Tiger Lotiss is authentic, jazzy and totally fabulous in the garden

Tiger Lotiss strikes me as someone who isn't afraid to be authentically himself. Over the past two years he's been releasing songs such as Corset Me Free, 3 Days, and Chameleon - building a back catalogue of music that is expressive and unique in a way that is totally Tiger.

As he has become more confident and bold, the quality of the output has evolved now culminating in the latest single Tiger in the Garden and the accompanying music video. This release really takes it up a notch imperfectly capturing his sense of style and character.

The song itself is structured around a jazzy bass line, that walks without running. It feels a bit like an improv piece played live at a bar at 2am on a Tuesday. The rhythm moves with the song and Tiger sings with a falsetto that is unexpected but charming.

Set in various scenes around Auckland City, it is fantastic to see Tamaki on display in the video as Tiger interacts with various characters on his morning commute.

Beneath the groove is a message that many young New Zealanders will recognise. Tiger in the Garden explores the gap between what people were promised and the reality many now face, balancing creative ambition against the rising cost of simply getting by. Tiger never labours the point. Instead, the lyrics and performance do the work.