Amira Antonia M Pyliotis (born 24 April 1980) is an Australian independent Roots singer-songwriter and guitarist; who performs as Tecoma.
Her style has been called "post trip-hop" by the Rolling Stone Australia (April 2007) and "alternative roots music" by Triple J radio network.
[11] In primary school, at about eight-years-old, she heard a jazz trumpeter "literally blowing us kids away with the power of the instrument and his skill on it.
[12] Her early influences include Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone, John Lee Hooker, and Johnny Cash.
[13] While still at secondary school, at the age of 14, Pyliotis joined a covers band providing "Pearl Jam, RHCP & Faith No More" material.
[17] Sophie Gurley of The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music felt that "Reins", which appears on both EPs, was "abstract but yearning and deepens the emotional tone through strong shifts between vocals and strings".
[6][11] Upon return to Melbourne she finished work on four tracks and recorded them independently with a studio band; she was assisted by Ben Wheeler as audio engineer and on drums.
[11] She toured Australia appearing at the 2005 Darwin Festival, and then Europe in September 2005, building up a fan base and earning wider recognition.
[2][3] Early in 2006 she received a professional development award from Australian Performing Right Association (APRA) in the category Popular Contemporary to "further her career in the European market".
[27] The Dwarf website's Elyse Stoupe felt that her "voice sounds close to that of Missy Higgins, if only a tad bit raspier, making it that much more interesting.
[31] Produced by Tecoma, it was released as Home Brew Side One in September,[32] and included work by Wheeler and bass guitar by Lucas Taranto.