Tiger Lewis Discusses Artistry and Doubt with “Mr. Right Now.”
From the press conference hosted by °1824
By Bethany Mikrut
On August 13th, Southern-California-based artist Tiger Lewis is closing off his recent narrative with the release of "Runaway," the final track of his debut EP, Mr Right Now. Inspired by the tunes of Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, and the old school soul and grunge bands of the late 80s and early 90s, Mr Right Now is a collection of 6 tracks, disguised as "vignettes of yourself," each with its own story to be told.
A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Tiger debuted last November after the release of the title track "Mr. Right Now." Since then, Tiger released the remaining tracks, "Leaving Me Lonely," "Too Easy," "Mrs. Kisses," and "USE ME." Each track explores a different emotion and the complexity of insecurity and doubt as a musician and artist in the days of fast-paced media. Tiger emphasizes the idea that insecurity and self doubt is what make the best artists, if you surround yourself with other individuals whom you trust and encourage vulnerability in songwriting and performing. At first, insecurity feels like the weight of the world as an artist, as it can prevent you from fully expressing yourself, especially in live settings. Tiger describes it as, "I see the way they're watching." Doubt is another theme heavily discussed within the project. He expresses, "you are enough regardless of what you perceive yourself to be," and encourages fans that "sensitivity needs to be there or it won't ever feel like enough." For any musician or creative individual, the topics and advice discussed within this project are worth taking from.
One notable track that has been released previously is "Mrs. Kisses." When asked which track has shifted meaning, Tiger states that he never fully understood the song when he was writing it in the summer of 2025 until after it was complete. "Mrs. Kisses" is written from the perspective of someone protective of their partner, while their partner reciprocates it through tenderness and trust. Even though the narrator may feel insecure in some moments, love and affection can challenge that insecurity. It is a soft and thoughtful romantic song that adds another level of narrative in the middle of the EP.
"Runaway" is the final track released from the EP. It is a track about running away from negative self-doubt and feelings about yourself. Tiger describes it as the culmination of every single theme from the album, as it handles feelings of doubt, insecurity, and anxiety. The accompanying video is told through vivid colors that switch with each continuous drum beat. The song combines Tiger's classic new and old school elements from grunge, soul, jazz, and pop all into one catchy but intellectually though provoking track.
Tiger's childhood music significantly inspired his musical career as a self-taught musician. He was heavily inspired by musical icons, especially Jimi Hendrix and Little Beaver. For this EP specifically, he was inspired creatively by the 1996 film "Swingers." When asked about the color palette of red and yellow, Tiger states that the documentary, "Stop Making Sense," and the strive to be known for specific colors, like how Prince is known for the color Purple, influenced the visual aesthetics of the project. In addition to the project visuals, Tiger was asked about how he got inspiration for many of the tracks. He states that instead of relying on media for inspiration, he needs to "go on a run every single morning without music in, to get creative inspiration," without heavy stimulation from devices. He quotes, "give your brain a rest," and the thoughts will flow.
Ever since debuting last fall, performing and recording have also taught Tiger a lot about artistry. One example of this is before entering a musical setting, he first must shift from street to "tiger mode" to get in the zone. In addition, before recording in a studio, he tries not to think as hard about certain tones or words because, during recording, he says, "you (the listener) can hear it," describing how singing and performing are better when it is natural instead of anxiously forced and perfected to a tee. In addition, a major thing Tiger learned from performing live is how impactful simplicity is, as it prioritizes and serves the audience over self. Since simplicity allows the audience to understand themes better, they can comprehend the lyrics more than if an artist adds too much complexity in performance and takes away the attention from the themes and messages.
In the next few years, Tiger expresses desires to explore and tour in new parts of the country, including New Orleans, Texas, and Seattle, to play at some of the most iconic venues that he grew up knowing. In addition to touring, Tiger Lewis will continue to develop his sound and craft it to natural perfection. In the meantime, make sure to support Tiger's craft by streaming the newly released story of Mr Right Now, streaming everywhere now.