Today we’d like to introduce you to Talii.
Hi Talii, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in a musical family so music has always been apart of my reality since I was little. My father and uncle were in a Rnb group in the 90s called ‘ The committee’ and after that he worked for 102 jams here in Orlando. I started to learn piano from ages 6-12 years old and i also started writing songs around 11. I recorded a song i wrote for the first time when i was 12. My dad produced the song and took me to his friends home studio for me to record the vocals and I performed it at my middle school talent show. That was really the moment for me where i was like , yeah i want to do this for the rest of my life.
During my teenage years , i taught myself guitar , posted covers on youtube, performed at open mic nights but i never really thought it could be a serious career . however, when i was 21 after i gave birth to my daughter, I made a new music instagram and I kept posting cover songs on IG and Youtube when i had free time. I also started trying to teach myself how to produce on garage band.
After a year or so of posting , I got approached by a small, local independent label called DNA MUZIK GROUP and we started working together on artist development and music . I had been performing around orlando from 2015 -2017 and doing our best to make music but no songs ever really hit for us until my label invited Gbliz to come and work with me. After 2 sessions, we had what would be my first 2 singles , Lost and Mouth . What i didnt know at the time was that we would end up falling in love and growing together as people and creatives . Around 2019 or 2020 we held a writing camp to create some music for my project and Gbliz invited some producers and artists he knew of in the area like Icee Red , Cvrrent , Sw8vy, Mango and a writer who is now knows as Isaiah Falls.
We had no idea that from that camp till now we would all grow to become family, working together, traveling together and evolving together for years to come . Fast forward to today , Im now completely independent , feeling like in ways i’m starting over.. doing my best to try to navigate the world of growing an audience , fine tuning my brand , and consistently droping music while also juggling being a “single” parent , working multiple odd end jobs ,and homeschooling. However , no matter how challenging it may seem, Im forever grateful for my man gbliz , my support system, my music family and the feeling in my spirit that this is meant for me no matter how long it takes.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been . I feel like being a woman in a very male dominated industry already comes with its challenges but adding on being a mother who has to do what it takes to provide for your child and already being in my 30s adds on an extra set of struggles. I think some of the hardest ones was my mental health which I have been open about along my journey. ive struggled with severe depression and anxiety since I was a teenager which I now know is a result of an underlying disorder called PMDD and a syndrome called MCAS. Its taken me over 20 years to find out what exactly was happening to me and how to properly manage symptoms . It was the reason why I started and stopped all the time, why it was nearly impossible for me to stay consistent with releases and why I wouldn’t be able to execute necessary plans in order to keep the momentum going . I remember even pulling over to the side of the road having a full blown panic attack on the way to a show and being completely unable to perform . For many many years it felt like i was constantly having to start over every time my health would be in shambles and it got to the point where i almost quit countless times. Out of all the struggles i faced, that was definitely the hardest one.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an alt/pop Rnb artist even though honestly im more multi-genre . I hate the idea of having to box myself into a specific sound however almost all of my songs will always have some tie to Rnb . Its the foundation of my musical experience and something that feels like apart of me . Im also a songwriter and a producer . for a long time it felt weird to call myself a producer since i feel as though i still have a lot to learn however im learning to fully embrace that I am a producer no matter where I am along my journey and to celebrate that .
I feel like i specialize in creating music with ethereal elements that embodies and translates a feeling. Whether its something as deep as touching on depression like in my song ‘Pointless Numbers’ or something romantic and sensual like ‘LOML” . I strive to create music that makes people feel something .
I think what sets me apart is the intention I bring into my creative process. I infuse my spiritual practice with my creativity because I genuinely believe that creativity is a spiritual practice in itself . I like to pray, light a creative candle , burn some incense , and set an intention before I create to allow whatever source wants to come through me at that time to come through . I want to be a channel for the divine to express whatever energy is meant to be expressed in the moment and I always want to do my best to co-create with Source when Im making music. I think that level of reverence for my art is something that sets my apart.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Just the message that its never too late to start or start over.. and as long as you have a direction and you keep putting one foot in front of the other, it doesnt matter how long the journey takes, trust that you will make it there.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/taliimusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taliimusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8nT3b9j0RU6i5zqquNdwSQ
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/taliimusic
