New Zealand's First Lady of Drum n Bass Tali has released the video for Eye On You, taken from the release of her first DnB album in over seven years, ‘Love & Migration’ – out on October 26th.
The First Lady of Drum n Bass - is a moniker that has been earned, not given by chance, as the last 18 years have seen Tali collaborate with some of the world’s biggest names in DnB both in recording studios and on the live stage.
After leaving NZ in 2001 for the UK, Tali signed to Full Cycle Records and promptly released a UK top 40 hit with ‘Lyric On My Lip’. A bouncy sung/rapped jungle/Drum n Bass roller it was her first breakout song, and helped pave the way not only for female DnB MC’s but arguably for some of New Zealand’s most well known respected Drum n Bass acts.
Tali was the first female - both MC and Drum n Bass artist to grace the cover of 'DJ Magazine' international, has toured the world several times over including festival appearances such as Glastonbury, won three DnB awards, released six studio albums and this - her seventh,
'Love & Migration' could be her best work yet.
Despite countless requests to venture back into the DnB world, Tali always maintained she would not be rushed into making another DnB album after 2011’s 'Dark Days, High Nights'.
Therefore after returning to New Zealand, Tali instead experimented with elements of Hip Hop, House, Soul and Electronica on her following three releases, whilst still maintaining her reputation as one of NZ's most exciting and sought after MC's.
However, now Tali says, the time is right; “I feel these last few years, that I had to do myself justice as a musician, to listen to my heart, and not make music just for the sake of what others wanted or demanded. I have had to comprise myself musically in the past in doing just that, so when I moved back to NZ I decided that everything I created and released had to feel ‘right’. It had to be an extension of myself in that moment and time.
Because of that, the music that would allow me to reconnect with my homeland and myself came from a different space. I wanted to grow and mature, and get to know myself again too. That way I knew when the time came to make another DnB album - it would reflect that growth, and could only be to mine and the album’s advantage”.
Love & Migration features collaborations with Vienna’s powerhouse producer duo - Roygreen andProtone, ‘The Bard of Manchester’ MC DRS, Spearhead Recordings duo - The Vanguard Project,Hospital’s freshest new MC/Vocalist Degs, one of Liquid DnB’s most exciting producers right now - SATLand New Zealand's own Kings of Halftime and Dubstep -TRUTH amongst others.
Love & Migration is an album full of moody, cinematic production, with lush vocal features from Georgie Fisher, Blake, Degs and RosaDub, and of course steering it all - Tali, with her, soulful husky voice alternating between unassuming almost whispered raps on her tracks 'Language' and 'Sonder', to soaring uplifting storytelling on tracks like 'Situations', 'Silhouettes' and 'Indigo Drive'.
The album contains moments of soulful 'liquid' DnB featuring some truly sublime collaborations such as 'Falling Leaves', 'Reunion' and the title track 'Love & Migration' - interspersed with more dance floor orientated tracks like 'Paperwasp' and 'Eye On You'. The only non-DnB track on the album is 'Bone', produced by TRUTH. A tune complex in both emotion, and its stunning production.
The title of the album 'Love & Migration' is a reflection on many forms of movement - physical, mental and metaphysical. There are themes of growth, wisdom, contemplation, the fleetingness of time, self-observation, and simplicity versus complexity in life and of course - love.
A welcome return to the world of Drum n Bass Tali will be touring Europe in October showcasing the album to the fans she has amassed in her illustrious DnB career.