Tiny Habits: The Favorite Artist of Your Favorite Artist

Photo by Georgia Lingerfelt

Tiny Habits is no stranger to a well-executed social strategy. They first gained notoriety doing covers of popular songs. The trio’s elaborate and tastefully dissonant harmonies capture viewers’ attention. They have a way of slowing down the biggest club hits and bringing a new raw sense of emotion to them. They recently embarked on their first headline tour, spanning North America and Europe.

Tiny Habits is comprised of three singer-songwriters Maya Rae, Cinya Khan, and Judah Mayowa. The group met in college at Berklee College of Music and began posting covers from dorm rooms and stairwells. The first song they ever sang together was “Happy & Sad” by Kacey Musgraves. They recently were joined by the Country music superstar to perform “Too Good to be True,” a song off her most recent album. A full circle moment as they played their Atlanta show on the three-year anniversary of their first meeting.

Many of the biggest names in music are champions of Tiny Habits’ talent. They opened for Noah Kahan on the Europe/UK leg of his fall 2023 tour. They joined Gracie Abrams for her North American Good Riddance tour and were later brought on for the same Australian tour. They have seen some of the most popular stages in indie music, singing background vocals for Abrams on Triple J’s “Like a Version” and Lizzy McAlpine’s NPR Tiny Desk set. Recently, the band earned praise from Sir Elton John on his Apple Music radio show “Rocket Hour.”

Collaborating with McAlpine, Mark Ronson, and JP Saxe, Tiny Habits ventured into original compositions. Their single, “Mudroom,” dropped in February, feels like a pivotal moment in their artistry. Tiny Habits has seemed to be able to take emotion and vulnerability, bottle it, and put it in a melody for years; however, on this record, they are able to capture the same sense of emotion with the lyrics as well. The song details the hesitation that one experiences when entering a new relationship. A liminal space not unlike the mudroom of a house. The single is a promising launching point as the band gears up to release a full-length record.

The trio’s live shows stay true to their roots. On their headline “Little Bit Farther” tour, Tiny Habits cover three songs spanning across the ages. The first was a masterfully done rendition of Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?,” followed by Keane’s 2004 smash hit “Somewhere Only We Know,” and 70’s classic “Landslide.” Mayowa lead in the final cover of the night by urging fan’s to tell their parents to “do better” if they didn’t know Fleetwood Mac’s iconic coming of age song. Mayowa’s own family looked on from the audience, beaming with pride from his success.

Tiny Habits are joined by four band members on tour, adding drums, guitar, bass, and keys to deepen to their already full vocal arrangement. On previous tours, only Khan, played an instrument during the set, but this time all three members tried their hand. Kindness radiated from each band member as they took turns making jokes about the trials of playing on stage or being unsure of what to do with their hands without an instrument to hide behind.

As they continue to evolve and expand their musical horizons, one thing remains certain, Tiny

Habits will always be the muse that inspires both listeners and fellow artists to reach new heights.