Tina Win breaks through the noise with unfiltered honesty and intense emotion โ smashing pop conventions with fearless truth and gritty passion. She wonโt conform or be silenced. Forging her own path, sheโs an artist, a rebel, unapologetically bold.
On July 24th, Tina will perform at CHOWK NYC, a vibrant and emerging venue celebrated for spotlighting rising artists. This show provides an intimate preview of her evolving musical style before her songs appear in brand campaigns, sync placements, and curated playlists. It also marks her first public performance showcasing her refreshed sound and artistic vision.
- In your own words, whatโs the story of your beginnings โ the spark that set it off?
Tina: I was born in Bucharest, Romania, and adopted just days before I wouldโve entered an orphanage at a time when so many children didnโt survive. I grew up in New Jersey, where I was lucky to be surrounded by love, creativity, and opportunity.
I started performing earlyโacting, singing, writingโand eventually found myself on stage, in front of cameras, and later, behind a guitar. What began as a poem became my first song, and what started as a childhood dream turned into a lifelong calling.
Music has always been my way of connecting, healing, and growing. My mission is to tell my story, empower women, and remind others that no matter where you start, you can shape your own path.
2. Whatโs your background with training- did you take formal lessons or learn on your own?
Tina: From a young age, I immersed myself in danceโtap, ballet, and jazzโbefore moving into acting at The Actorโs Institute. Within a year, I began classical singing lessons with Marc Hoeler of the MET.
By high school, I had appeared in numerous shows and earned a Best Actress nomination from PaperMill Playhouse, standing out among eight nominees statewide. I was also accepted into their conservatory twice, at ages nine and eighteenโkey milestones in my artistic journey.
3.ย ย ย Who has been the biggest influence on your music, and how did โTina Winโ become your signature?
Tina: My parents have always been my biggest musical influences. Unfortunately, my mother passed a while ago, and this winter, my father passed away as well, but they gave me the greatest gift. The gift of having every opportunity available and introducing me to timeless music. As a kid, my dad played Simon & Garfunkel and loved cranking up live Fleetwood Mac concerts, which were my momโs favorite. She also had a soft spot for โ90s artists like Shania Twain and Sheryl Crow, giving me a blend of classic rock and country-pop from early on.
4.ย ย ย What is the message or feeling in your music thatโs closest to who you are, and how would you label your sound?
Tina: Every time I write a song, I focus on showing how strong women can be. I pull from my own life and put my thoughts into words, because for me, the lyrics are everything. Iโve always loved writingโI even have a BA in Journalismโand over time, Iโve learned how to share my emotions through my singing, too.
My sound is definitely unique. My mom used to say my voice was so distinct and beautiful, with many others coming up to me and say โI cant beleive such a strong, powerful voice comes out of such a petite person.โ I would just shrug and smile saying, โI donโt know Iโve learned thatโs exactly what makes my voice stand out among the rest. If you hear it on the radio, you definitely would not think it was Arianna Grande or Taylor Swift singing. Over all, lifeโs been a rollercoaster, but honestly, itโs been the best ride, and Iโm excited to see whatโs around the next curve.
5.ย ย ย Many artists begin by emulating those who inspire them before discovering their own artistic voice. What was your experience with that, and how did you evolve into the pop artist you are today?
Tina: Like many other artists, I always start with creativity and originality. One night, I had just a few pages of lyrics scribbled down, and before I knew it, I was typing them up into a Word document. Another part of my process is listening to current music in a similar style to see whatโs new or what themes are trending. But most of the time, I just dive in, learn as I go, and write from the heart.
My current song is a collaboration with Joey Auch, who produced the track, kicking off an exciting creative partnership. (Known for his smooth, genre-blending production and keen commercial insight, Auch will also be producing Tinaโs debut EP, โTina Winโ, set to release in late September.) With a full-length album titled โUnifilterdโ to soon follower that late-Winter/early Spring. For โTry Anythingโ, we were on a tight schedule, and honestly, I think that the urgency made the song come together better than if we took a longer amount of time.
