Bryson Tiller Gets Inspiration From Kendrick Lamar & Solange

Bryson Tiller is inspired.

After releasing three new tracks and announcing his sophomore album True to Self, Pen Griffey phoned into Hot 97’s “Ebro in the Morning” to discuss his latest muses.

During the interview, the Louisville slugger was asked about the new music that’s been inspiring him. Tiller was quick to name Solange’s A Seat at the Table and Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. “Solange’s album, I love it so much,” he said. “Solange’s album and Kendrick Lamar’s album as well. It’s amazing.”

But other stars have also motivated him in other ways. Sia has driven him to keep a mystique around his persona. “I’m really inspired by the artist Sia,” he said. “I love how nobody’s ever seen what she looks like. Well, people know what she looks like, but I wish I could be that, just like a shadowy figure.”

Earlier this week, Tiller dropped True to Self’s lead single, “Somethin Tells Me,” a song that was inspired by true to life events. “One day, somebody that I love, I was trying to go upstairs and talk to them,” he said. “And they were being kind of cold to me. I was like, ‘Damn. What’s the issue? Is it because I’m on the road, because I’m doing music, because I’m in music videos with all of these girls or whatever?’ I was feeling bad so I just went in the studio and made that song.”

Beyond “Somethin Tells Me,” Pen Affleck also dropped “Honey” and “Get Mine” featuring Young Thug. While “Honey’s” fate remains unknown, the latter track won’t be on the album. “Nah,” he said. “That’s some stuff I did awhile ago. Thug just jumped on it so I was like, ‘Might as well put it out there.'”

True to Self is due June 23.