A Conversation with Tiffany: All This Time
- 12thFret
- 2 days ago
- 19 min read
One thing that is a constant in this ever changing world of uncertainty, is that nostalgia can take people back to a better place than the one they're in right now. Music of present day and decades past can be a powerful catalyst for nostalgia through radio, video, streaming, albums, and even movies/television.
No matter what music you prefer today, if you were raised in the early and mid 80's you were treated to what many would consider the golden age of MTV. Back when the station played music videos as opposed to reality TV, there was something for everyone to enjoy regardless of preferred genres.
This was an era where music was so mainstream that the category of rock and pop were fairly intertwined, to the point where we had artists like El DeBarge, Madonna, Prince, Michael Jackson, U2 and Van Halen all dominating the charts at one time or another. In that time period there were so many great videos and songs on the air that no matter how old you were, you had a favorite.
Our household was pretty well steeped in Rock with a sprinkling of Tejano being that this is South Texas. Be that as it may when my brother put on our VHS that was filled with nothing but music videos recorded off of the TV we were in for a treat.
We can vaguely recall certain videos from that old VHS that stood out to us even as the decades have passed. Some of note included Josie by The Outfield, Material Girl by Madonna, Call Me All by Paul Simon, Runaway by Bon Jovi, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For by U2 and I think We're Alone Now by Tiffany.
What stood out about I Think We're Alone Now was just how fun it was. Being a small child between the ages of 5-6, it didn't matter that it was what was then called BubbleGum Pop.
What mattered and stood out was that it was fun. Though we haven't seen the video in decades we can remember laughing at a scene where Tiffany is dancing with an older gentleman in the mall and thinking "That reminds us of grandpa."
A funny thing nostalgia. You can be having the worst day or just be in a mental funk, but that little memory can temporarily put you in a better frame of mind and make you smile if only for a few minutes.
Although the track isn't one that the modern era of music would immediately think back to in terms of staying power, it continues to surprise everyone. In the theatre watching Ted in 2012 we immediately chuckled when the song came out of nowhere, not at the scene as much as the memory of being a kid watching that video.
Cut to 2025 as millions stream the final season of Stranger Things, the older generations who enjoy the show are always ready for some nostalgia to hit em out of nowhere. We were not disappointed as out of all of the things that popped up from our past Tiffany was one of the defining moments for many.
Just like in season 3 when we were treated to Never Ending Story, the final season delivered. As soon as the character Holly Wheeler opened that mailbox and we saw the Tiffany cassette, we knew what was coming.
The song is not the only thing that has endured as the artist herself is currently on her "All This Time" tour across the US. Making her way from our lone star state of Texas to Tulsa, OK we had the chance to speak with Tiffany herself to discuss the tour, the 80's and current/upcoming projects.
Interview with Tiffany 4/3/2026
To hear the Audio Interview check out the video at the end of this article
12thFret: So I guess let's go ahead and get started real quick. First and foremost, how are you doing this morning?
Tiffany: I am good. I am poolside right now. And cup of coffee in my hand. Uh, and it is, there's a nice storm rolling in, so hasn't hit yet, so I can still be outside in nature, which is a big treat for me because we've been on the road, and I have not had like 5 minutes to myself from probably 2.5 weeks, so this is awesome, and there's this beautiful red cardinal staring at me right now, so I'm a nature head. I a hippie dippy doo. So this is lovely, um, and I'm in this really cool 60s kind of swing, just swinging away today. So this is like fantastic for me. And I love that it's like, I love storms, so it's nice and windy and cool and it's just, it's a beautiful day here in Tulsa.
12thFret: Well, that is awesome to hear. And yes, speaking of the tour, we understand it only kicked off just really a couple of days ago, about a week or so. Um, what's the vibe in the reception been like so far?
