TARA LILY'S "SPEAK IN THE DARK" REDEFINES JAZZ FOR A NEW GENERATION

British-Bengali artist Tara Lily has crafted a musical journey where borders dissolve and genres interlace. Growing up in Peckham with a love for jazz, classical, electronic, and traditional Bengali music, she found herself blending the eclectic sounds of her South London surroundings with the spiritual depth of her heritage. Her debut album Speak in the Dark, released in September 2024, takes listeners on a mesmerizing journey through intense and introspective themes. For Tara, music is an exploration of hidden desires, unspoken secrets, and the search for freedom.

These themes pulse through her latest album, that oscillates between the fragile and the forceful, mirroring her own journey with ADHD: tracks like the ethereal Speak in the Dark delve into quiet meditations on unspoken truths, while songs like Double Time and Breathe Now explode with more vibrant, powerful energy of jazz-infused drum and bass.

Tara’s travels across Asia also left an indelible mark on her music. She drew inspiration from the vibes of Mumbai’s nightlife and the serenity of Goa’s waters, blending East and West into a genre-bending soundscape. These experience shape both her music and her approach to life.

Her journey of self-discovery is an ever-evolving exploration of sound, culture, and identity. From performing alongside King Krule to stages like Glastonbury, Shambala, Bleech Festival and Royal Albert Hall, she’s been crafting a unique space for herself in the music world.

In this exclusive interview, the artist opens up about the inspirations behind her music, the impact of her multicultural heritage and Indian roots, her journey with ADHD, and all the experiences that have shaped her distinctive sound.

Tara, thank you for joining us! Could you introduce yourself to our community?

Tara Lily: Hello, it's Tara Lily! I’m a British-Bengali artist from South London. My music blends jazz, alternative R&B, electronica, and South Asian influences. I love exploring different sounds and fusing them in ways that reflect who I am.

Your debut album "Speak In The Dark" explores deep themes like "speaking your truth" and the weight of unspoken secrets. What inspired you to address these topics, and how did you translate emotions into music through such diverse influences as jazz, electronic, and Bengali folk?

Tara Lily: I think it’s an artist’s duty to reflect the times we’re living in. My music style comes from an explorative and improvisation place, so when creating the album a lot of it was written during dark times in the world, and I was dealing with my personal struggles as well. All my songs, I start alone at the piano or synth, and then take them to the studio to develop; I write alone, I don’t write with other people so I feel everything comes from an authentic place, from real experiences. The songs are their own entity’s and the musicality fits around it like a bed, creating a sonic landscape for an interesting journey.

You were diagnosed with ADHD at 15, which, as you've shared, had a significant impact on your life and music. How does your creative process reflect the challenges and emotions you face daily? How do you channel this personal journey into your songwriting, and did it influence the energy of your album?

Tara Lily: I think being very up and down through my life, feeling things deeply and intensely, can all have a direct impact on my creation as well as how I navigate the world. The album is a journey which takes you through a very up beat jazz jungle into a slow melancholic offering. It's representative of how I live my life through extremities, chaos, love, secrets, fascinations.

The fascinating fusion of different influences is a distinctive feature of your music, with a particular homage to your Bengali heritage. How have your travels through Asia and your reconnection with your roots shaped the sound and aesthetic of "Speak In The Dark"?

Tara Lily: Asia is a very inspiring place: I had the chance to tour through India, Nepal, Thailand, Hong Kong and later this year more cities across Asia. I drew from the hecticness of Mumbai nightlife to the stillness of waters in Goa. I wrote the album between London and Asia. So drawing on East-West sounds but in a modern and cool way.

You've collaborated with artists like Theo Croker and Surya Sen, and you've hosted a great lineup of musicians in Speak In The Dark. What have you learned from these collaborations, and how have they enriched the sound and vision of your album?

Tara Lily: I don’t really collaborate with people very much because I am very particular about what I do, but both Theo and Surya are amazing artists. I had envisioned them on those tracks, I had specific ideas of what I wanted them to play. Theo, a deep brooding jazz trumpet solo on 6 feet down - a track about the deep dark place of sadness. And Surya, Bengali poetry for Like The Ocean, a neptunian track reminiscent of the ocean waves from ancient times.

You've been on an incredible journey, from performing with King Krule to touring Asia and playing major festivals like Glastonbury. How do you see your global experiences influencing your future music, and what can fans expect from you in the coming year?

Tara Lily: I think people can expect further exploration. I am enjoying the journey… the good and bad, it’s all real moments, fueling my creative lifeforce.