Meet TIFFVNYJOY

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful TIFFVNYJOY. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with TIFFVNYJOY below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have TIFFVNYJOY with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My work ethic primarily stems from my immigrant parents. As a second-generation Asian American, I am deeply appreciative of the sacrifices they made to provide me with the life I have today, allowing me the privilege to pursue a career in music. When they immigrated to the United States from Taiwan and the Philippines, they encountered numerous challenges: lacking English proficiency, navigating a new country without connections or nearby family, the inability to pursue their passions due to financial constraints, and relinquishing everything they knew to advance in the corporate world. Witnessing my parents work overtime and clock in more than 80 hours a week to support me and my siblings has deeply instilled in me the work ethic I uphold today.

Additionally, my work ethic is shaped by my decade-long experience in competitive figure skating, a sport known for its rigorous demands. Waking up at 4 AM for practice before school and enduring hard falls on the unforgiving ice, yet persisting, honed my discipline and resilience. My parents’ sacrifices to afford me the opportunity to pursue figure skating are something I will always be grateful for.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am TIFFVNYJOY (Tiffany Cuaresma), a film composer, singer-songwriter, EDM producer, DJ, and CEO/founder who specializes in creating “EDM Orchestra” music, where EDM is merged with live symphony orchestra music.

My journey into composing orchestral music began in my sophomore year of high school, primarily due to my figure skating background. My creativity flourished as a competitive figure skater for the U.S. Figure Skating Association – choreographing skating programs led me to composing pieces for orchestra, choir, and other ensembles. Throughout my career as a film and classical concert composer, I’ve had numerous incredible opportunities, including performances and commissions from the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s May Festival Chorus, Guitar Salon International, National YoungArts, and the International Contemporary Ensemble. I’ve also scored films such as “After Endor” (a Star Wars fan film short story with over half a million streams on YouTube), “Welcome to Celibacy Club” (featured internationally at the OUTFEST Film Festival at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, FilmPride UK aGLIFF / Prism Film Festival 2023, and FilmPride Brighton & Hove Pride’s LGBTQIA+ Film Festival), and “Kingdom of Your Own,” which was nominated for an award at the Burbank International Film Festival.

However, everything changed when I accidentally stumbled upon the EDM artist Illenium in 2021 at my first music festival. I felt awakened by the new EDM sound worlds and timbres that captivated me. That night, I knew I wanted to be an EDM music producer in addition to a symphony/film composer. Now, I’ve toured the nation DJing and performing at famous clubs and music festivals (BreakAway Music Festival, YOLO Nightclub, Mission NightClub, Bang! Bang! San Diego, Hot Import Nights Global Festival, Phokit Festival) and signed to EDM labels such as Blanco y Negro, with my music streamed globally on Tomorrowland’s Global Radio Station.

With my love for EDM and years of experience composing for and working with symphony orchestras, I am on a mission to create live “EDM Orchestra” music, where I combine my orchestral symphony sound worlds with EDM. I am currently working on a major project to re-invent the live concert music scene by merging live orchestral symphonies with EDM. It is my dream to tour the world and bridge the gap between the symphony concert hall and the dynamic energy of EDM festivals by composing and conducting live orchestral music with EDM.

After graduating from Rice University in the winter of 2022 with a degree in classical music composition, I decided to become a CEO and found my business, TIFFVNYJOY LLC. My business offers private music education services teaching voice, piano, music theory and composition, in addition to film scoring, orchestration, vocal recording, songwriting, electronic dance music production, and DJing. Starting my business has allowed me to pursue music full time, travel the nation to tour and perform, as well as give back to the community by sharing my music knowledge with the future generation of musicians.

With my music, I hope to spread joy and positivity to the world!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three most impactful qualities in my journey have been fearlessness and a limitless mindset, entrepreneurial spirit, and consistency. Being fearless, stepping out of comfort zones, and pursuing what you truly want are crucial. As a second-generation Asian American, venturing into the arts and entertainment industry deviates from the culturally expected stable corporate careers in STEM or law. Initially, I hesitated to pursue music full-time, as I was attending graduate school for a Masters in Business Administration and was on the seemingly “correct traditional path” for success. However, embracing fearlessness allowed me to follow my passion for music, challenging societal norms and expectations.
Being a self-starter and entrepreneur is equally important. In the music industry, creating your own opportunities and constantly engaging in networking, performances, and community contributions are key to success. Understanding the business aspect of music, including marketing and self-management, is vital in today’s digital age.
Lastly, consistency is critical. Success comes from hard work, talent, and the dedication to prepare for every opportunity.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
My greatest challenge is managing my schedule and prioritizing mental health amidst creating music, performing, running a business, maintaining a travel schedule, project deadlines, managing shows, and content creation. Balancing these demands can be overwhelming, but I’m learning to prioritize my well-being while being grateful for every opportunity that comes my way.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Andrew Chow Nicholas Mark

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