Doncaster’s Rumbi Tauro is poised to release her new single, ‘Take Care’, on July 1st. The Soul/RnB artist burst onto the scene following her triumph over 40 other contestants at the Pattern and Push competition in 2021. Since then, she has worked tirelessly to establish herself as one of the most exciting new voices in the region. Drawing on her childhood icons, such as Tracy Chapman and Alicia Keys, she has evolved into a gifted orator of mindful tales about her life and those around her. For her upcoming release, a driving synth bass props up an intimate take on the terrifying vulnerability and intoxicating highs of Love. Ahead of the hotly anticipated release, we caught up with Rumbi to hear what’s she’s been up to, and what we can expect from her latest track.
So, it’s been just over a year since you last caught up with us, you’d just won Pattern and Push with ‘Run Run’. Since then, it’s safe to say you’ve had a pretty busy year. How have you found it?
Rumbi: So Pattern and Push happened and then followed my tramlines performance, which was amazing. It was just an incredible experience. I got to perform my winners single from the Pattern and Push competition, ‘Run Run’, but also to have a go at performing the other tracks from my EP, ‘The Process’, and also my single ‘Bloodline’, that I released in 2021. As well just having the chance to perform that at a festival, so early on in my career, I just didn’t really expect to be doing all of this.
After that, I started focusing on being a part of a project called the studio orchestra project. We had to choose one of our own songs, or create a new song, and perform it with a 40 piece orchestra. Which was just an incredible four months or so, of being surrounded by amazing musicians and rehearsing every other week. All leading up to this beautiful performance at the crucible Theatre in Sheffield on the 14th of May. So, that was amazing. And alongside that, I was brought back on to Pattern and Push as an ambassador this year. I was helping the contestants with the masterclasses they’d have, and just kind of sharing the knowledge that I’ve gained from being a part of the competition. All the way up to the end, and talking about life after pattern and push. It was such a full circle moment, being able to be part of Pattern and Push again but in a different way. Apart from that, I’ve just been performing and writing new music.
Obviously you’ve had an amazing year since your break through with Pattern and Push. But, just for any of the readers who maybe aren’t familiar, could you tell us a bit about your music and your journey up to this point?
I dreamt of just being able to write a song! I was so afraid to start writing my own lyrics, and to have a go at what a Rumbi Tauro song would sound like
Rumbi: Of course! My music would fall under the R&B/Soul category. I sway more to the Soul definition, within that I’m someone that’s telling my truth, exploring things that I’ve either personally experienced or have seen people around me experience. But yeah, I have been doing music from a very young age. I’m 25 now and I started playing the piano and violin from the ages of five and seven. Around age seven I started singing in church and was realising that I really enjoyed it. I enjoy playing the piano and I enjoyed playing the violin, but when it came to singing I just felt way more connected to it. I was introduced to artists like Tracy Chapman from a young age, I felt so at home when I listened to her. Then having the introduction of Alicia Keys and seeing a black female artist playing the piano, which I had just started doing, who was singing incredible songs… I dreamt of just being able to write a song! I was so afraid to start writing my own lyrics, and to have a go at what a Rumbi Tauro song would sound like. I was so used to singing covers that when it came to lockdown in 2020, that’s the time I really had to be like, “I want to do this now and I don’t want to wait any longer”, “I don’t want to think about how I can write lyrics or how I can create a song”. I just wanted to ‘do’. And yeah, when it came to January 2020. That’s when I started writing my EP, which is in the order I wrote all the songs. So, that was like the first song I’ve ever written, and the second song I’ve ever written, the third and fourth and so on. And yeah, I’m just really excited that the more I’m exercising my song writing skills, I’m being able to find a new love for music each time. It just grows as I continue to grow in my craft.
So, ‘Run Run’ explored breaking the cycle of gang-violence through a powerful narrative to the song and the video. Your last single, ‘Bloodline’, has a driving theme of motivation and perseverance. With ‘Take Care’ out on July 1st, what can we expect from the new single?
Rumbi: Yeah, with ‘Take Care’, I feel like it’s very much a personal song in the sense of when I started writing it, it sounded completely different. We went with a different idea and it just didn’t feel right. But then, it started to grow when I just sat down by the piano and played some chords. The first line of ‘Take Care’ is: “I’m so captivated by the way that my heart beats around you”. So, I feel like with this song I’ve kind of gone on a positive, personal, love journey. In building this song, It started from kind of a vulnerable opening line about being honest with someone else: “This is how I feel when I’m around you”, “This is how you make me feel”. And it just grows into this kind of love anthem.
It’s my favourite song to perform because at the end everyone’s singing the chorus, and it just feels very wholesome. I feel like compared to the other songs that I’ve written when they have been about love, this process took a deeper, heartbreak perspective of love. Whereas this one is a much more happy, but vulnerable perspective. It’s just being honest with someone, or saying: “if you take care of me, then I’ll take care of you”. So that’s what people can expect. It’s a catchy song that is just about reciprocated energy.
(Photo: Pix Lens)
We’ve touched briefly on the ‘Run Run’ music video, any plans for a video for ‘Take Care’?
Rumbi: I feel like it’s time, yeah. It’s really hard though, because a lot of the songs that I’ve been working on, I’m like, “oh, that could do with a video as well”, “I can see this and I can see that”. So it’s just trying to be, you know, wise to the decisions of “okay, what can I move towards right now, or my put time towards”. But there’s definitely the space for a video for take care. I think it would be a very fun video to do. Almost like the ‘Don’t Bother Me’ video that I did for my EP, just feel good vibes, being silly and just having fun.
You’re up to play the Library stage on Saturday at this year’s Tramlines, sharing the stage with Coco who hosted Pattern and Push last year, how are you feeling about it?
Rumbi: Honestly, I am so excited. This day is going to be just incredible. Last year was amazing for me, but the fact that I get to share the stage with my pattern and push family this year, having so many artists that I’ve been on a journey with the last year or two… This year is going to be a step up for me as well. Because last year, when I performed I didn’t get enough time to prepare for what I wanted, which was a full band performance. That was going to be my first ever full band performance, but it ended up being just myself on the day. Which I had planned for by then, but I was like “if I get to do tramlines again…”. I didn’t expect it to be the year after! So, I’ve been graced with the opportunity to do so this year, and I’ve now got a full band. I’m so excited, not just to be able to go back but also to push myself. My favourite thing is to perform, and my favourite thing on top of that is to push myself. To give a different and better performance each time I perform. So, the fact that I can go from performing last year just by myself, to now coming back with like five musicians and myself. I’m really excited to experience that, you know, as part of the tramlines festival. I’m incredibly excited and there’s not long to go!
(Photo: Pix Lens)
Just before we let you go, how are you feeling about the upcoming release of ‘Take Care’?
Rumbi: I can’t believe it’s been a year since I’ve released something! I forgot that pre-release feeling, but yeah, I’m getting it. I’m excited but I’m nervous. I’ve been performing it live and I’ve had a good reception, so that’s put my mind at ease a bit. Whereas, before, I never performed any of my songs live because of lockdown. So, I’ve had to release music when it’s like “well, there you go. This is me”. So this time, I think having the chance to perform is like “okay, people do like it”, but it’s a whole different thing when you release something for the whole world to just do whatever they want with it. But Yeah, I’m looking forward to releasing it.
Rumbi Tauro’s new single, ‘Take Care’, will be available across all major streaming platforms from July 1st.
For all of the latest updates and event listings, visit: rumbitauro.com. Or, follow her on Instagram: rumbitauro