I grew up performing musical theatre and was on stage regularly from ages 11 to 19. As a young teen, I was given two opportunities to sign with R&B/POP record deals for kids. However, it was nationwide, and Iโd have to leave my blue-ribbon private school, Rumson County Day School.
Luckily, I was able to focus on performing through-out my high-school years. While raised on Opera, technique and musical theatre, i was able to grasp Pop music without belting, or unintentionally adding vibrato. It just didnโt work. Surprisingly, I shouldnโt be admitting this being a professional singer and all, plus my passion and dedication for beauty, but when I moved to NYC for college, I started smoking, and it changed my voice. In fact, it worked in my favorโI discovered I could sing pop, riff, cross into other genres, and stretch my range hitting notes like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Itโs not the usual path, but I know Iโm not the only singer whose voice evolved in unexpected ways. EXTRA: I quite smoking a long time ago, and my voice never changed back. Smoking really does suck and the smell is horrible. I donโt recommend doing what I did to change my voice, first off, I didnโt do it intentionally and secondly, thereโs way more medical problems that arise for smoking.
6. How do you feel about music being used for social or political messages? Do you dive into those themes in your work, or prefer to keep your art centered on personal stories and pure creativity?
Tina: Music has been with us foreverโnot just for fun, but as a powerful way to express who we are. It can influence society, spark new ideas, and shape culture. For me, writing songs began because the people around me wouldnโt listen to me, or didnโt care, so my outlet was to put how I felt into paper in a creative deeply meaningful and beautiful way. Writing down your feelings can be therapeutic, but turning those feelings into a structure outline with guidelines and a need for imagination through personal examples and expressive rhythms. Music became my outlet to let those feelings out. After I wrote ten songs, I asked some people to read my lyrics (the ones involving them), and they all looked at me and said โIs that how you really feel?โ.
7. Is all the hard work youโre putting into your music paying off the way you hoped, and/or is there more you want to achieve in the future?
Tina: Absolutely! Since I was six, Iโve been singing randomly for fun or to get something off my chest whenever I had the chance to have the house alone. I enjoyed challenging myself by making up lyrics as I went, seeing how long I could go without fumbling. The sound of my voice always soothed me, especially because I struggle with anxiety. For me, music and breath are oneโsinging feels like a lifeline. I canโt imagine life without it, especially blasting songs through my car speakers while drivingโthatโs my favorite thing to do and the vibration of the speakers actually slows my heartbeat. No Joke!
Iโve dedicated my life to studying and practicing vocals, always pushing myself to learn more and grow. All the hard work has paid off, and Iโm so proud and grateful for how far Iโve come.
Iโm excited to keep building Tina Win Music LLCโข and bringing my vision to life. A music video is on the horizon, and I already trademarked Tina Win Fragranceโข, Tina Win Merchandiseโข and Tina Win Beautyโข. It may be just the beginning but Iโm already 10 steps ahead and ready to take on more!
By owning my masters and distribution rights, Iโm taking full control of my career, balancing creative freedom with smart, intentional business moves.I have succefully managed to not only take on the creative process but the executive side as well. Understanding that the balance of the two is crucial when trying to make it in this industry.
8. How do you usually start new music- what feels most natural? Is it a beat, a melody or some raw lyrics that come first? do you find more fulfillment working solo or collaborating?
Tina: My creative process usually kicks off with a random line that just pops into my head. It could happen while Iโm doing choresโIโll catch myself singing out of nowhere. I never plan what to say; I just let whateverโs inside come out naturally. Itโs not a conscious effortโitโs more like Iโm channeling something. Once that first spark hits and I land on a solid rhyme, I know itโs time to record. I grab my voice recorder, capture the moment, then jot it all down in my notes.
Having a journalism degree has helped a lotโitโs made me a better writer and storyteller, which definitely shows up in my lyrics. Writing and singing just feel natural to me.
