Tsunaina

Shunaina Limbu (IPA: [/(t)suːˈnʌɪːna]; born 30 December 1993)[lower-alpha 1] known professionally as Tsunaina, is a British–Nepali singer-songwriter, visual artist, and fashion model.[1][2][3][4][5] She is known for her emotionally evocative music and "hauntingly powerful" voice, alongside her distinctive features and visual style.[6][2][7][8] In 2020, she released her debut single "Waterways", followed by "UnEarth", "Fanned Out Fingers" and "A Dam on the Eve of Breaking".[3][9][10][11] Tsunaina has also created music for Iris van Herpen, McQ, and Robert Wun.[2][12]

Tsunaina
Tsunaina performing live in London 2023
Born
Shunaina Limbu

(1993-12-30) 30 December 1993
Kowloon, Hong Kong
NationalityBritish
Alma materSOAS, University of the Arts London
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • Model
Years active2017–present
Websitetsunaina.com

Early life

Tsunaina was born in Kowloon, Hong Kong, on 30 December 1993. Tsunaina also has a younger brother.[6][13] She grew up in Lalitpur, Nepal, and spent her childhood there until moving to Kent, England, to join her family.[2][3] At age 18, Tsunaina moved to London to attend SOAS University, where she studied History and Politics; she later studied Sound art at University of the Arts London, where she would begin to write for other artists and meet a number of future collaborators.[2]

Tsunaina was raised by her mother who is a Kirati Limbu, Yakthung (ᤕᤠᤰᤌᤢᤱ), a Tibeto-Burman indigenous tribe of the Himalayan region of eastern Nepal, Sikkim, and western Bhutan.[2] She is fluent in Nepali, English, Hindi, and French.[2][3]

Career

After being scouted for modelling, Tsunaina initially gained recognition for her visual storytelling on Instagram and as the muse of Pat McGrath.[1][6][14][15] Shortly after gracing the cover of Harper's Bazaar, she went on to be shot by Paolo Roversi, Tim Walker, Zhong Lin, and Frank Lebon.[1] Tsunaina has also appeared in numerous notable publications such as British Vogue, Vogue Italia, W Magazine, Dazed, I-D, Paper Magazine, System, and Numero France.[1][6][16][17][18]

In 2020 she released her debut single "Waterways", accompanied by a music video of her performing a live arrangement version in a waterfall.[3][19] This was followed by "UnEarth", "A Dam on the Eve of Breaking", and in 2021, she released "Fanned Out Fingers".[9][10][11]

Tsunaina has created music for Iris van Herpen Haute couture FW21 "Earthrise", McQ 2021 "Breathe", and Robert Wun Haute couture SS23 "Fear"; she also performed live to open for London designer, Asai Tai, SS23 during London Fashion Week.[2][20][12]

Artistry

Musical style and influences

Tsunaina's music merges electronic and orchestral sounds with her distinctive soulful vocals. Described as "hauntingly powerful" and "serenely neoclassical", her style draws on a variety of genres, from electronic music, trip hop, classical music, avant-garde, and gospel.

She has noted she listens to "everything, anything when I feel like it". Tsunaina cites her mother and her brother as her biggest inspirations. Notably, Tsunaina describes coming to England as a re-education in sound, discovering Western artists properly for the first time.[3] She has named electronic and trip hop acts, Tricky, Cocteau Twins, and Goldfrapp, alongside strong non-conformist female artists such as Nina Simone, Bjork, and Kate Bush, as major influences; later, discovering more experimental works of Arthur Russell, Iannis Xenakis, and Kenji Kawai.

Tsunaina also cites film soundtracks, and Bollywood in particular, as a formational influence, alongside folk music. Tsunaina’s earliest musical memory is singing “Ajeeb dastan hei ye” with her cousin.[3][21] She has also stated that "there is definitely a fantastical, maybe magical realism, element to what hits me and what I want to make…I imagine from all the folk stories, mythology, and video games and films that made me".

In 2021 I-D named Tsunaina as one of the "12 new musicians making the UK sound awesome".[21]

Notes
  1. Nepali: सुनयना लिम्बु from Sanskrit: सुनयन

References
  1. "Tsunaina – Entertainer". MODELS.com. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  2. "Tsunaina Is The Model And Musician Captivating The Fashion World". British Vogue. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  3. Dunn, Frankie. "Watch Tsunaina sing the emotional story of all women beneath a waterfall". i-d.vice.com. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  4. Dazed (19 November 2021). "AZEEMA's latest issue celebrates the rituals that shape our lives". Dazed. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  5. The Making of the Vogue Singapore Orchid Dress by Robert Wun, retrieved 12 May 2023
  6. Dazed (5 October 2018). "Tsunaina is the model bewitching the industry with her unique beauty". Dazed. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  7. "10 Women Redefining the Fashion Industry's Beauty Standards". ELLE. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  8. "The Best Beauty Instagrams of the Week: Tsunaina, Snoh Aalegra, and More". www.glamour.co.za. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  9. "Watch Tsunaina perform the enchanting single 'Fanned Out Fingers'". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  10. "Tsunaina". Spotify. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  11. "The RISE Issue: Tsunaina". GLAMCULT.COM. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  12. Iris van Herpen ~ Earthrise, retrieved 12 May 2023
  13. "Painting the Whole Picture with Tsunaina". Office Magazine. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  14. "https://twitter.com/patmcgrathreal/status/995665180645306368?lang=en". Twitter. Retrieved 12 May 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  15. "8 female influencers defying Instagram's beauty standards". South China Morning Post. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  16. "Cap74024 — Suleika Mueller". suleikamueller.com. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  17. "HUNGER MAGAZINE: Tsunaina by Baard Lunde". Image Amplified. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  18. "System Magazine". System Magazine. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  19. "Tsunaina: Waterways". NOWNESS.
  20. Abad, Mario (6 July 2021). "Tsunaina on Merging Her Dreamy World With Iris van Herpen". Paper Magazine.
  21. Martensen, Frankie Dunn,Dan. "12 new musicians making the UK sound awesome". i-d.vice.com. Retrieved 12 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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