Tali’s Dark Days and High Nights
Interview by Ian Lightsout Hayes
Introduction by Norman Mayers
Photo by Candice Joelle Wordley
From her days as a breakout vocalist and MC with Roni Size’s Full Cycle crew to her current incarnation as a lyrically wise dubstep and bass diva, Tali has always captivated us and commanded our attention. The petite New Zealander who resides in London made a name for herself with dynamic performances where she sings and rhymes with relative ease. With a new album dropping on the dance music masses, Tali is ready to take her throne as the queen of bass.
Nu-Soul: First of all, big congratulations on your new album, Dark Days, High Nights! There are a slew of amazing artists represented here. Tell us a little bit about what it was like working with these artists…any funny/amazing stories?
Tali: Thanks! Everyone I chose to work with on this album was someone I already had a connection with musically, or felt a connection through the music they sent me.
Each of them I feel knows me well enough to have provided me with beats that reflect who I am and the story I wanted to tell. All the UK boys from Shimon to Lynx to Ed Rush etc. I have known for some time and I enjoy their company as well as their production quality. I feel I have some of the best producers on this album in regards to their technical ability and natural musical understanding, which is great for me because I am a perfectionist myself.
Atlantic Connection I have known for years now and we have made a few tunes together over that time, and hung out in LA, it was inevitable he would end up on this album.
Fourward I had never met before up until recently, but I loved the tune they sent me. I felt something beautiful could come out of that and I got the full version a week after the terrible earthquake that hit my old home of Christchurch and felt really inspired to write something in support of what my friends were going through.
‘Lost in the Game’ with Dirtyphonics was a fun process. I actually went to Paris and spent over a week during the summer with them. In between going into the studio and recording the vocals we went to parties, Jazz bars, out for picnics and to graffiti exhibitions. I think in some ways you connect better with producers and know what they want more if you have spent time with them whether in the studio or socially and vice versa.
Nu-Soul: How would you describe the songwriting process with these tracks? How did the tracks come together? Was there collaboration on musical and lyrical content or is it all you lyrically?
Tali: I knew that I wanted this album to reflect the last few years of my living in London and traveling the world and the things I had seen, experienced and been affected by. Therefore it was just a matter of choosing the right tunes from the selection that my chosen producers sent me. I write all my own lyrics, and am very picky about the types of beats I choose to write over. I wont choose something just because someone whose hot in music right now has sent me something – its gotta be right.
I knew that the album would naturally have a more mature sound than that of ‘Lyric on my Lip’ because I’ve had six years of ups and downs and highs and lows to understand who I am and what I want personally and musically. “Lyric” was more about my desire and hunger to prove myself and become something, and while I initially thought that I would end up writing a new album looking back over the last six years, and all those experiences – plenty of things that have happened since my Full Cycle days, failed relationships, friendships that became stale etc, I just couldn’t see the sense in that. Not when there are so many things happening right now which have a bigger impact on us all. The album actually became a much more ‘in the moment’ piece of work. Over the last three years I have learned to let go of a lot of things, enjoy the present and feel positive I can create and manifest the sort of life I want. There isn’t any predictable nostalgia on this album – not too much me, me, me. Instead its written more from the perspective of things I see happening around the world right now and the view point of those being affected.
The main theme running throughout was taken from the one of the first tunes made for the album ‘Dark Days High Nights’. To hear it this title probably conjours up images of nights full of lights and loud music, and dark days with the curtains drawn trying to get some sleep – and in some ways it does encompass that.
However this theme goes deeper than just that. From personal experience and speaking and traveling with my peers within DnB and Dubstep, many DJs and MCs experience real parallels of feeling high from the music, the parties, the adoring fans – to extreme lows of tiredness, self doubt, loneliness – dark days where as artists they struggle to see sense in what they are doing and where to go next. Depression isn’t something that people either want to talk about or admit to and ‘Dark Days’ is really my take on this. I think its important to talk about it, and for people to know that there are ways to help turn their life around because I did it, and without drugs, or doctors. ‘Set me free’ is another tune that sorta has that positive verses negative struggle – the tune is quite dark but the lyrics are positive.
