Releasing their first (and seemingly only) track of 2025, Vancouver’s Tiger Really explores longing, lamentation and loss in “some kind of necromancer”. Featuring the band’s signature mix of deeply affective lyrics with playful and rich instrumentation, the new single is a strong addition to the already electric presence that Tiger Really has established.
Lian Shao, the creative force and founder of Tiger Really, has confidently and coherently fused emo and jazz (along with flourishes of post-punk and indie) into an experience rivalled only by mixing champagne and Ativan.
If Chet Baker and American Football ever found themselves in a group therapy session, Tiger Really would be the beautiful result. The rich and distinct instrumentation perfectly pairs with the emotional delivery of painfully vulnerable lyrics. The smooth laments and gritty wailing of Shao are genuinely moving and flow forth as a stream of consciousness directly tapped from an aching heart. Trauma dumping has never been so welcome or sounded so good.
In the latest single, Tiger Really explores the torturous feeling of what comes after a tragic and sudden ending. Drawing on the universal experience of loss, “some kind of necromancer” is about trying to keep memories and images together while spiralling. Interpreting what specific kind of loss in the song is up to the listener.
I think we’re something intertwined / Crows on a powerline / How is it not enough?
To just stay / Cuz every working heart / Was stapled back together and torn apart
The release of Tiger Really’s debut album Swan Sting in October of 2024 was a much needed boon to artists attempting to successfully blend genres and remain honest to their roots. Swan Sting stands firmly as a landmark at the crossroads between ingenuity and foundational musicianship. While the time between releases leaves fans famished, it is evident that Tiger Really will not sacrifice the quality of their work to the desired frequency that people demand.
As the new year approaches, Tiger Really is a band that should be on everyone’s radar in 2025. The band’s official website teases an enigmatic release entitled mayfly daydream due out February 27, 2026.
Connect with Tiger Really:
Instagram
Spotify
Apple Music
YouTube
Website
Counter Intuitive Records
Bio:
jazzy emo band from vancouver b.c.
