In the ever-evolving landscape of music, artists strive to push their boundaries and explore new dimensions of their artistry. Tala, the talented singer-songwriter, has gracefully accomplished this feat with her latest EP, 'honeymoon.' In this exclusive interview, Tala opens up about the evolution of her sound, the inspirations behind the project, and her aspirations for future endeavors.
Evolution of Sound: A Reflection of Personal Growth Tala's previous works served as a time capsule, capturing the essence of her younger self. However, with 'honeymoon,' she presents an evolved version of herself that resonates with her current state. Through her songwriting, Tala reveals that her music now represents her growth and experiences, offering listeners a deeper insight into her artistic journey.
How would you describe the evolution of your sound on this project compared to your previous works?
My earlier work is a time capsule of a younger Tala, who still lives in me. Now that I'm older, I feel like my writing has evolved to represent me as I am today. This project aimed to embody that growth. The honeymoon EP is a collaboration between myself and crwn (King Puentespina), who did a fantastic job producing the project. Way before I met him, I was a huge fan.
The title of your EP, 'honeymoon,' suggests themes of new love and exploration. Can you tell us more about the concept and inspirations behind this project?
King and I were in really good places when we started working on ‘honeymoon,’ and we wanted to capture those emotions in the songs. We talked a lot about what it was like to have your feelings reciprocated for the first time, and explored the idea of the trust and surrender that comes with loving someone wholeheartedly – the intoxicating honeymoon stage of a new relationship. Our intention behind the project was to take the nuances of a fresh and new love and translate them into what would feel like three love letters in song form.
In 'honeymoon,' you explore the nuances of a fresh and new love. Can you share some specific songs or lyrics that capture the pull, push, and surrender you mentioned earlier?
“nothing i won’t do” opens the project. The first line sets the mindset for the rest of the EP - you run your hands all through my hair and I know you adore me. It's about that initial pull you feel in the honeymoon phase – the trust, the pursuit,
and that eagerness to keep getting to know each other, even if you already feel connected. There’s nothing I won’t do to get close to you – break myself in two, nothing I won’t do.
The second track, “again and again,” represents the push part of the honeymoon phase. We wanted this to feel like a flirty challenge, playfully pushing your partner away to see if they come back to you, and they do – over and over, again and again. While writing the song, clocks were a key element to capture the sense of time passing in an endless loop you never want to break out of – savoring the moment, not wanting it to end.
The last track, “honesty (i’ll find you),” is about complete surrender. This song is special to me because it was the first song King and I wrote together. I wanted this to be a soulmate song – transcending boundaries of platonic or romantic relationships, recognizing that all forms of love are meaningful. I imagined two people standing in the same room, a hundred universes apart, but still knowing that they’d find each other. No matter what you do, know that I’ll find you.
As a singer-songwriter, storytelling plays a significant role in your music. How do you approach lyricism and songwriting to effectively convey the emotions and narratives you want to express?
I say this often, but I write lyrics in hopes that they sound and feel like a journal entry – a little too personal! I write the way I would tell my close friends stories. I don’t like putting too much thought into how I convey emotions or narratives. I genuinely just dump my thoughts out, and I try to do it through words that evoke an emotion. I really like the idea of someone else’s words making you feel something. It’s a theme I keep coming back to. Being honest in my songwriting is exactly how I get people to understand my music and the stories I want to tell.
'honeymoon' marks an important milestone in your musical journey. How do you envision this EP shaping your artistic path moving forward, and what are your aspirations for future projects?
The release of the 'honeymoon' EP signifies an important milestone as it marks my first project in collaboration with Pool Records, who have been incredibly supportive. This EP is the first installment of a trilogy of trilogies that I'm very excited to be working on and a prelude for what's to come.
With the EP's release, your music will reach a wider audience. What message or feelings do you hope listeners will take away from 'honeymoon'?
I was in a positive place when we were creating “honeymoon,” and King and I hoped that those feelings could be captured in the music. There was a lot of love behind the intention of the project’s creation and I hope listeners are able to feel that. I want them to be open to new love – all love in all forms, not limited to romance. There is so much love in the world, and we want people to embrace the idea that they can and will find love again and again. It is also my hope that this project opens people’s minds to celebrate Filipino creatives. There are so many who helped bring ‘honeymoon’ to life – designers, animators, photographers, producers, stylists. Witnessing their creative processes and the heartfelt dedication they poured into their respective roles to bring 'honeymoon' to life has left me deeply grateful. It has been an extraordinary privilege to see the love they infused into every aspect of the project.
Looking back at the process of creating 'honeymoon,' were there any challenges or breakthrough moments that significantly impacted the final result?
At first, King and I tried working on the project remotely. We'd send each other our own demos and go back and forth on them, but we both felt that something
was still missing. When we finally got together, finishing the EP felt way easier. We started fresh and wrote the final songs in person. Being physically present and connecting with the project's intentions was a game changer for our process. The creative energy brought the EP to life, giving it that sense of completeness we were looking for.
Finally, can you give us a sneak peek into what's next for you after 'honeymoon'? Are there any exciting projects or collaborations on the horizon?
The ‘honeymoon’ EP is the first part of a trilogy of trilogies! So, people can look forward to the other two EPs to complete the trilogy. They will be thematic and I hope they connect with people. I’m also working on a collaboration with the Indonesian band Matter Halo. I love what we’ve been working on and can’t wait for the release. Other than that, I’ll continue to write and hope people are excited to hear my stuff as much as I am excited to create them.
HEAR HER MUSIC:
Spotify: Spotify/Tala
YTubeMusic : MYtube/tala