Tiffany: Oh, it's been a lot of fun. We played Antone's, um, a couple days ago and the legendary. Well, there's so many different people that have played there, but for me, Stevie Ray Vaughan played there, so that's really cool. Uh, and it was like a huge crowd. They were awesome. They were ready to sing, have fun, and just party and enjoy the new music into retroing with me, which I love. Um, so we had a blast. Yeah. Prior to this tour. I have been doing some other stuff in the UK. Uh, so yeah, it's been a, it's been normally I don't start my chores like coming from other things, but it just, it's been a very busy year already. So it just kind of worked out that way that we just like, we're working, working, working up to the tour and I was like, oh, okay, keep going. So, you know, I'm literally enjoying today. I enjoy, of course, being on stage that as well as like a little escape for me. Uh, you know, being in cars and traveling and being on airplanes. This is not my favorite. I'm not gonna lie. So when I do land someplace and I can actually hit the stage, I feel like, yeah, okay, it's all worth it, you know?
12thFret: Definitely, travel can definitely take a lot out of you and I know that myself.
Tiffany: It really, really, really does you know.
12thFret: Yes, I am glad you got to go to Austin, though, and play at Antones, and speaking of that, we know that there's a cookbook coming out and that you are a self proclaimed foodie, did you find any interesting eats there in Austin?
Tiffany: You know, we didn't really have a chance to do too much, unfortunately. So that was one night, we didn't even have dinner. It was that crazy. I didn't, uh, gosh, that morning. I did interviews. We went to Soundcheck, um, and I was told about these great tacos around the corner that never happened. Uh, and then later that night, we literally, we literally went to bed without any food. So I was like, I think we missed it in this town, but I've been to Austin so many times, uh, and it is a great, great, great town, great city to be a part of. Um, and now I'm here in Tulsa, and I am definitely going to take, uh, in some of their definitely culinary favorites. I've been, I was at the radio station earlier this morning and they've given me a list of places to go and I am not missing this this time.
12thFret: Awesome.
Tiffany: Today's my day off, so we are going to do interviews and then we're going to hit the town and just go and have a good time with some, some definitely, some of the restaurants that they've suggested. So today is an eating day.
12thFret: That sounds great. I always love one of those. And now speaking of the cookbook, we understand that's going to come out, I believe, next month. So with that, is there a favorite recipe in the book that you're looking forward for people to try?
Tiffany: Oh gosh, I mean, you know, I love them all, of course. Our puffy cheesy burgers are pretty cool. Um, they're just little cheesy bites. They're just little burger bites. So, you know, it's got your pickles and your onions in in the actual meat. So we kind of roll those up, and so they look like a little meatball, and then we roll them with a puff pastry,
12thFret: Awesome.
Tiffany: and then we bake those. So, you know, they're little mini bites. Um, I love little appetizer foods, sometimes, again, obviously I didn't even get food the other night,
12thFret: Right.
Tiffany: So we are "running just as fast as we can", literally. So anything that I can put in my hand, anything that I can make for the band on the road, um, is, is a lot of fun. I love my piggies in the blanket because I stuff them with mac and cheese as well.
12thFret: Oo00 that sounds great.
12thFret: So, and um, you can put a nice hot sauce with it. I put a little paprika on mine. Um, so it just has a little bit of a smoky paprika kick to it. Um, but we, in the cookbook, we're very sensitive to people's allergies or tastes and things. So we always have like options. You can omit this if you want or you, you know, if you really want to go there. I of course have my own spice blends as well. Let's taco, taco, taco, and hip hop, hot harissa, and rock stars Zatar,
12thFret: Awesome, awesome.
Tiffany: we always wink, wink a little bit to those if you want to just kind of do a light dusting on most of the foods. Um, you know, you can, you can add my spice blends.
12thFret: Nice, nice. And as far as those foods go. Of course, a child of the 80's myself as well. What was your favorite comfort food from back then?
Tiffany: Chicken pot pie.
12thFret: Oh, love it.
Tiffany: So we do a chicken pot pie in there. Now, my mom used to sometimes make them for me after school, so she would go old school and bake them, but you know, if not, she would just get the chicken pot pies, like we see the little packets.
