the flames of what could have been far too easily. Ultimately, this is relentlessly breaking the illusion she has lived in. The composition of the track is messy, energetic, and matches the chaos of trying to pursue a requited connection. It keeps listeners on edge and fully engaged as the pace picks up in the latter half of 'Blown'.

On 'Weekend', TTSSFU reaches a point in the project where the wheels are coming off and emotions are at their highest point, culminating in a state of reflective disarray. It portrays the whirlwind of being a twenty-something girl, the intensity of emotions, and the rapid pace of life. There is a tangible sense of spinning out, which sets the stage for the final track to hit with even more sincerity and impact. 'Being Young' closes the EP with a vulnerable and comparably more tender perspective. Tasmin strips back the production and reverb, letting her lyrics breathe and resonate as she reflects on the loss of friends and family, both physically and to illness, fleeting time, and the challenges of growing up. She captures the idea of tackling this, along with the voice in the back of your mind reminding you that time is fleeting and a lifetime passes by in an instant, you want to cherish what matters, but things can become so hazy along the way. Through the track, she taps into the question that feels like the thread connecting each song on this project: Is this what it feels like to be young?

'Blown' is impossible to pin down to a single story, emotion, or genre. TTSSFU draws inspiration from all over and captures it into a cohesive, personal body of work. It is electric, edgy, and raw, yet moments of intimacy and honesty enhance it even further. She makes music absolutely on her own terms and does not care for outside approval. If it is any consolation, we love it!

For anyone yet to experience her live, her upcoming EU & UK tour is the perfect chance to watch 'Blown' come to life in a way beyond its evident studio brilliance.