Tayiha hitting the stage at awards

Deception Bay singer-songwriter Tayiha Grant is a finalist in this year’s Queensland Music Awards.

Tayiha will find herself on stage at the Fortitude Music Hall performing at the awards ceremony on Wednesday.

With the award-winning Ball Park Music among the headline acts, it’s a far cry from the sleepover with friends to celebrate her 16^th birthday last month.

“I’m very nervous – I have performed here and there at little concerts, but nothing like this,” she says.

“It’s very exciting.

Shock nomination

“I was shocked because the one I got nominated for, No Happy Ending, I wrote when I was 14 – I didn’t expect an old song to resurface.”

Tayiha says No Happy Ending is about toxic relationships.

“Anyone can relate to it because we always have negative people in our lives we have to cut strings with.”

Tayiha wrote her first song when she was eight, having started giving concerts for family and friends when she began singing lessons at six.

New release

She cites Taylor Swift, Whitney Houston and Jessica Mauboy among her influences.

“I like the song-writing side of Taylor Swift and I’m a huge fan of Whitney Houston’s voice.

“Obviously my song-writing has improved, so it’s exciting to have new stuff coming out.”

Tayiha’s latest single, Hollywood Dreamer, was released last month.

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