Tara Lily’s ‘Speak In The Dark’ shines bright

Released on September 27 via Bristolian label Tru Thoughts, ‘Speak In The Dark’ is the exceptional debut album from British-Bengali songstress Tara Lily.

The semi-autobiographical project spans a wide range of moods and tempos across ten tracks that symbolise the artist’s experiences with ADHD. Meanwhile, its stylistic influences speak to the musician’s unique cultural roots.

“I’m half-Bengali and half-Scottish,” Tara Lily tells Mixmag Asia. “My dad was a Bengali folk musician and my mum was a punk singer, but I’ve grown up in South London my entire life.”

"My influences are that of my upbringing and the UK jazz scene, bands, and electronica. I studied jazz piano and voice at conservatoire and then in the last few years started playing around more with electronics and synths.”

Produced by fellow South Londoner Dom Valentino, ‘Speak In The Dark’ emerged from “a lot of time getting wavy together and making tunes”, Lily shares. “It was created from a place of improvisation and curiosity. It’s for eclectic listeners.”

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Weaving trip hop, breaks, and drum’n’bass together with jazz, r'n'b, and Indian soundscapes (through drones and sitar, for example), Tara Lily’s penchant for IDM is evident, and she cites now-defunct Urban Flavour Records (1996-1998) as a favourite.

Lyrically, ‘Speak In The Dark’ is sombre, sensual, and existential all at once. On ‘Double Time’, one of two d’n’b offerings on the album, Lily refrains, “Did you think that I’d lie down for you / I’m not afraid to die”.

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Then, on jazzy slow jam ‘6 Feet Down’, she croons about a doomed love (“I know, you now / Know you but I don’t know how / And I’m crying 6 feet down / I’m falling down”) amid sultry improvisations from trumpeter Theo Croker.

With her debut, Tara Lily has channelled late-90s and early-2000s Bristolian acts such as Portishead and Massive Attack (making Tru Thoughts a fitting home), in a deeply personal and authentic way.

And, through harnessing excellent collaborators (which further includes lyricist Surya Sen, saxophonist Jazz Lee, Indian classical virtuoso Akash Parekah, Mei Kirby, and instrumentalist Archy Marshall), ‘Speak In The Dark’ is an immensely engaging and textured listen.

Purchase here.

Mengzy is Mixmag Asia’s Music Culture Columnist, follow her on Instagram.

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