Growing up, my mom wore hearing aids and our house echoed like crazy. It was one of those Cape Cod-style houses, so sound traveled. Iโd talk to her from upstairs and had to learn how to speak loudly so she could hearโbut without yelling. Thatโs actually how I started building my voice. I taught myself to breathe from my gut instead of my chest, and it gave me this strong sound without hurting my vocal cords.
Looking back, I guess I started vocal training without even knowing it.
9. (Alongside her collaboration with music veteran Joey Auch, Tina joined forces with celebrity photographer Andres Hernandez for a striking visual campaign tied to the singleโs release. The visuals highlight the evolution of her artistryโpolished, emotive, and unapologetically unique.) Looking back, what have been the most difficult moments you have faced, whether in your life or in your music- and how did it shape you?
Tina: Thatโs a tough one. I was born in Bucharest, Romania, and from the time I was little, people said I was meant to be an artist. Being adopted was a mix of joy and challenge. I was given so much love and attention, but I never liked being aloneโI always needed people around. One of my best friends growing up was an actress with an agent. She even had a little stage in her basement, and weโd put on shows for our parents like we were already stars.
One time, I tagged along with her to a Spice Girls doll audition. We had to sing and dance to a songโwhich, luckily, we had just performed at our schoolโs Halloween parade. I made it to the second roundโฆ and not as Baby Spice, either! I actually switched to Sporty Spice on the way there, and ended up being interviewed on TV about the audition. That whole experience was incredible. After that, people started saying I should take singing lessonsโand that was just the beginning of my journey.
10. Has there been specific moments you look back on with pride and think, โthis is the reason I keep going,โ what was that like in that instance
Tina: One of my first big accomplishments was being nominated for Best Actress in New Jersey by the PaperMill Playhouse. They selected eight standout female leads, and we were all invited to a special ceremony where the winner was announced. We even got to perform together, which made the experience even more unforgettable.
Another milestone Iโm really proud of is having my music available on all streaming platforms, launching my brand new website, creating original choreography, and publishing my music under indolently and successfully with Tina Win Music LLCโข. Thatโs been a huge personal and professional win for me.
What excites me most right now is the idea of performing liveโinteracting with the crowd, rocking bold outfits, and looking forward to showing up on a talk show or two. Iโm proud of how far Iโve come and where this journey started. This is my dream, and Iโve decided to go for it. If I fail, at least Iโll know I gave it everything I hadโno โwhat ifs.โ
Iโm currently rebranding and stepping into this next chapter as a full-time artist. Iโm excited for the world to get to know me better. Youโll definitely be seeing a lot more of me.
11. Social Media. can definitely get intense at times. When you come against criticism or negativity, how do you tend to handle it? Do you try to find lessons in it, or is it important for you to protect your peace and stay true to who you are?
Tina: Iโll admit, I havenโt always been the best at handling hate. But over time, Iโve learned not to take it to heart. Everyone has their own opinions, and thatโs just part of putting yourself out there. What keeps me grounded is knowing how much Iโve worked for what Iโve achieved. Iโm proud of itโand thatโs why I donโt let the negativity get in my way. I just keep going.
12. Do you enjoy sharing true stories and emotions behind your songs with your fans so they can understand where you are coming from, or do you find it more meaningful when listeners bring their own experiences and feelings to your music and make it part of their own journey?
Tina: For me, itโs always been about the lyrics. Thatโs what draws me to a song and makes me love it. I find myself relating the words to something personal Iโve been through, and that connection makes the music feel even more powerful. I hope my songs can do the same for someone else.
Music has helped me through so much. Just getting in the car, turning the volume all the way up, and singing my heart outโitโs freeing. It doesnโt even matter what the song is. That moment of release is everything.
But I donโt want listeners to only hear my story. I want my lyrics to be broad and open enough for people to apply them to their own experiences. Thatโs where music becomes truly meaningfulโwhen it speaks to someone elseโs truth.
At the end of the day, I have one goal: to empower women. If my music can help someone feel stronger, more seen, or less aloneโeven for a momentโthen I know Iโm doing something right.