12thFret: Mm-hmm.
tiffany: Um, from from the grocery store. But I being an East LA girl. I love spice. I always had to judge mine up a little bit. So we've done the Mexican style chicken pot pie. Um, and you know, I, I put cilantro in there. I, you know, if you want jalapeno in there, you can. So it's not overly spicy again. There's some options to level it up if you'd want. But, um, but definitely we've, we've, we've changed a little bit of the concept of the classic chicken pot pie.
12thFret: Nice, very nice. And so far on the tour, what's been your favorite song to perform live?
Tiffany: Oh, well, it's always, I think we're low now. I mean, you know, it's the last song of the night, but you know, people are primed. We've had a good time so far, you know, um, and I, I always look forward to just really engaging with the fans on that. I love when people start doing busting out in the dance, you know? Uh, it's it's a lot of fun.
12thFret: It really is a lot of fun, and I'll be honest, you know, like I said, growing up in the 80's, I think I was around 6, 6 or 7 years old, and we had just a VHS of all the recorded MTV music videos. That was one of my favorites as a 6 or 7 year old. It's just something about that song.
Tiffany: Oh yeah.
12thFret: It's just so fun.
Tiffany: (laughter)Yeah, and I still do the dance. So there's that. There's the highlight of the night.
12thFret: Oh I've seen clips and you still have it, you still do it.
Tiffany: (laughter)
12thFret: So with that being said, um, it seems to pop out every few years, like just out of the blue, for example, it appeared, um, in a memorable scene in the movie Ted in 2012, and now, of course, it's popped back up in Stranger Things. So, what is it about the song? Do you think that just seems to pull people in every few generations?
Tiffany: Oh gosh, um, I don't know. There's a magic to the song that, you know, I really can't put my finger on it. Um, you know, I was talking to a friend of mine a couple of days ago and she was just kind of saying, you know, I mean, we became friends later. So, you know, she was like, girl, I grew up listening to this song. And it was exactly what I was going through. You know, the cheekiness of my 1st kiss, you know, and I wanted to tell my mom. But yet, I didn't know if she'd be like, you know, give me a big lecture, like, oh, now you're kissing, so it's going to go to the next thing, and, you know, and that, and she goes, and I didn't want to hear that, because it was just a kiss. That's all I really wanted to do. I just wanted to be with my boyfriend and was innocent. And I remember holding his hand just going, my heart would just like beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, and there was nothing smutty about it or, you know, it was, it was such innocent fun. You know, but it was that 1st contact with somebody, you know, that you, you liked and you cared about and they, they thought you were cool or pretty or whatever it was, you know? And it just, it made you feel special.
12thFret: Mm-hmm.
Tiffany: And and that song really just said it. It just really, you know, it was, I, you know, I think we're alone now, that time, that talking on the phone and, and all of that, and looking forward to that phone call. You know, after, even if you saw your boyfriend or girlfriend at school, you know, it, it didn't matter, it was like, going home and then being able to talk privately and, you know, being blushing and silly and laughing and, you know, hoping that you were saying everything right and, you know, it was just all of that. There was something that really that song, just touched you, you know, it really just said it all.
12thFret: Yeah, and it's become so nostalgic for so many people. I mean, just looking at that, even in Stranger Things, just see, as soon as I saw the cassette cover, I knew what was coming. And it just immediately took me back to that place, you know, and the 80's were such a fun times, whether you were a teenager or a little kid, it was just a great period in American history. As far as that goes, if there's one thing from nostalgia that you could bring back from that 80's decade, what would it be for you?
Tiffany: Oh, let's see. You know, um, I've even considered putting a landline back in my house, you know? The other day, it was just, again, I love modern technology, but the constant bombardment,
12thFret: Yeah.
Tiffany: of having a device all the time, where you feel like you have to respond to everything. Um, you know, the other day I literally was like, okay, no. I'm going to respond to everybody at 2 o'clock and I'm going to check my phone again at 6 o'clock because this is too much.
12thFret: Yeah.