Then there is seeing the conflicts that are occurring not far from here in Palestine and Libya to the violence of the riots in North London that happened only this weekend, all of which created a great emphasis on me to project some positivity and hope in my music amongst what are truly some dark days, and remembering that my own personal struggle is nothing compared to what many are going through.
From ‘Signs’ which is a kinda dark, slightly menacing take on the ongoing religious and political conflicts happening every day, ‘Cold Hearted Soul’ and ‘Get Out’ which are about the numerous stabbings and muggings that happen in my hood every week – right through to ‘Facing Forwards’ and ‘Into the Deep’ which are much more positive, hopeful messages. There’s also your typical party tunes like ‘Lost in the Game’ and ‘Turn It Up’ and ‘Take a Chance’ which is a love song to hopefully give it some consistency.
All in all, it should feel like a journey of ups and downs, struggle and release, highs and lows – with something that everyone can connect with or relate to.
Nu-Soul: What (if you had to pick one) would be your favorite song from the new album?
Tali: Hmmm thats tricky. I actually really love all of the tunes on this album. With ‘Lyric’ there were a few that I wondered weather they should have made it or not, but I feel every tune on this album has its place within the story that is being conveyed. I guess if I am really pushed my favorite would be ‘Into the Deep’ simply because Shimon made it after I kept going on about how there wasn’t enough soulful liquid DnB on there (which I love) and he was like ‘Alright then I’ll make you one’. As we all know, Shimon is more known for tear out tunes like ‘Get Out’ than for soulful DnB, but ‘Into the Deep’ is testament to the brilliance of Shimon as a producer. He wasn’t afraid to take up the challenge, he listened to me when I suggested he put a piano in or jazzy bass, He knew I knew what I was talking about because I listen to a heap of Liquid DnB, and I trusted that he could make something that I would love because he’s that bloody good!
That’s what I enjoyed a lot about making this album, producers felt inspired and encouraged to try some different shit. Look at Ed Rush and ‘Dark Days’. Some people could not get over the fact he had made a Dubstep tune. They were making the stupidest comments like ‘Oh its not ‘Wormhole or ‘The Creeps’ and we’re like well Duh! Its for me Tali, not an Ed Rush and Optical album, and why should he be confined to making music that sounds like 6 years ago? Ed Rush is incredibly talented and felt like doing something different that tested his production abilities. Get over it people and stop living in the past – if you don’t evolve and try new shit, you get left behind. I admire and love Ed Rush for making ‘Dark Days’ for this very reason.
Nu-Soul: You were definitely a pioneer in the field of female dnb/dance MCs. How have things changes for female MCs in the jungle/dnb/dubstep scene since you came up? What advice would you give to aspiring musicians in the EDM scene?
Tali: I think there’s still a real lack of female MC’s sadly.. where they all are I don’t know, but its nice to see that female singers are still giving us beautiful tunes and its important weather they are singers or MC’s – us fellow females in the scene welcome them with open arms.
The problem is, because we are consistently made to feel like there are limited spaces for ladies on the line up, this can often provoke bitchiness and competitiveness amongst a certain few and I personally think its wack. Without a sisterhood its makes it even more difficult for those with aspirations to take the initial step forward and have their voices heard. Recently when Riya came onto the scene the first thing I did was reach out to her and tell her how beautiful I thought her voice was, and to welcome her to the scene. Its important as females we feel comfortable and that we have a place within DnB and Dubstep, because though its a mans game – most of the vocals we hear are from women!! So many men in the scene make the same sounding tunes, DJ in the same way, MC in the same voice – and its so fucking boring. But as women we are expected to be better than average, unique, outstanding. While it may push us to bring those very things to the table it also annoys me that some below average male MC gets a slot on the mainstage whereas the woman are forced into room 2, or to create a girls only night in order to play out in a good slot. Sure it might seem like we’re celebrating our sisterhood by having these nights and while they are positive in that they give newcomers are chance to play – its still due to out dated segregation. I refuse to ever play room two when I can hold my own against any man on the mic in the main room. Why should I? Dance music is supposed to be progressive, but it can’t grow and evolve if people are stuck with the same outdated sexist views. Promoters should make more of an effort to mix up the lineup, have ladies up there next to the men wherever they can so it becomes the norm!
