Tiny Habits at DC’s Union Stage: A celebration of friendship and vocal mastery

No amount of flashy production can fabricate the genuine feeling that the artists are as enthusiastic to share the night with the audience as its members are to attend. What truly set this performance apart was the unmistakable camaraderie and affection between the trio onstage. 

Maya Rae, Cinya Khan and Judah Mayowa, collectively known as the folk-pop band Tiny Habits, brought their gentle vibrance to Washington, DC’s Union Stage on Friday, April 4. 

The trio met in their early days as students at Boston’s Berklee College of Music and quickly became best friends before deciding (as they fondly reminisce), “Let’s be a band! That could be kinda fun!” 

In early 2022, they formed Tiny Habits and began posting videos wedged together in stairwells and dorm rooms covering songs across genres. The videos quickly gained traction and caught the attention of fans and big-name artists, leading to collaborations with artists including Lizzy McAlpine, JP Saxe and Mark Ronson. 

After recently opening for folk-pop megastar Noah Kahan during his fall 2023 Europe tour and for Gracie Abrams during her winter 2024 Australia dates, this DC show marked the final quarter of their first national headline tour. 

Friday’s audience was filled with fans with a clear appreciation for vocal talent; several songs were interrupted midway through by extended applause for particularly impressive vocal moments by each member. With only a handful of songs released on streaming platforms, fans were sure to hear their favorite original Tiny Habits song performed on this tour as well as a few unreleased ones. Reminiscent of the band’s quintessential covers that started it all, they also performed reimagined renditions of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide,” Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know” and Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” Other tracks, such as their ode to feelings of hopelessness-turned-determination, “some things (i’ve learned),” describe a moment here. 

During their performance of “some things (i’ve learned),” there was a noticeable stillness amongst the crowd––as if we all knew to stay present in this special moment. 

The track is a personal favorite of mine, and in the final verse, they sing, “Everything changes and it doesn't matter how I feel about it and that makes me sadder / I wish I had impact on all my surroundings / Like if God knew I'd cry then he'd change plans around me / But some things are broken that don't need my help / If I'm gonna repair anything then it sure as hell should be myself.” The emotional specificity––a combination of helplessness and determination––captured in these words speaks to a unique talent of these evolving songwriters and makes fans eager for what’s to come. 

In recounting their journey from the band’s formation to their first headline tour, Rae told Friday’s audience, “It’s been so awesome and every night we cry about it.”

True to her word, she tearfully continued, “I just want to say, this is what I’ve always wanted to do with my life, and to be able to do it with my two best friends in the world is pretty crazy.” 

Mayowa interjected, “If she starts crying, I’m going to start crying, and then [Cinya] is going to start crying and it’ll all be a mess,” to which Rae continued, “No, we’re going to sing now.” 

There is a certain sense of earnest joy to live music when the excitement and gratitude of the artists is so palpable. No amount of flashy production can fabricate the genuine feeling that the artists are as enthusiastic to share the night with the audience as its members are to attend. What truly set this performance apart was the unmistakable camaraderie and affection between the trio onstage. It is a rare and special opportunity to witness others’ friendship so intimately, which almost forces you to reflect on the value of social connection in your own life. Even amidst moments filled with emotional depth, songs flawlessly performed by three best friends make it hard not to believe things may just be okay. 

Tiny Habits recently signed with Mom + Pop Records and are working on their next album with producer Tony Berg. There is much to look forward to from these evolving artists who make it so easy for fans to share in their intimate joys.