TALIA

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TALIA – She is also a New York based artist

Interview conducted on November 10, 2020

By Dan Locke

“Effortlessly blending the orchestral and the contemporary, the past and present, pop and R&B, TALIA makes it hard to tie her to one style, only making her an even more intriguing artist to keep our eye on.” – EARMILK

What is your upbringing?

My family is Caribbean, but I was born in America. I mostly grew up in a suburb right outside of Atlanta, Georgia

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How did you discover music?

I grew up around reggae music. My mom would also play me French and Classical music sometimes. I just consumed a lot of different genres and it really intrigued me to experience life through music. To this day, I associate specific songs and genres with periods of my life.

How did you start to write music?

I started off with instruments and would try to compose songs. Actually, my first dream was to write scores for movies. I never felt comfortable singing or sharing my lyrics. It took me until I was in college to realize that I wanted to write and sing lyrics too.

You sing, play piano, violin and guitar. Which came first?

I started piano lessons when I was seven years old! I had the same teacher up until high school, but there were some periods of time and years where I would take a break from it. In middle school, I picked up some violin and taught myself chords on the guitar. Singing didn’t come until the end of high school when I started writing more lyrics and experimenting with my voice.

What was your first performance like?

I think it was a piano recital. I remember the rush of adrenaline I felt from playing a two-minute beginners’ piece from my piano book. I loved every second of it.

What makes a good songwriter?

I love songwriters that are so specific about their own experiences but they still manage to make the words feel like my own. You can tell how personal it feels and that’s what makes it universal, you know?

Tell me about the song “hype park”?

I was daydreaming about visiting London again. I miss it. It’s such a moody, yet a dreamy city. I felt so inspired artistically and I fell in love there. There’s something really special about rediscovering yourself in a new environment. The morning I wrote hyde park, I felt compelled to write about this enormous amount of love I found while studying in England. I recorded a rough demo with my guitar then adding sprinkles of piano and violin. I immediately sent it to my younger brother who co-produced it with me. He helped fill in all the gaps. We wanted to keep it simple and let the focus be on the words. I wrote the words to feel like an inner diary, a daydream, a longing for someone. All the ways that love can bring color and inspiration to my life. The violin swells are the butterflies in my stomach. The guitar percussion is the heartbeat. For me, ‘hyde park’ is a glimpse into the delicate and colorful world of love. It’s such a magical experience to discover parts of yourself in a new place simultaneously with someone else.

Tell me about the making of the video “colder”?

We drove out to a desert in California to catch sundown for the shoot. I wanted to create a visual that would reflect the isolation that comes from heartbreak. The sunset images mirror more of the romanticized moments of a relationship while darker images reflect the painful parts. It’s all a collection of colors and moods I felt while writing the song.

What is your favorite track on the upcoming EP?

It’s coming out next month! The song is a lot more playful and upbeat than my usual so I’m excited to put it out!

How do you stay healthy while performing?

I try to get as much rest as possible. Hydrating, stretching, and warming up my body and voice is important too.

What are you feeling about streaming music?

Streaming is great because it’s giving artists and independent artists more of a platform to share their music to larger audiences, although I think there needs to be a bigger conversation around giving artists fair pay from streaming.

Do you think of yourself as an actress who sings or a singer who acts?

I think of myself as an artist moreso or just a creative person. There are so many artistic avenues I want to explore in the future. Both acting and music require vulnerability in different ways, so I appreciate them equally.

Digital vs. vinyl?

Vinyl is lovely, but digital because it’s just more accessible for everyone!

Studies are showing that because of COVID-19 many students who were ready for college have decided to hold off because many schools are doing virtual school and changing the same amount for school as they would for on-campus classes. Do you think colleges should give some type of discount to these students?

I was in my last semester of college when the pandemic hit earlier this year. Now that we are adjusting to this reality, I think it’s important to acknowledge that students are not getting the same level of access and education that you normally get while being on campus and in person. Especially students that study the art or can’t attend bio labs, etc. The costs of university were already high and virtual semesters should definitely be discounted in my opinion.

How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?

I’ve already seen a lot of inventive live-streamed performances from artists. Site-specific live shows in cool locations would be cool. I think music listeners miss concerts and really appreciate the effort to adjust with live streams. The world needs music and it helps us all feel connected, so the business isn’t going anywhere.

What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?

I spent part of it in Phoenix. I really enjoyed having the space to go on hikes and see the beautiful scenery. It gave me room to be inspired and write a bunch of songs on my guitar. I wrote most of the demos on the EP there, then I went back home to Georgia at the end of the summer to record everything in my childhood home.

Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?

cooking and baking (I have a huge sweet tooth)! New recipes are fun and food is a good comfort.

95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and use their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?