If the faith of a mustard seed can move a mountain, then a hug can heal a nation. Or at least that’s what Tiara Thomas argues on her moody new single.
The Grammy and Oscar Award-winning musician is known for crafting beautiful ballads about the ugliest emotion. So, on “A Hug,” Thomas picks up her pen to advocate for anger.
“Oh, maybe I just need a hug / Can’t have no one else bruising me / I just don’t wanna be alone / These n****s pick a bone / Rather than pick up the phone / F*ck a politic, I keep my own damn energy / Sometimes I think I create my own damn enemies / But everybody’s born alone in sin / Unless you got a twin,” sings Thomas.
While “A Hug” is an interesting mishmash of genre elements, incorporating pockets of ambient, jazz, rap, and R&B production styles, the song’s messaging remains consistent: stop toying with people’s feelings.
In a statement shared with ENVERT, Thomas spoke about the inspiration behind the track.
“This song came from a real place of frustration,” said Tiara. “It’s about when you’re tired of love being complicated, when all you really want is something as simple as a hug, but the emotions underneath are messy, raw, and sometimes petty. I wanted that duality to come through in both the lyrics and delivery.”
Never mind the fact that she stuffed a painful, gross pill into a cube of cheese, “A Hug” is Tiara Thomas doing what Tiara Thomas does best: plainly articulating the messiness of a moment while wrapping it in a soothing instrumental arrangement. With each release, Thomas will find a way to jam a harsh dose of reality down your throat.
To contrast the rage within “A Hug,” Thomas curated a Spotify playlist filled with opposing ideologies. Among the 40 tracks, Thomas included her 2024 record “Keep Going,” SAULT’s “Safe Within Your Hands,” Thee Sacred Souls’ “Sorrow For Tomorrow,” Nipsey Hussle’s “Double Up” featuring Belly and Dom Kennedy, and more.
Listen to Tiara Thomas’ new single “A Hug” below.
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