I am happy to say that I am playing ‘Sun and Bass’ next month and as well as me on the lineup is Riya, Deeizm and Collette Warren. I love all those ladies so we’re gonna have a right good time showing what we can do!
Nu-Soul: The title of your latest LP reminds me of a lyric from your classic track, ‘High Hopes’, of which there was a cracking Roni Size remix floating around in the early/mid 2000s. Is there a theme here? What would you say are your main themes lyrically, and what message do you want to convey with your lyrics?
Tali: I think I mostly answered this in question 2. But one of my main over riding themes is that of self belief that one can manifest and create the path they choose to walk. Too many people put their faith in a higher power and say ‘oh well, what will be is in the hand of God/Allah/Budda’ etc and this to me is the greatest cop and out and lack of personal responsibility ever. While I am not against people having their beliefs, I think we need to be relating to our world on a much more humanist level. We as people do have the power to change our lives and that of those around us. Religion segregates people and focuses too much on the differences rather than our similarities. It also encourages people to think they have a dominion over the earth we live on and the animals who inhabit it, and treat it and them with complete disregard. This upsets me the most.
I would say positive thoughts and energy, being open to others and self awareness of the world around us are the most powerful tools we have. Throughout all the darkness and despair there is always hope and a way through but not everyone can do this on their own.
Nu-Soul: What is your favorite drum’n’bass track of all time, and similarly, what was the song that got you hooked?
Tali: Oh man I have a few! It just isn’t possible to say one.
‘Maintain’ the version that Krust made and then remixed himself. So much deeper than the original, this was the first DnB tune I went home from a rave singing. Kemit Crew ‘The Seed’ and ‘The Box’ are classic Jungle tunes that totally got me immersed, Goldie’s ‘Timeless’ and Roni Size’s ‘Brown Paper Bag’ (I also love his remix of Nuyorican Soul’s ‘Its Alright’) Jonny L’s ‘Piper’, Doc Scott’s ‘Shadow Boxing’ and ‘Unoffical Ghost’ Ed Rush and Fierce ‘Locust’, Origin Unknown ‘Valley of the shadows’ Ed Rush and Optical ‘Gasmask’, Breakbeat Era ‘Ultra Obscene’… I told you I had a few and that’s just the tip! After working my butt off for five years and recording and touring I got bored of DnB for a bit there around 2006 and stopped listening to it for a couple of years. I was depressed and felt like I didn’t know where I belonged, especially after I left Full Cycle and Bristol to go live in London. I didn’t feel like making any DnB apart from the odd tune, so instead I made a Hip Hop mix tape with my boyfriend at the time as that’s what I was feeling and I had to do something creatively. Then after I had been dumped unceremoniously by said boyfriend and felt like I had hit the lowest of the lows, it was Drum n Bass that coaxed me out of the darkness and helped me heal and get my confidence back. Around 2008-9, Producers like Lynx, Subfocus, Commix, Calibre, Chase and Status and High Contrast were making these tunes like ‘Disco Dodo’, ‘Timewarp’, ‘Be True’ ‘Alone in the Dark’, ‘Hurt you’ and ‘Everything’s different’ tunes that just seemed to say and project everything I was feeling at the time and which created a real need in me to get back out there and do my thing. Suddenly I was back on it and not only MCing and touring with peeps like Subfocus and Chase and Status and Lynx, but making tunes with them too.
Nowadays I am loving the deep, liquid stuff, or tunes that are proper uplifting. Lenzman and Riya ‘Open Page’, The Upbeats remix of Shapeshifters ‘Twin Galaxies’ things that make me feel like life is amazing!!
