Taali (musician) explained

Taali
Birth Name:Talia Pnina Billig
Alias:Taali
Birth Date:May 12, 1988
Birth Place:New York City
Genre:pop, singer-songwriter, folk, anti-folk
Occupation:Songwriter, singer, record producer
Instrument:Voice, piano, synthesizer
Label:Rainbow Blonde Records
Associated Acts:José James, Becca Stevens, Kate Davis

Talia Pnina Billig (born May 12, 1988), known professionally as Taali, is a Grammy nominated [1] American singer, songwriter, and record producer.[2] She cofounded Rainbow Blonde Records alongside José James and Brian Bender.[3]

Early life and education

Billig was born in New York City to a musical Jewish family.[4] She first played piano at her grandmother's apartment in Washington Heights, Manhattan at five years old. She moved with her family to Hastings-on-Hudson, New York in 1993., and attended Hastings High School.[5]

After high school she attended college at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music where she studied with Becca Stevens and Sasha Dobson.[6]

Music career

During her time at the New School, Billig launched her video salon The Orchard Sessions, filmed out of her Lower East Side apartment.[7] Totaling 18 sessions, The Orchard Sessions featured Billig alongside artists like José James, Snarky Puppy, Becca Stevens, Luke Temple, Matt Simons, Camila Meza, Johanna Warren and Charlotte Cornfield.

She also worked at Blue Note Records[8] for Bruce Lundvall and Don Was.[9]

In 2014, José James invited her to write on his second Blue Note album While You Were Sleeping. Billig co-wrote two songs,[10] and was invited on world tour with him to support the album.

In 2017, Billig moved from New York City to Los Angeles.[11] During this time she wrote, produced and released her debut album I Am Here under her own label, Rainbow Blonde Records.[12] Its first single's video, "Hear You Now," premiered in Billboard.[13] While in Los Angeles she also shifted from her birth name to stage name Taali, to honor her family's nickname for her.

Taali moved back to New York City in 2019, and released two more EPs, Were Most Of Your Stars Out?[14] and Were You Busy Writing Your Heart Out?[15] both on Rainbow Blonde Records.

In January 2021 Taali received a visa to move to Amsterdam as an artist in residence / guest faculty at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. There she taught at both the pop and jazz school.[16] While in Amsterdam she launched her weekly newsletter Taali Talk,[17] which is emailed to subscribers every Sunday. She also toured European venues including the Concertgebouw,[18] Paradiso,[19] and Ancienne Belgique.[20]

In June 2022 Taali moved from Amsterdam back to the United States, specifically Pasadena, where she now lives.[21]

Awards

Talia Billig was nominated in 2021 for a Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals for her work with Becca Stevens.[22]

Personal life

Billig married José James on May 5, 2019.[23]

Billig and James live in Pasadena.[24]

Discography

LPs

EPs

Credits

YearAlbumArtistSongsCredits
2024Sometimes, Late At NightJharis YokleyWas It Really Love Vocals
20241978José JamesLet's Get It, Isis & Osiris, Planet Nine, Saturday Night (Need You Now), Dark Side of The Sun (feat. Baloji_(rapper)), Place of Worship (feat. Xênia_França)String Arrangement, Vocal Arrangement, Composer, lyricist, Vocals, Handclaps
2022ache forMobyache for Composer, lyricist, Vocals
2021Merry Christmas from José JamesJosé JamesChristmas in New York, Christmas Day, This ChristmasComposer, lyricist, Vocals
2020No Beginning No End 2José JamesYou Know What It Do, Turn Me Up (feat. Aloe Blacc), Feels So Good (feat. Cecily), Baby Don't Cry (feat. J. Hoard), I Found A Love (feat. Taali), Saint James, Oracle (高尾山) (feat. Hindi Zahra and Erik Truffaz)Composer, lyricist, Synthesizer, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals, Xylophone
2020WonderbloomBecca StevensSlow Burn (feat. Jacob Collier), Feels Like This, Halfway (feat. Laura Perrudin) Composer, lyricist
2019Lune RougeErik TruffazReflections (feat. José James) Lyricist
2017Love in a Time Of MadnessJosé JamesRemember Our Love, Live Your Fantasy, To Be With You, Breakthrough, I'm YoursComposer, lyricist
2014While You Were SleepingJosé JamesU R The 1, Without UComposer, lyricist
[25]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Grammy Artists. Grammy.com. January 18, 2023.
  2. Web site: Taali Feature. Arq. November 30, 2020.
  3. Web site: Bacior. Robin. Label Spotlight: Rainbow Blonde. Spotify For Artists. November 2, 2020.
  4. TAALI: COMING TO THE SPACE. Talia. Billig. Dan Locke. Unrated Magazine. November 30, 2020.
  5. The Orchard Sessions: Volume 11. Talia. Billig. The Orchard Sessions Blog. November 30, 2020.
  6. Web site: Artist Long Form Biography. taalimusic.com. November 30, 2020.
  7. Web site: Zeitlin. Alan. This New York Singer Gets Down To Earth With Her Jewish Roots In New Album. The New York Jewish Week. April 2, 2019 . November 30, 2020.
  8. Web site: Sparkman. Jennifer. Taali: An Interview. Articles of Antiquity. November 30, 2020.
  9. Web site: Meet Taali. Voyage LA. November 27, 2018 . November 2, 2020.
  10. Web site: José James: While You Were Sleeping Credits. AllMusic. December 2, 2020.
  11. Web site: Anders. Simon. Taali new single ft. José James' . With Guitars. November 30, 2020.
  12. Web site: Mention. Bry'Onna. Taali's Debut Album "I Am Here" Is Both Pop And Profound: BUST Premiere. BUST Magazine. December 2, 2020.
  13. Web site: Graff. Gary. Taali Debuts 'Powerful and Vulnerable' Video for 'Hear You Now': Premiere. Billboard Magazine. November 30, 2020.
  14. Web site: Valadez. Anthony. Track Premiere: Taali "Snowfall On Orchard" (feat. José James). KCRW. October 16, 2019 . December 2, 2020.
  15. Web site: Artist Spotlight: Taali. Songbird Sessions. December 2, 2020.
  16. Web site: José James new faculty member of the CvA Jazz Department. Conservatorium van Amsterdam. December 21, 2020 . January 18, 2023.
  17. Web site: Bikes, zombie apocalypse planes, etc. Substack. January 10, 2021 . January 18, 2023.
  18. Web site: José James sings in the Concertgebouw on Valentine's Day. Het Parool. January 18, 2023.
  19. Web site: Taali - Paradiso Main Hall. Paradiso. January 18, 2023.
  20. Web site: José James - Independence Tour + special guest Taali. AB Concerts. January 18, 2023.
  21. Web site: Talia Billig Website. Talia Billig website. January 18, 2023.
  22. Web site: Hussey. Allison. Grammy Nominations 2021: See the Full List of Nominees Here. Pitchfork. November 24, 2020 . November 30, 2020.
  23. Web site: José James And Taali: Alone Together Duets. NPR. May 25, 2020. November 30, 2020.
  24. Web site: José Porches, welcome committees, etc. Substack. September 11, 2022. January 18, 2023.
  25. Web site: Talia Billig Credits. AllMusic. November 30, 2020.