Bad Religion: The Spiritual Metamorphosis of UMI
Conscious creator UMI channels her spiritual practices in grounding Neo-soul melodies and calming, communal performances.
Bad Religion explores the relationship between music and spirituality, from Christianity and Islam to the paranormal and the occult.
Written by Heather Stewart
Photo courtesy of Eddie Mandell
Overwhelming crowds, intoxicated performers, and overstimulating cheers are staples for concerts in 2023. 24-year-old singer-songwriter Tierra “UMI” Wilson challenges this status quo with a discography and stage presence rooted in spirituality, meditation, and breathwork. In 2022, UMI released her sophomore album, Forest in the City. The name of this R&B record is reflective of UMI’s serene presence in the chaos of the music industry. Their prioritization of mental health as well as her slowed-down, sublime lifestyle create an oasis of rest and recharge for listeners who are overcome by the hustle culture that has overtaken the music industry — along with the rest of western society.
UMI’s discography consists of grounding reverb, slowed, fuzzy beats, and creamy vocals; it isn’t therapeutic by mistake. In an interview with In The Know, UMI describes herself as a “conscious creator.” Intentionality is a common thread that ties together various religions, but UMI considers herself spiritual rather than religious. Despite the occasional mentions of a higher power, such as in the bubbly song “wish that I could be,” her identity is in line with the growing new age phenomenon. Their spirituality isn’t confined to churches, mosques, or other religious institutions, but rather prioritizes connection with and awareness of oneself.
Within the melting pot that is the new age sect of spirituality, self-care tends to reign supreme — alongside healing crystals, divination, and meditation. At concerts, UMI leads her audience in meditation and breathwork while sipping on a cup of hot herbal tea in between songs. “Meditation is a really, really big part of my life, and spirituality is so tied to my music,” they told In the Know. UMI’s holistic approach to performing and production is refreshingly unique, leaving listeners with what can only be described as the residual feeling that religious individuals find in worship services.
Photo courtesy of Keylee Baque
The songstress is thoughtful in her divine expression, and iterates how spirituality and wellness go hand and hand. In January 2023, UMI headlined a performance for “Hi, How Are You Day,” (HHAY) a fundraising event that the nonprofit HHAY Project puts on to promote mental health awareness. In the heartfelt, acoustic beat mashup, “Breathe,” the Seattle-born musician supports a loved one struggling with a mental health crisis. UMI reminds them to breathe and meditate in their hardest moments, insisting, “I know you’re trying your best to stay afloat / I can tell it’s harder for you than me, I know.” The validation UMI offers is testament to her prioritization of community, which is a value that mirrors a lot of religious practices.
Their poetic body of musical work is infused with spiritual allusion. In the delicate melody, “Down to Earth,” UMI uses her spirituality as a metaphor for romantic admiration that she labels divine. Over soft guitar stringing and gentle beats, she remarks, “Meditate on you just for the high / Think we met before in another life.” These pining lyrics hint at the concept of twin flames, a spiritual concept asserting that two people with a deep soul connection have known each other throughout each of their reincarnated lives. While originally an Ascetic tradition, reincarnation has since evolved in many different religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, etc.). It has also been adopted by people, like UMI, who don’t identify with specific religions. It has also been adopted by people like UMI, who don’t identify with specific religions. Like in “Down to Earth,” the neo-soul artist uses a similar metaphorical strategy with love to spirituality in the low-beat “synergy.” She makes a nod to astrology, lamenting, “The moon, it knows I / Don’t want you to leave / I think you’re divine.” UMI’s use of spiritual language to refer to, at first glance, unrelated topics, demonstrates how they infuse the sacred into all aspects of life.
“Everything will be alright” is an upbeat track in which UMI outlines how the divine keeps her hope alive. Her bright vocals mirror the song’s content as she insists, “Know that God, You got me / I let go of fear, I take my time and I’ll be.” The lyrics and occasional twinkling instrumentals and giggles heard throughout the track further establish UMI’s overcoming of worry because she is devoted to her beliefs. The songstress presses, “Got my ego going crazy, gotta get out of my mind / Got me doubting what we started, I should take a step outside / I wanna run and hide.” But then she remembers that “everything will be alright” because of the peace she finds in trusting the metaphysical.
The harmony of UMI’s art is a common sentiment found by all different kinds of religious and spiritual human beings, whether they believe in magic or a Holy Bible. The indie guru is honest in their expressions, all while preaching self cafe and unity. Due to the common aspects of spirituality in UMI’s healing sonics, people of all different types of convictions can use her mindful melodies as part of their everyday rituals.