Tiffany Majette, known professionally as Orion Sun, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. Originally from New Jersey, Majette is currently based on the West Coast.[1]

Orion Sun
Background information
Born
Mount Laurel, New Jersey, U.S.
GenresIndie rock, jazz, R&B, hip hop
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • multi-instrumentalist
  • record producer
Years active2013–present
LabelsMom + Pop Music
Websitewww.orionsun.space

Early life

edit

Tiffany Majette was born and raised in Mount Laurel, New Jersey,[2] in a conservative Christian home.[3] She grew up in a neighborhood named after civil rights activist, Ethel Lawrence.[4] At an early age, Majette was inspired by the music at the Bethany Baptist Church.[3] Majette began songwriting in high school and was encouraged by her choir teacher to share her music more widely.[5] Although she was accepted into Berklee College of Music, Majette was not able to attend for financial reasons.[6]

Career

edit

In Philadelphia, Majette became involved in an underground music collective called The Forest, until the death of a member caused the collective to disband.[2]

Majette posted her first song, "Voicemail," to YouTube in 2013.[3] She released the mixtape A Collection of Fleeting Moments and Daydreams in 2017.[7] In 2018, Orion Sun released singles S T R E T C H and Nirvanaaa.[7] Her debut LP, Hold Space for Me, was released in 2020 with Mom + Pop.[7] In his review for Pitchfork, the critic Dani Blum wrote that the album was "stark [and] lightly poetic".[8]

In 2020, after being injured by police at a racial justice protest in her hometown, Majette wrote the song "Mama's Baby."[9] She raised over $18,000 from the song's sales on Bandcamp, and donated the funds to Breonna Taylor's GoFundMe and the Loveland Foundation.[10]

In 2022, Orion Sun released her debut EP, Getaway, which featured production and writing from Rostam Batmanglij, Nascent, Rodaidh McDonald and Guapdad 4000.[11] In 2023 she opened for Daniel Caesar for his Superpowers World Tour.[12] In 2024, Orion Sun release two singles "Already Gone"and "Mary Jane".[13][14] Her self-titled LP, Orion, was released on September 20th, 2024, followed by her tour The Rising Sun Tour.[15][14]

Musical style and influences

edit

Orion Sun makes music within the realms of alternative R&B and indie rock. As a songwriter, Majette explores themes of love, grief, isolation, and insecurity.[16] Her influences include Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald.[17]

Personal life

edit

Majette was kicked out of her home due to her sexuality.[2] Majette identifies as a queer Black woman.[2]

Discography

edit

Studio albums

edit
  • Hold Space for Me (2020)
  • Orion (2024)
  • Getaway (2022)

Singles

edit
  • "Sweetest Thing" (2017)
  • "So Tall From Down Here" (2017)
  • "Journal Entry" (2017)
  • "Nirvanaaa" (2017)
  • "S T R E T C H" (2018)
  • "concrete" (2021)
  • "dirty dancer" (2022)
  • "dirty dancer - A COLORS SHOW" (2022)
  • "Already Gone" (2024)
  • "Mary Jane" (2024)

Compilations

edit
  • A Collection of Fleeting Moments and Daydreams (2017)

References

edit
  1. ^ Zeleniak, Maeve. "Silence is heavy in Orion Sun's new single "Already Gone"". WXPN | Vinyl At Heart. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  2. ^ a b c d "Orion Sun Is Creating And Finding Home". Vinyl Me Please. 2020-03-31. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  3. ^ a b c DeLuca, Dan (3 April 2020). "Philly musician Orion Sun sings songs of isolation that soothe the soul". inquirer.com. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  4. ^ "Orion Sun Is Creating And Finding Home". Vinyl Me, Please. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  5. ^ Rouhani, Neena (2022-03-17). "How Emerging Alt-R&B Star Orion Sun Rose Above the Odds and Made Her 'Getaway'". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  6. ^ Rouhani, Neena (2022-03-17). "How Emerging Alt-R&B Star Orion Sun Rose Above the Odds and Made Her 'Getaway'". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  7. ^ a b c "Multi-instrumentalist, rapper and producer Orion Sun announces debut album". The Vinyl Factory. 2020-02-11. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  8. ^ "Orion Sun: Hold Space For Me". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  9. ^ Effinger, Shannon J. (5 June 2020). "On 'Mama's Baby,' Orion Sun Grapples With Her Own Experience Of Police Brutality". NPR. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  10. ^ "In a world of injustice, Orion Sun believes boundless love is still possible". Document Journal. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  11. ^ Rouhani, Neena (2022-03-17). "How Emerging Alt-R&B Star Orion Sun Rose Above the Odds and Made Her 'Getaway'". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  12. ^ Abraham, Mya (2023-06-12). "Daniel Caesar Shares Dates For Second Leg Of Superpowers World Tour". VIBE.com. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  13. ^ "Orion Sun Releases New Single "Already Gone"". Hypebeast. 2024-06-13. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  14. ^ a b "Orion Sun Releases New Single "Mary Jane" and Announces 19-Date Tour". Hypebeast. 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  15. ^ "Orion Sun Announces Self Titled Album 'Orion' and North America Tour Dates". Off the Record Press. 2024-07-12. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  16. ^ "Sniffers". sniffers.co.nz. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  17. ^ ClashMusic (2020-04-09). "Hold Space For Me: Orion Sun's Soulful Catharsis". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
edit