Tiffany: I'm now talking to like 50 different people, you know, and for me, of course, I'm promoting the cookbook and I'm out on tour, so a lot of it is business, but you still have random people,
12thFret: Oh Yeah
Tiffany: now who can reach out to you. Hey girl, which again, I do love. But, you know, back in the day, it was like, you didn't have this overstimulation. If you went to work, you were with your coworkers. Your kids went to school.
12thFret: Yeah
Tiffany: Then at night you came home, you sat around the table and you got to know what everybody's day was like. You caught, you, you know, called your family or whatever you had to do. But work was work and that was done. Now from working from home, it's 24 hours a day, you know, you get the random text from friends, you know, you're talking to your kids all day long, and then you're looking at social media. It just doesn't stop.
12thFret: Yeah
Tiffany: Um, and so, yeah, I think, you know, for me, it would be just having that human contact,
12thFret: Yes
Tiffany: going to meet in malls were very big because it wasn't just shopping. You actually went to the mall and had lunch,
12thFret: Yeah.
Tiffany: with your friends, it was a thing.
12thFret: Yeah, very much so.
Tiffany: My mom went to lunch with her friends there and then I would go someplace else separately. I go to the food court and see my friends, you know, so it wasn't so, and it's kind of sad because a lot of the malls are closing now, you know?
12thFret: Yeah.
Tiffany: You don't have that one intimate place where everybody meets anymore.
12thFret: Yes, and I'm glad you said a landline because that's one thing I try and explain to kids and teenagers now is cell phones are great, but have you ever had to try and call your crush on the landline and not know who's going to pick up that phone?
Tiffany: Well, that was the thing. I mean, you know, there's a spot in the, in this show all this time,
12thFret: Yeah.
Tiffany: where I have an old school phone and I pick it up and I say, I'm calling all my 80s people, but I do talk about, you know, how it, it is great to have modern technology, but do you remember having to be home,
12thFret: Mm-hmm.
Tiffany: when that person said they were going to call you waiting for that phone call?
12thFret: Yes.
Tiffany: Or, you know, if you were like me at my house, Somebody was always on the phone when I was supposed to get that phone call, you know?
12thFret: Yep
Tiffany: So I'd be like standing in the hallway going, mom, get off the phone, get off the phone, get off the phone.
12thFret: Yep
Tiffany: He's supposed to call me now or my girlfriend's supposed to call me right now or whatever it is, you know, and or my, the opposite. My mom yelling in the background. "Tiffany get off the phone."
12thFret: Yeah
Tiffany: "Tiffany, get off phone." (laughter)
12thFret: Or god forbid, they call and your sibling picks it up,
Tiffany: (laughter) Exactly.
12thFret: and they were not kind.
Tiffany: You know, but also, I mean, you couldn't screen your calls
12thFret: No
Tiffany: You had to like pick up that pill, you know? So, I mean, you know, the answer machine was like the answer to being able to screen your calls. You'd see who was calling 1st and then you'd pick it up,
12thFret: Right.
Tiffany: But, you know, I mean, that was like, woohoo, really, you know, you, you, you were pretty fancy then. But I mean, again, even, even back in the day, we didn't have phones. So if you said you were going to be someplace, you know, meet me here, you really had to be there.
12thFret: Yeah.
Tiffany: You know? So it was the thing. It was again that human communication. Um, you know, I think now it's, it's funny because like, a lot of times, you know, we see people, that I, again, one of my friends was saying, I was just, you know, at this party, and I was talking to somebody, and I text them and I could see them across the room, and I could see them ignoring my texts.
12thFret: Ooff
Tiffany: They didn't know I was there, and I was like, yeah, see, that's the thing now.
12thFret: Yeah
Tiffany: You can really hone on people where there. I had, you know what they're doing. You can see, I go, we didn't have that.
12thFret: No.
Tiffany: You had a sense of privacy.
12thFret: Yes.
Tiffany: And, um, you know, it was pretty golden actually to have that.
12thFret: Agreed. I agree. And speaking of modern technology, so we understand in 2027, there's going to be a new album released, a reimagining of some classics. Um, are these going to be completely new arrangements and are there going to be any new songs on that album?
