On Sorry for the Wait, rising alt-pop singer, songwriter, and self-made producer TEHYA delivers a bold and deeply personal debut via Neon Gold Records, the same iconic label that first championed names like Charli XCX, Tove Lo, and Christine and the Queens. Across seven emotionally-charged tracks, the 24-year-old Filipino-Native American artist invites listeners into her world of heartache, healing, and hard-earned growth.
The EP opens with the dreamy yet gut-punching “spoons for sweets”, a standout track that showcases TEHYA’s gift for pairing gentle melodies with raw vulnerability. Its accompanying music video mirrors the song’s intimacy and sets the tone for the journey ahead. From the heartbreak-laced storytelling of “dust dog” — a dusty, sun-drenched metaphor wrapped in ambient production — to the fiery defiance of “just a girl,” TEHYA walks a fine line between softness and strength, often within the same breath.
What makes Sorry for the Wait feel special isn’t just its sonic polish — thanks to co-producers like The Imports (Beyoncé), Aire Atlantica (SZA), and Cameron Hale (Khalid) — it’s TEHYA’s voice, both literally and lyrically. Her lyrics are diaristic, her delivery tender and precise. Each song feels like a page from a journal she’s finally ready to share. On “trap door,” which dropped during Native American Heritage Month, she honors her heritage while pushing forward artistically, landing on Spotify’s Fresh Finds cover as a result.
Raised in the Pacific Northwest with Cherokee, Filipino, and Scotch-Irish roots, TEHYA’s music is the product of culture, community, and fierce independence. A true DIY artist, she writes all her toplines and lyrics, and plays guitar, keys, and drums. Having taught herself production in the Seattle underground rap scene, her sound now merges alt-pop, R&B, and indie textures into something that feels both familiar and brand new.
By the final track “weaker,” TEHYA has taken us through the highs and lows of love, identity, and self-discovery. It’s the kind of debut that doesn’t just make a splash — it marks the arrival of a fully-formed voice with something urgent to say.
If Sorry for the Wait is TEHYA’s introduction, it’s one hell of an entrance.
