MITI are done wasting time: Country music gets a darker edge in Aotearoa

Sonny and Tiana, better known as MITI have created a brooding dark pop country sound that is both intriguing and highly palatable. They've released three singles to date, the latest being the resolute 'Wasting More Time on You'. The duo have a unique ability to change out the lead voice with each member driving the main vocal part on different songs. They're working on an album and it's clear there is some great work brewing. Following the release of their latest single, they answered our questions on songwriting, the local country scene and their interchangeable lead dynamic.

You've created a unique sound. It's country with a dark undertone and a soft edge. What does your songwriting process look like?

It varies. Sometimes it can start with something as simple as a melody, then we’ll layer some chords underneath it and just build from there. But my favourite way to write is when there’s already a concept or even just one line that stands out.“Wasting More Time On You” was a good example of that. The concept came first; that idea of getting to a point after a breakup where you realise you’ve already given enough of your time and energy to it, and you’re not going to give it any more. Once we had that, it was really about finding the melody and chords that matched that feeling. From there, the song started to build itself.We try not to force things too much either. If it feels good and it feels like us, we follow it.

What first made you fall in love with country music?

Definitely family and upbringing. Country music was always around growing up, so there’s a real nostalgia attached to it for me. Certain songs, sounds or even just a guitar tone can take me straight back to being a kid and hearing that music around the house or with family. I think as I’ve gotten older I’ve realised how much of that stayed with me.So my love for country probably comes from that feeling of familiarity. It reminds me of where I come from, but at the same time I get to take those influences and turn them into something that sounds like us.

Your previous singles have been led by Sonny, where the latest track has Tiana front and centre. It's a cool dynamic having the ability to change the lead voice. How can we expect to see this shared lead role used moving forward?

This is something we’re currently exploring, with Tiana taking the main lead and Sonny focusing on production and songwriting. It’s definitely opened up a lot more creative freedom for us in how we approach things.At the end of the day, it really just comes down to what feels right for the song.

You've talked about being influenced by a range of incredible international artists. But who are your favourite locals holding the fort for country music in Aotearoa?

We were fortunate enough to have grown up within the Aotearoa country music scene, sharing stages and competing alongside artists like Kaylee Bell, Keith Pereira, Jenny Mitchell, and Hannah Cosgrove. It’s been really special to come up in that environment and see just how strong and supportive the local scene has always been.I think the scene here is only getting stronger, so it’s cool for MITI to be coming through at the same time and hopefully adding our own flavour to it.

The music video for Wasting More Time On You is outstanding. Tell us more about the concept for this and the process of making it...

The song is basically about going through a breakup but instead of embracing all of the negative emotions that come with the aftermath, it’s more about letting go of everything and moving on. So the idea behind the video is exactly that - Tiana just hanging out, having fun in a pub on her own, not dwelling on what’s happened and just enjoying the moment.

You've released three singles to date. What's coming up for MITI next?

The big one for us now is the album.The singles have really been about introducing people to MITI and giving them little pieces of what our sound is, but the album is where we get to show the full picture. There are different sides to us that people haven’t heard yet - different tempos, different stories, different lead vocals, but it all still lives within the MITI sound.We’ve been putting a lot into it behind the scenes, so we’re excited to finally start sharing more of that. This year has really been about introducing ourselves. The next chapter is showing people what MITI actually is.