Tiffany: Um, we're not sure if there's going to be any new songs, uh, because we probably want to keep it kind of classic, but they are going to be reworked.
12thFret: Okay, awesome awesome.
Tiffany: Yes. So they are the greatest hits reworked.
12thFret: Okay, and as far as, you know, we talked about the song coming back up in Stranger Things. Were you a fan of the show? And if so, who was your favorite character or did you find you would have related to at that age?
Tiffany: Uh, well, gosh, I, I'm, I am a fan of the show. I love the show. Uh, so to be a part of it, I had no clue. I had no tip off, that was such a surprise. What a great surprise. So very, very happy about that. Uh, you know, I'm, I left all the characters. I know it. I really, I mean, I love Winona Ryder, of course.
12thFret: Yeah
Tiffany: because she's my childhood, and it was just great to see her, you know, back.
12thFret: Yes.
Uh, and just being just her. I you know, I've always been a huge fan. Um, and of course, you know, again, I grew up watching her, so, you know, I would follow her to the end of the earth and anything she did. Uh, and then she was part of this really cool 80s, you know, um, show, you know, take on the 80's you know?
12thFret: Yeah.
Tiffany: Basically from Stranger Things. So, you know, I loved every bit of it. I, I, from the beginning to the to the final, I cried at the final. You know, I was like, no, I don't want it to be over.
12thFret: Oh, yeah.
Tiffany: It's, it's like, I felt like the bottom had dropped out because they really enjoyed the show for so many reasons. I'm a sci-fi fan. It had all my favorite characters. I love all the actors. Um, you know, but also, it was it was my childhood.
12thFret: Yeah.
Tiffany: There was times I'd watch the show and I'd chuckle.
12thFret: Yes.
Tiffany: because of the terminology or because they would say or do something that, you know, I had done before, you know, um, or this, you know, small town, because I was in a small town, even though I'm from LA, it made sense riding our bikes up and down the street. I used to, I used to have my bikes. that was my jam. Um, so, you know, that, that was fun, but then also, sometimes it made me sad,
12thFret: Oh yeah.
Tiffany: because I would see something, you know, like a sofa or, you know, a cup or, you know, the set, something like that, or even a shirt that somebody wore, that I was like, my mom wore that.
12thFret: Yep. Haha.
Tiffany: or, I had that. I remember that.
12thFret: Yep.
Tiffany: I missed that, and it kind of made you sad, you know?
12thFret: Yes.
Tiffany: It made you sad for your childhood, like, that was just yesterday. Where did it go?
12thFret: Oh yeah.
Tiffany: You know, and it made me really miss my grandmother and it really made me miss my mom because they'd passed on. So, you know, there was times like, my fiance would look at me and he was like, why are you crying? I'm like, because my mom had a cup like that. Like you don't understand
12thFret: Yeah.
Tiffany: Like, that was everything, and I just missed being at my grandma's, and I just missed my childhood, and, you know, and he was like, this is like a happy show. I'm like, well, it's making me sad right now. I don't know, you know, but it was all of that emotion if you're a true 80's kid.
12thFret: Yes.
Tiffany: It was just so well done. You know, there was nothing. There was nothing. no, there was no skimping on it.
12thFret: Nope.
Tiffany: It really was everything. And, you know, again, when I saw the last episode. I, I literally went right back to the beginning and binge watched the entire series.
12thFret: And it's worth it.
Tiffany: I just couldn't, I just couldn't say, you know, I'm done. Um, Holly is probably my favorite character. Um, yeah, I didn't see her up in really, becoming such a powerful force at the, at the end of the series.
12thFret: Yes, definitely a break out.
Tiffany: Even without my music involved. She was definitely a breakout. Um, so, but, you know, I, I kind of, I liked her sass and her attitude, you know, from the very beginning, it reminds me of my little sister, and that's why, you know, um, because I was much more, you know, the boisterous, always something going on, kids coming in the house and this and that, and of course, my baby sister was just like taking it all in and shunned to the side and just be quiet, whatever, you know, and then looking at all, like, my sister was always like just looking at all these variables happening, you know, characters in the house, um, and you know, and and then later on she found her voice. So, you know, it just really reminded me watching her grow up as well.
