February 28, 2025 |
Hope Tala has the type of voice that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. It’s the kind of soundtrack you would choose to fill the corners of your bedroom on a sun-dappled Sunday or have softly float through your headphones as you take yourself out for a solo date. It’s one of those voices that feels calming; the type you want to hear when you need a good bit of R&R. Perfectly balanced, however, Tala’s West London upbringing gives her voice a grittier trim that saves it from falling on the sickly side of sweet.
Complemented by a delicate cadence and lightly swelling, soulful rhythms informed by R&B and bossa nova, the Republic Records signee’s lyricism has a solid handle on the issues that give girlhood its universality. In turn, dating, love, friendship and growing up are all themes at the heart of her debut LP Hope Handwritten. As the name suggests, Tala has penned an authentic exploration of her personal experiences with these subjects, resulting in a comprehensive work that spans 16 honeyed tracks. Having laid a sturdy foundation with a series of popular singles like Lovestained, Leave It On The Dancefloor and All My Girls Like To Fight (which between them have amassed over 59 million streams on Spotify), an LP as the next step makes perfect sense for Tala. It’s a challenge she’s embraced, with Hope Handwritten being affirmed in style and really easy listening. Here, we chat with Tala to hear more about her musical inspirations, her favourite track on the album and what she’s most excited about post-album release.
1. Tell us about the inspiration for your debut LP Hope Handwritten?
I often describe Hope Handwritten as a coming of age album because it charts a period of great change that I’ve been experiencing throughout my twenties so far; falling in and out of love, growing up, grappling with existential questions.
2. Do you have a favourite track on the album and if so what is it and why?
It would be impossible to pick just one favourite, but the one I’m resonating with the most today is Magic or Medicine. I always feel empowered when I listen to it; it’s upbeat, vulnerable, fragile and defiant all at the same time. I like how it holds those contradictions.
3. What’s one thing you’re hopeful about in 2025?
I feel hopeful about my creative output! I’m excited to explore what will come next for me creatively after the release of Hope Handwritten.
4. Who are three of your main musical inspirations?
Lauryn Hill, Kendrick Lamar and Stevie Wonder.
5. What’s a perfect Saturday night to you?
It really depends on how I’m feeling. These days I’m working a lot and feeling pretty tired most of the time, so a perfect Saturday night is ordering food and watching a film, logging it on Letterboxd and then getting an early night.
6. Post-show night out or straight to sleep?
I’m usually going straight to sleep – unless it’s a hometown show in London, or in another city where I’ve had friends come along. I experience major adrenaline comedowns after shows, so I typically try to rest as much as I can afterwards.
7. What’s one venue you would love to play in but haven’t yet?
I opened for Benee at Shepherd’s Bush Empire in 2022, but I would love to headline it – I grew up in the area and went to a lot of concerts there as a teenager. Same thing with Stubbs in Austin – I opened for Alina Baraz there but I’d love to headline it. There’s always something so fun about outdoor venues, and Austin is one of my favourite cities. I’d also love to play The Fonda in LA one day.
8. You’re playing Coachella this summer – what about the performance are you most looking forward to?
I’m really excited to just be at Coachella – I’ve never been before, so it feels like a bucket list moment for sure, both as an artist and as a music fan. I plan on giving the best, most energetic performance I possibly can.
9. What book is most aligned with Hope Handwritten and why?
I’m not sure about books that are ‘aligned’ with the project, but Hope Handwritten was definitely heavily inspired by lots of my favourite books I’ve read throughout my life – Beloved by Toni Morrison and I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith being two examples.
10. What are you most excited about post-album release?
Two things – firstly going on my first proper headline tour, which kicks off in the US early April and resumes in the UK/EU in November. Second, writing new music – I can’t wait.
Photography courtesy of Hope Tala.
