Artist Spotlight: Tiger La Flor
Tiger La Flor creates music that exists in the space between nostalgia and now. Growing up in Seattle, Washington, she played in a grunge band with her sister and cousin, finding joy early on in crafting music that is both playful and deeply personal. From her family band to her solo project “Tiger La Flor,” she strives to carry her memories of trips to Eastern Washington and listening to rock ‘n’ roll with her dad into the music she now creates in the warmth of Southern California.
Blending Americana, country, and indie pop, La Flor’s music feels nostalgic yet fresh and catchy. She writes from her experiences, weaving personal reflection into every track. La Flor explains that as a child she longed to see someone of her identity, as a Japanese Korean American, in the music industry. She always speaks about her dedication to honoring her childhood self and how it has shaped her songwriting, expressing a deep love for the Americana feel.
La Flor released her first EP, See Me in Hell, in 2024, a project that she describes as capturing her experience of moving to LA from her hometown. Featuring tracks like “James Dean” and “Hollywood Cemetery,” the EP evokes the essence of old Hollywood, with nods to icons like Marilyn Monroe, while exploring La Flor’s struggle to carve out a place for herself in LA’s chaotic entertainment world.
The following year, Drugstore Cowgirl arrived, capturing a sense of longing for home. Storytelling threads through every track, following a heartbroken girl with country roots as she navigates the Pacific Coast. Songs like “American Dreams” evoke nostalgia for a simpler life, while “Lasso the Moon” is a deeply romantic, 1950s-inspired track that highlights La Flor’s love for vintage storytelling and cinematic Americana.
My Favorite Tracks:
“Lucky Strike!”
“I can party all on my own, but when you walked up, well, I changed my tone”
La Flor’s most recent release leans into independence while still leaving room for new love. “Lucky Strike!” is bright, playful, and self-assured, capturing the rare moment when someone comes along and encourages you to open your heart.
“American Dreams”
“I’m homesick for the life we had back in our hometown, if I had gave up my dreams, wonder where we would be now”
This is my all-time favorite track of La Flor’s. It carries a deep sense of homesickness and reflection as La Flor contemplates what life might have looked like if she had stayed behind. She longs for the simplicity of her hometown while acknowledging how much she’s grown since leaving. There’s a bittersweet edge, blending nostalgia with the quiet acceptance that life has moved forward, even if part of her heart remains behind.
“Motel 6”
“We always talked about how we make the drive, now it’s just sunlight streaming in on the passenger side”
This track paints vivid images of a late-night drive and an empty passenger seat, capturing the struggle of moving forward alone. It explores the balance between independence and the lingering desire for the person you once planned a future with. There’s a sense of quiet resilience woven throughout the song, paired with the hope that the one who left might still think of you. I love this track for how honestly it reflects the kind of change that comes with learning how to carry on by yourself.