Nu-Soul: Where do you want to see the bass music scene go right now? What do you wish you heard more of in modern dance music?
Tali: I wish I heard more soul.. and I don’t mean as in like soul music, I just mean dance music that had a bit more of a heart. Some of it is like a competition to see who can make the most off key wibble wobble noise for vacuous kids with glazed eyes. Like anything I love – art, films, music, I like to see people pushing boundaries and creating new trends, but not to the detriment of the thing itself. Some of the Dubstep I hear is just getting ridiculous nowadays. Complete dross. The Dubstep on my album is atmospheric, full of soaring strings and pads, because that’s what I like, and I wanted to avoid going too near the atypical wobble wobble sound as its meaningless to me. Drum n Bass on the other hand, – while getting a bit swallowed by the popular trend of Dubstep at present, is still maintaining. There are some beautiful tunes with complete heart and soul being made by people like Calibre and Lenzman, Spectrasoul and SPY, and there are other brilliant forms of bass music being explored by people like Commix and Benny Page. You just have to know where to find it amongst the garbage.
Nu-Soul: What future projects are in the works, and are you doing any touring for your album? If so, where can our Los Angeles readers catch your performance?
Tali: I have a lot of future projects, some that involve collaborations, some that are me focusing on song writing and vocal production and the development of artists. Im moving back to New Zealand in October with my husband to try make some babies, and while I will still be doing music from there, I want to use the opportunity to explore these other avenues. I’m definitely touring the album, I will be around Canada and the States late next month, although most promoters aren’t that enthusiastic if it aint a Dubstep DJ they’re booking – so there’ll only be a few dates that people can catch me Stateside.
LA however, as usual, has welcomed me with open arms and I will be MCing a huge rave with Phetsta on the 30th. Im not entirely sure where yet, but I have never had a bad time in LA. I love that city and have made some solid friends for life there so I’m probably going to spend at least four or five days chilling.
Nu-Soul: Do you have a favorite DJ to MC for? Who was the first big DJ that you joined on stage?
Tali: I’ve MCd for so many different DJs over the years, from Jump Up to Liquid, from Dubstep to House, but my favorite sets have always been with DJs who take people on a journey and vary their sets. I don’t enjoy a set thats all the same – being a raver myself, someone who loves dancing to the music – there has to be variation in atmosphere and feeling to really have the best time, and its the same when Im mcing. I like to vary my style throughout the set so the audience doesn’t get bored. I have always enjoyed MCing for SS and Bailey, I loved singing over Calibre and Marky, have loved working with Goldie, Chase and Status, Subfocus, Shy FX, Commix, Crissy Criss, Roni and Die, the list is endless and nearly every time has been special in some way.
The first big DJ I joined on stage was in NZ way back when Bailey and Flux came to town. Flux got sick in Australia and couldn’t leave for NZ meaning Bailey didn’t have an MC. DJ Mosus (of V Recordings and Need For Mirrors fame) was the promoter and I was his MC at the time so he asked me to step in. I had only MCd in public four times before that. Needless to say I was packing myself, but Bailey gave me a pep talk and explained how he wanted things to go – from calling rewinds to giving the mixes space to breathe. I ended up MCing with him for four hours straight! Tiring but amazing and the first real step towards becoming who I am today.
Nu-Soul: What artist would you most like to work with that you have not?
Tali: Ooh there’s a few! I’d love to make a DnB tune with Calibre, Lenzman Commix or S.P.Y simply because I am a fan of their work within DnB.
Benga is sending me some beats today actually, cause we’ve been talking about a possible collaboration which should be interesting. I love House music too especially Dennis Ferrer and Louie Vega – anything that makes me feel like Im on holiday it would be amazing to record or MC with them!!
I am also really into my off key kinda stuff too, like The Weeknd from Toronto, SBTRKT from London, Burial, Flying Lotus, Spank Rock, Diplo, I’d be stoked to ever get a look in on any of their tunes, cos I know I could smack it down!
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