I remember running home to make music after hearing a pregnant woman sample her unborn baby’s heartbeat on stage, right in the middle of her set. It was so epic and random. I wish I could remember her name. ​

 

Around that time I’d been reading about the shamanic philosophy that we’re just as “physical” in our dream state as we are in waking life - we’re simply more tuned into this particular reality when we’re awake. Around 96% of matter (if not more) is invisible. And even the remaining 4% of physical matter is made up of roughly 99% space. So none of us really exist in a truly solid form in either reality. T S I E R stands for 'this shit isn't even real'. I didn't have a title so the letters were meant as a temporary placeholder until I could think of a better name. Turns out that was the best name.

 

When I was asked to share the meaning of the track for the press release, the label worried this might sound too “religious” and suggested I leave that part out. To me, that felt less like religion and more like a worrying symptom of the times - that ancient, intelligent ways of understanding reality, many of which are now echoed by science, get sidelined or dismissed like this. So I said it anyway. ​

 

When it was first released I assumed people would think it was far too weird, not enough lyrics, too repetitive. I’d never made anything like it before and assumed it would be one of those tracks that made sense to me, but no one else. ​

 

To my shock, it ended up being named Hottest Record by Annie Mac on BBC Radio 1, led me to support Sampha at the London Jazz Café, had full rotation on Triple J in Australia, and was being played in clubs all over the world. A humbling reminder of how poor our own creative judgement can be.