12thFret: That is great. And of course, we have to, of course, wrap up here because I can have one final question for you. So, I also work with kids when I'm not doing this, and I have a Choir class that's just across from where I usually work. They always tell me, usually the girls, but they tell me, sir, we're doing the song from Stranger Things in Choir. And it always comes down to one of two. It's either Never Ending Story, or I Think We're Alone Now, and they love it.
Tiffany: Oh I love that.
12thFret: Yes.
Tiffany: Well thank you for being a part of my world and making me a part of yours. I appreciate that.
12thFret: And if you could, you know, any of the girls that want to get into girls and young ladies who want to get into music or singing in general, what advice would you give them or what would you want to tell them?
Tiffany: You know, singing is is just, it's, it is, it's a, it's therapy. It's a part of my life. I sing to myself in the bathtub. I sing, you know, on stage. So it is just, it's, it's how I express myself. And if that's, you know, rather it, a lot of people go, well, I only sing in a choir or I sing at church. I go, that's the magic of it though. You know, you're getting something out of it and you're sharing that gift with others. So it doesn't always have to be, you know, on a record or on a big stage. It is a language between people. And it's something that you do from your source of your body. So it's something you kind of have to do. If you really love music. I mean, that's the same as playing an instrument. It is soothing to our soul. So I always, you know, when I meet other people who are musicians or vocalists. I go, hello, fellow, soul, sister or brother, um, because it really is a soul thing. You know, it makes us happy. So just enjoy it. Keep doing it no matter what, never let it go. Um, you know, I mean, I, I really envy a lot of my friends who play piano and, and they're not even doing it for any other reason but themselves. They're like, oh, I learned piano as a kid and I don't know. I just play every once in a while, you know, and I'm trying to learn piano now. So because it's just something I want to do for myself.
12thFret: Awesome.
Tiffany: You know, music is such a soothing element. So, you know, it's it's something that should just bring you some joy.
12thFret: I agree completely with that. And of course, thank you for your time today, Tiffany. I want to tell everyone out there if they haven't, you know, we want to have the tour dates on the website, so if they have the chance, if you're in their city. They can go and see a show. Thank you so much for talking with us. We really appreciate it.
Tiffany: Aw, thank you guys, sending love.
In addition to her tour, Tiffany is also having a launch party for her cookbook which has been written in collaboration with chef Alicia. The event will take place on May 12th in Las Vegas and tickets are currently available via Eventbrite.
From the stages and Malls of the 80's, to Antone's in Austin and beyond Tiffany is still singing for her fans and has a few more projects in store for all of us. For those interested you can find Tiffany performing across the Country at the following dates and cities:
Apr 8: Knuckleheads - Kansas City, MO
Apr 10: Space Monkey Arcade - Edinburg, TX
Apr 11: SeaWorld San Antonio - San Antonio, TX
Apr 13: House of Blues - Houston, TX
Apr 15: WORKPLAY - Birmingham, AL
Apr 17: Ron Robinson Theater - Little Rock, AR
Apr 18: River City Casino & Hotel - St. Louis, MO
Apr 19-20: Yellow & Co. - Mahomet, IL
Apr 21: North Shore Center - Skokie, IL
Apr 23: The Vogue - Indianapolis, IN
June 6: Ultimate 80's Weekend, Minehead, UK
June 6: St Mary's Stadium - Southampton, UK
June 12: Whisky A Go Go - West Hollywood, CA
June 14: Garden Amp - Garden Grove, CA
June 27: Melksham Oakfield Stadium - Melksham, UK
July 4: Guilfest 2026 - Guildford, UK
July 30: Jergel's Rhythm Grille - Warrendale, PA
Aug 1: The Venue - Cadillac, MI
Oct 31: Forum Copenhagen - Frederiksberg C, Denmark
Nov 21: Ultimate 80's Weekend, Ingoldmells, UK
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