“I’m a sucker for the era my parents talk about from their youth in the ’60s–’80s.”
“I adore technology and all the accessibility that comes with it, though I imagine how incredibly riveting and exciting it must have been to live in the Woodstock era, in the disco era, the synthpop era, the ’90s hip hop and r&b eras—where you had to head to the store with prior anticipation and line up to buy a vinyl and an album in its entirety. I love that people listened to full albums. Vinyl is a key to the past. I feel deeply nostalgic imagining my parents going to the discotheque in their younger years and dancing to songs they reminisce about today.
One of my favourite pastimes in my adolescence was going to vinyl stores on Queen Street in the heart of downtown Toronto. I love the smell of records; it echoes of celebrations from the past; vibrant generations in their golden prime; unique experiences of love, romance, wine, summer sweat, tears, joys, heartbreaks, sealed into one single beautifully packaged entity. There’s something so special to me about having an old record that someone’s grandparents danced to; that may have been passed down generations; that has one or more stories. I revel in imagination as I create my own memories.
My music tastes are eclectic. I’m a big lover of jazz, blues, folk, rock ‘n’ roll, pop and everything in between. Before I even purchased a record player, I’d bought tens of Nina Simone’s records. My friend’s grandparents were moving houses and looking to get rid of some records they owned and graciously gifted me an original, rare Frank Sinatra vinyl from the ’50s.
I’ve got Ella Fitzgerald vinyl, Duke Ellington and John Coltrane (which are especially divine on a rainy day, with a cup of coffee—or wine—and the accompaniment of a sweet vinyl crackle), Edith Piaf, Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters, every single Leonard Cohen record that exists, among heaps more. My music preferences have no bounds—if it gives me a good feeling, I’ll listen to it! Vinyl is to music what wine is to cheese, pencil to paper, peanut butter to jelly, spring to summer, what a hug is to a kiss.
In my humble opinion, vinyl transcends other formats of playing music in many ways—records are a lifestyle, they are like a photo album; a packaged bundle of timelessness and nostalgia. One of my favourite gifts to receive from people is a vinyl record, especially ones they’ve purchased whilst in a different city or country—they walk into a shop, search through sections and find a record that they say makes them think of me, it’s very sentimental. “I thought of you when I was in this record store and bought you this,” makes listening to the tunes all the more endearing.
These very records have traveled the world and ended up in my collection. I love that you can walk into a store with your friends and leave the store with a bunch of records you never even thought you’d be interested in listening to prior to walking in. It’s exciting to observe a cover, let it spark a good feeling and based on just that, take it home and realize you thoroughly enjoy Bing Crosby tunes and Robert Johnson blues.
My debut EP “Shadows” is a collection of 3 songs I’ve created in the jungle oasis of Managua, Nicaragua and the enchanting studios of London, England. They encapsulate stories of love, youth, nocturnal foolhardy adventures, revelations and self-discoveries. It is a dream of mine to walk into a vinyl shop one day and see my records on the shelves. I aspire to be included in someone’s precious vinyl collection and the soundtrack to their moments.
Musical eras change, but vinyl will retain a constant timelessness.”
—Tali
We’re delighted to premiere the at turns sweeping and haunting video for “Back to You,” the second track from Tali’s forthcoming EP “Shadows” which arrives in stores on September 11.
