British-Iranian singer, songwriter and producer TĀLĀ has built a career defined by curiosity, experimentation and an instinct for crossing musical boundaries. Drawing from her Iranian heritage alongside alternative R&B, electronic music and the UK underground, she first emerged in 2014 with her self-produced The Duchess EP, quickly attracting attention for a sound that felt both deeply personal and difficult to categorise. Over the years, she has continued to evolve as both an artist and producer, collaborating across genres, executive producing BANKS' fourth album Serpentina, and working with artists including ENNY, while establishing herself as one of the UK's most distinctive independent voices.
Her latest album, 11, released in July, marks another turning point. Inspired by a number that has repeatedly appeared throughout her life, the record explores duality, transformation and the search for balance, reflecting on the tension between light and darkness, certainty and doubt, and the experiences that shape us. It's an introspective collection that finds TĀLĀ looking both inward and outward, pairing deeply personal songwriting with the genre-blurring production that has become her signature.
Your new album 11 explores themes of duality, transformation and self-discovery. What's the story behind the album, and why did 11 feel like the right title?
I've always been drawn to the number 11, it showed up at so many important times in my life and there are so many synchronicities around it for me. I was born on the 11th, my daughter too and I got married on the 11th. The number represents duality which felt very fitting for the themes and sound of my album which explores the themes of how and we need the ups and the downs, the light and the dark and both things to find balance.
Many emerging producers struggle with confidence, especially when they're working alone. What helped you trust your instincts in the studio?
My community and my friends who are creatives. Whenever I'm lost in my own head or fighting imposter syndrome it's my creative circle who I trust that pulls me out and gives me perspective.
What’s your favourite/least favourite thing about making music?
My favorite is obviously making the music, especially with friends or when im in the zone, locked in and the minutes and days can just pass me by.
Least favourite is the business and admin side, I don't enjoy that side and thats why I have my manager to help me with those areas.
What’s your best networking tip to connect with the right people in the industry?
Just go to the gig, send the Dm to the producer you would love to work with, don't be scared to say hello and that you love what someone is doing. Your fav artist and producer appreciate it more than you think
For artists who want to start producing their own music but don't know where to begin, what advice would you give them?
Just do the thing. Get the music software program that feels fun to you, even if you dont know what your doing just experiment and have fun. There are so many tools and tutorials out there now. Bite sized tik toks that show you how to record vocals, ways to learn chords without a piano lesson. There is so much out there!!
Balancing writing, producing, performing and running a studio is a lot. How do you protect your creativity and avoid burnout?
I like to take walks and be in nature and when I've been going for too long on something, I just take a break, call a friend and make sure I have some space
