At Work: Tiny Habits
For a band that was formed only three years ago, the Boston-based trio Tiny Habits has quickly established itself as a force to be reckoned with. While students at the city’s Berklee College of Music, Cinya Khan, Maya Rae and Judah Mayowa discovered that their vocal harmonies were rather exquisite during some informal sessions. Before long, they were writing songs, posting videos and releasing recordings. They followed their self-titled debut EP with a full-length album, All for Something, last year and, more recently, “For Sale Sign,” a new tune that features singer songwriter Lizzy McAlpine, for whom Tiny Habits had opened on a 2023 European tour.
It didn’t take much time for a few prominent voices to notice them, from NPR Music and Teen Vogue to big-name artists like Justin Timberlake, Phoebe Bridgers, Noah Kahan and the late David Crosby. “These people taught us a lot through their actions and work ethic,” Mayowa says. “As glamorous as their lives may seem, there is a lot that goes into building and sustaining what they do. It’s truly inspiring to see.”
Tiny Habits have already headlined their own tours, but beginning this spring and stretching into the fall, they will also support superstar singer songwriter James Taylor on the road. In doing so, they will reach fans who, in some cases, are old enough to be their grandparents.
“We’re really looking forward to touring with James,” Rae says. “It’ll be eye-opening and such an incredible experience; we’re really excited to expand our audience.”
The trio’s universal appeal and their ability to attract fans that span generations are unusual in today’s climate, to say the least. And, from the start, Tiny Habits’ followers came from all over the musical map. The stellar vocals are a major reason, but more than anything, perhaps, it’s the maturity, depth and honesty of their songwriting that hits on all levels.
One thing they’ve learned, says Khan, is “to not get in our own way.”
The singer elaborates, explaining: “All for Something taught us so much about the musical ‘habits’ we had solidified as a group, and it tore all of that apart, forcing us to expand in ways we definitely didn’t expect to. Also, prioritizing our friendship has proven to be of utmost importance throughout everything we have done. When the three of us feel close, we are kind of unstoppable.”
