Pop Duo T.Y. Brings a Modern Twist to the Classic Hit Single ‘Inside Out’

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Australian pop duo T.Y. modernizes the U.K. classic “Inside Out” by Jesse Rae for old and new audiences alike. Listeners across the globe are invited to dance along to the vibrant sound of T.Y. and join them as they unveil their musical catalogue over the coming year.

Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, T.Y. is longtime friends Elle and Sez. Growing up, Elle was surrounded by a musical family.

“We listened to a lot of music, especially ’80s-inspired music,” tells Elle. “My mom signed me up for guitar at age 8. I learned that first, then it stemmed from there. I went around writing stupid little songs like you do when you’re a child,” she jokes.

Later, in high school, Elle took up theater, where she met Sez, and the two bonded over their musical talents. She went on to study sound production and learned to produce and mix as well.

Like her counterpart, Sez has grown her lifelong passion for music over the years. She trained in musical theater in high school and continued her education in vocal performance and production with a bachelor’s degree. Bonded by a mutual love for all things music, Sez and Elle took their friendship to new heights with the creation of their performance group T.Y.

“We had such similar tastes in music to begin with that we decided to become a duo. We work so well musically,” they share.

The genre at the heart of their fascination? Dance pop.

“We grew up on dance pop like Kylie Minogue. When we first started, K-pop was our biggest inspiration. We loved the style and dances. Now we’ve grown to love dance pop all around,” they add.

As for the dancing? That’s still a work in progress. Dance lessons and dedication are their driving force.

K-pop has had an immeasurable impact on them. In fact, the name T.Y. was inspired by the “BTS-shaped era where we are.”

“We wanted to do a letter name or something similar,” adds T.Y. “We would say to each other, ‘T.Y.’ as in ‘thank you,’ and it stuck.”

From an inside joke to an international artist name, T.Y. has evolved and taken shape much like its two members.

When it comes to writing music, T.Y. relies on their production skills coupled with the work of co-producers to achieve their vision. They often discuss ideas as they come up and determine whether to create a song about the topic.

“If it’s worth talking about, it’s worth singing about,” says the duo. “It’s like writing poetry—it’s cathartic. We take inspiration from our lives. Writing is like therapy to get things off our chest.”

For their latest single, T.Y. chose to rerecord the 1982 hit “Inside Out” by Jesse Rae.

“It’s about someone who’s been broken up with or broken up with someone else—and they’re still obsessing about the heartbreak and what that means for them. It’s also about losing and gaining faith. It can be interpreted in many ways.”

The duo enlisted the help of a co-producer to blend their unique sound with the heart of the original song.

“The changes are minor, stylistic,” shares T.Y. “When the song came out, it meant a lot to people who grew up with that genre, song, and artist. We wanted to find a balance between our spin and keeping true to the meaning behind the original. We kept the heavy bassline that was so representative of that time.”

Pinpointing a favorite part of the song isn’t feasible. In fact, according to T.Y., it’s the ever-changing effect of the song that is so impactful.

“It changes every time we listen to it. We love it,” they explain. “Every time we listen to it, we interpret it a different way. We hope everyone who listens to it does. The beauty of songwriting is that different people can relate to it in a different way.”

Up next for T.Y. is working on more music for fans to enjoy. They look forward to taking the stage as well, both in Melbourne and overseas.

“Our music is relatable. We write something for everyone,” T.Y. adds. “We hope someone can find comfort in it.”

Make sure to stay connected to T.Y. on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.

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Screenwriter And Musician Lamar Woods Returns To Music With Flavorful Sophomore Album, ‘Highly Sensitive Person’

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Authentic, humble, creative, and genius—these words capture the essence of screenwriter and musician Lamar Woods. His latest work, the sophomore album Highly Sensitive Person, released earlier this year, reflects his extraordinary talent and a perfect start to the year.

Highly Sensitive Person showcases Woods’ ability to blend genres with finesse. The album’s 19 tracks weave together hip-hop, jazz, soul, folk, and R&B elements, creating a rich and immersive listening experience. For example, “True Love Will Find You In The End”—a cover by Daniel Johnston—commences with warm acoustic guitar and Woods singing before a trap beat emerges mid-song, and he unleashes his bars. This shows that Highly Sensitive Person is a sonic roller coaster with unexpected twists and turns, keeping you on your turns.

“I wanted to do an album that bangs the whole way through,” Woods explained. “Like if I was Costco, this was a little taste of me (like samples), every version of me. I’m from Atlanta, so I love trap music, and I love trap beats…I don’t really rap on them a lot. I was just like, ‘Maybe we just throw it on there even though it didn’t technically really fit with the album that much.’ But I like the idea of being like, ‘Ths is also a part of me.’ There’s a trap part of me. There’s that boom-bap part of me. There’s the folk part of me. There’s a love song part of me. I wanted that album to feel like you’re really getting to know me because if you knew me if we were to hang out and talk about music, we’re talking about everything…like Langhorne Slim, Arcade Fire, Boldy James, Jazz and Miles (Davis).”

Woods has crafted a sonic landscape that feels both nostalgic and innovative. His lyrical flow, paired with the thoughtful inclusion of skits—an often overlooked art form in modern rap—adds a unique dimension to the album. Drawing from his experience as a screenwriter, Woods uses these skits to enhance the storytelling within the album, creating vivid scenes and narratives with fellow comedians like actor Mike Mitchell that deepen the listener’s engagement. He encourages his listeners to listen to the entire album in order.

Woods’ dedication to music has been unwavering since high school, where he formed a band that performed a unique blend of rap, hip-hop, and punk. His commitment to his craft was evident in the vibrant music scene of his city, where he performed at local venues like The 5 Spot, Eddie’s Attic, and Smith Ole Bar, building his underground following. After graduating from Georgia State University, Woods fearlessly relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a career in Hollywood, temporarily putting his music on hold. However, his dedication to music never wavered, and he found success as a screenwriter, contributing to notable shows such as Grand Crew (NBC), Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC), Single Parents (ABC), New Girl (FOX), and Survivor’s Remorse (Starz). He co-wrote and starred in It’s a Party, available on Roku and Amazon.

Like many, the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic became a turning point for Woods as he felt pulled back to his musical roots. Although he hesitated to pursue music again, he couldn’t deny his first love. This reconnection led to the release of several EPs and LPs, including his debut album, Wine Bars, in 2021. Building on this momentum, Woods released Highly Sensitive Person in 2024, an album that further cements his place in the music world.

Highly Sensitive Person is just a semblance of Woods’ talents. The Atlanta-bred is getting ready to expand and showcase just how versatile his music palette is with upcoming projects listeners must look forward to.

Listen to Highly Sensitive Person here.

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