One of TSHA’s Most Popular Tracks was Inspired by a Sibling She Never Knew She Had

Teisha Matthews – aka TSHA – has racked up over 11 million streams on Spotify alone on one of her most popular tracks, “Sister.” First released as a single in 2020, it later became a standout feature on her debut album Capricorn Sun in 2022.

But the story behind “Sister” surpasses the weight of its popularity. During the COVID lockdown, Matthews’ father — who’d been absent for over a decade — contacted her via Facebook. She scanned his profile and soon spotted a comment on a baby photo from Amy, who turned out to be the sister she’d always wished for but never knew she had.

“We started chatting and had a long phone call. We really connected,” she says in an interview with DJ Mag. “It was a really nice thing in lockdown, and before I got busier I managed to visit her and meet her children. It’s great to have a big sister.”

The love and affection behind this interaction inspired both the music and lyrics on “Sister.” Vocals on the track come courtesy of Matthews’ friend and producer Ell Murphy, who sings, “Feels like I’ve just woken up / And I was always waiting for us.”

The joy behind Matthews’ newfound sisterhood also inspired other tracks on Capricorn Sun, such as “Galdem (Intro)” and “Nala (Outro)”, which are doused in elated and uplifting energy. “Maybe just because I’m a woman, my mind works slightly differently to the guys who are producing this kind of sound,” she says. “There definitely is a feminine side to it... and it does nod to a lot of things… femininity, friendship, girl power... I guess that’s what it does encapsulate, actually.”

TSHA now often appears on lineups alongside house and techno powerhouses like Derrick Carter, Floorplan, Moodymann, and Honey Dijon. Most recently, she gave Printworks a royal send-off at the iconic London venue’s final event.