How would you describe the sound and creative intent of Taleen Kali?
A friend recently called us pastel goth riot grrrls and that felt wonderful to me--I mean we all wear mostly black ahah, and politically we're definitely aligned with riot grrrl--QPOC to the front! I feel like we're summer goths sometimes, we're sonically dark and gazey but don't get too heavy. I think it's because creativity gives me so much life, so there's always a lightness and a longing that beautifully seeps in...
What is the new album about, and how did it come to be?
Flower Of Life is about coming back to life after the terrors of the past decade, and the inverse of total surrender and death drives. Half the songs were written in 2018-2019, and the other half were written during the pandemic from 2020-2022, and I kept writing that winter of 2022 until we went into The Cave Studio in early 2023 to record it with Josiah Mazzaschi and Jeff Schroeder.
How would you describe the songwriting and recording process? How much spontaneity does it involve?
I feel like there's structure and spontaneity to both processes at various stages, and yet I'm always writing, whether it's a melody or lyric. We start to get pretty structured once I have a demo to show the whole band, and while we're tracking the rhythm guitars, bass, and drums we definitely have the bare bones and songforms set. Then I keep writing in the studio after that point, especially when I hear a more suited lyric and vocal melody/harmony and even more so when we bring in extra layers of overdubbed guitars...
What do you think sets the new album apart from the projects earlier EPs and singles?
Flower of Life sounds so warm and heavy to me compared to the early stuff, and that's totally intentional. The production on Soul Songs is cold and detached and heavily edited, which was exactly what we were going for. For the new record I wanted to depart from that and try a more organic approach.
A few strong singles have surfaced from Flower of Life. What characteristics distinguish an engaging single?
For me it's all about creating something memorable and universal, and I love singles because I love short-form. You get to express what you want to express in a condensed fashion, like flash fiction or a short poem. I think when a single gives someone an earworm, and makes them want to sing it out loud and play it back, it has done its job.
Only Lovers Left Alive makes wonderful use of an artful influence. Why vampires, and why this specific film?
I love vampires! And vampire shows and movies. I rewatch Buffy The Vampire Slayer every year. Only Lovers Left Alive, was originally called Out Of Time ever since the demo phase. My bandmate Miles Marsico knows how much I like vampires and when we were laying down the track in the studio, he asked me if I'd seen the Jim Jarmusch film Only Lovers Left Alive. I immediately went home to watch it that night and fell in love. The next day I went back into the studio and changed the name of the song to Only Lovers Left Alive.
You recently completed a tour. How did it go?
This year's tour is our second national tour and this time we got to play two festivals! We did our first SXSW and Treefort for Taleen Kali. We met so many bands we've made kindred friendships with which to me is the best part of tour.
What would you say the dynamics of the band are like live?
Loud, sweaty, shoegaze punk swirl fest.
What motivates you to create?
My friend Jane S. Kim used the phrase "obliterating towards freedom" the other night. That motivates me to create.
What are you listening to the most these days?
Catherine Wheel, Unwound, Tamaryn, Pale Saints, Pleasure Venom, Pale Dian, Lauren Lakis.
What comes next for the band?
We're touring the East Coast this May then coming home to L.A. to play the 1st ever Dum Dum Fest at The Echo on June 24th! After that we're announcing some very special things for the fall. More shows more tour more everything...
2023 U.S. TOUR DATES
5.16 KUNG FU NECKTIE • PHILLY, PA
5.17 OUR WICKED LADY • BROOKLYN, NY
5.18 BOTTLEROCKET • PITTSBURGH, PA
5.19 COLE'S BAR • CHICAGO, IL
5.20 LAGER HOUSE • DETROIT, MI
5.16 KUNG FU NECKTIE • PHILLY, PA
5.17 OUR WICKED LADY • BROOKLYN, NY
5.18 BOTTLEROCKET • PITTSBURGH, PA
5.19 COLE'S BAR • CHICAGO, IL
5.20 LAGER HOUSE • DETROIT, MI
6.24 DUM DUM FEST• THE ECHO • LOS ANGELES, CA
+ MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED
+ MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED
Info + tickets: www.taleenkali.com
Photo by Sophie Prettyman Beauchamp
ZR