An artist of great complexity and imagination, Taali delivers transcendent art that’s both exquisitely composed and fantastically untethered to any one style or sound. For the New York City-born singer/songwriter/producer, finding such a singular vessel for her expression took over a decade of self-discovery and, on occasion, near-devastating setbacks. But after years of shaping a uniquely eclectic career (including co-founding Rainbow Blonde Records, an artist-first label and worldwide collective), she’s created a musical identity that truly honors her multidimensionality—an element on full display on her resplendent new live album, When Did The World Start Ending? With her latest triumphs also including a Grammy Award nomination—as well as an artist-in-residence position at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam—Taali is now moving forward with her mission of speaking her truth while strengthening and uplifting the artistic community.

Building off of her recent Grammy nomination, Taali returns her self-titled album (out officially tomorrow) with a stunning 13-track set that draws immediate comparisons to like-minded heroes Regina Spektor, Beck and Sufjan Stevens. Written, produced & performed by Taali between NY, LA, Amsterdam & Sfinari, taali is a deeply resonant exploration of friendship, love, loss & ultimately triumph. Studio musicians include Grammy Award winning bassist Ben Williams & indie rock drummer Dustin Kaufman + a chamber string quartet arranged by Taali.  Exclusively today, Ghettoblaster is proud to allow listeners a sneak peek of the album.

Initially the album was set to be written and recorded in 2020. Taali mentioned started demo-ing out songs the way she would do for other artists when they call her. Taali’s creative partner José James and her then sat down to review those demos.  

“I knew one thing: I wanted it to sound more organic and involve more analog instruments,” Taali says.  “When I produced my first album, “I Am Here,” I was close with and heavily influenced by my co-producer, Josiah Kosier, who has real ears on the Los Angeles pop scene. I love what we created together, but that album has not one live instrument on it. Every synth, drum or other sound was programmed by Josiah and I, and played by me into a tiny little midi keyboard or my Yamaha Reface as a midi controller. 

This ended up being not so fulfilling to tour live – I crave keys under my fingers and the risk and reward of a live musical performance more than pressing play and commanding an Ableton set. So I recalibrated in the form of two EPS, “Were Most Of Your Stars Out?” and “Were You Busy Writing Your Heart Out?” which each came closer to the sound I wanted, something that straddled the line between organic and electric. 

With the writing, Taali found herself tapping into the hollow days of COVID pandemic.  The trauma of her neighborhood crumbling with the unfortunate passing of those around her, along with experiencing a fever for fifty-one days and leaving America to Europe weighed heavily on the content.  In the end, Taali also discovered what she’s been searching for: her sound and more importantly herself.

“This album is about feeling pain. Giving into pain. Being curious about pain. And turning it into triumph,” says Taali. “The album was created in silence, in solitude. The album also carries the magic and joy of reuniting with friends, of discovery, of watching new seeds grow. It was created at home, in the air, in the ocean, on the road. In four countries and countless cities. 

I hope that listening to it gives you some impetus to dance, cry, think on that question. Written in four countries and recorded all over the world, it is meant to be listened to in cars, trains, planes. It is meant for your moments of reckoning and your moments of peace.”