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Taali (musician)

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Taali
Birth nameTalia Pnina Billig
Also known asTaali
BornMay 12, 1988
New York City
Genrespop, singer-songwriter, folk, anti-folk
Occupation(s)Songwriter, singer, record producer
Instrument(s)Voice, piano, synthesizer
LabelsRainbow Blonde Records
Websitewww.taalimusic.com

Talia Pnina Billig (born May 12, 1988), known professionally as Taali, is a Grammy nominated [1] American singer, songwriter, and record producer.[2] She cofounded Rainbow Blonde Records alongside José James and Brian Bender.[3]

Early life and education

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Billig was born in New York City to a musical Jewish family.[4] She first played piano at her grandmother's apartment in Washington Heights, Manhattan at five years old.[5] She moved with her family to Hastings-on-Hudson, New York in 1993.,[2] and attended Hastings High School.[6]

After high school she attended college at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music where she studied with Becca Stevens and Sasha Dobson.[7]

Music career

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During her time at the New School, Billig launched her video salon The Orchard Sessions, filmed out of her Lower East Side apartment.[8] Totaling 18 sessions, The Orchard Sessions featured Billig alongside artists like José James, Snarky Puppy, Becca Stevens, Luke Temple, Matt Simons, Camila Meza, Johanna Warren and Charlotte Cornfield.

She also worked at Blue Note Records[9] for Bruce Lundvall and Don Was.[5]

In 2014, José James invited her to write on his second Blue Note album While You Were Sleeping.[9] Billig co-wrote two songs,[10] and was invited on world tour with him to support the album.[9]

In 2017, Billig moved from New York City to Los Angeles.[11] During this time she wrote, produced and released her debut album I Am Here under her own label, Rainbow Blonde Records.[12] Its first single's video, "Hear You Now," premiered in Billboard.[13] While in Los Angeles she also shifted from her birth name to stage name Taali, to honor her family's nickname for her.[12]

Taali moved back to New York City in 2019,[9] and released two more EPs, Were Most Of Your Stars Out?[14] and Were You Busy Writing Your Heart Out?[15] both on Rainbow Blonde Records.

In January 2021 Taali received a visa to move to Amsterdam as an artist in residence / guest faculty at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. There she taught at both the pop and jazz school.[16] While in Amsterdam she launched her weekly newsletter Taali Talk,[17] which is emailed to subscribers every Sunday. She also toured European venues including the Concertgebouw,[18] Paradiso,[19] and Ancienne Belgique.[20]

In June 2022 Taali moved from Amsterdam back to the United States, specifically Pasadena, where she now lives.[21]

Awards

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Talia Billig was nominated in 2021 for a Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals for her work with Becca Stevens.[22]

Personal life

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Billig married José James on May 5, 2019.[23]

Billig and James live in Pasadena.[24]

Discography

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LPs

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EPs

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Credits

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Year Album Artist Songs Credits
2024 Sometimes, Late At Night Jharis Yokley Was It Really Love Vocals
2024 1978 José James Let's Get It, Isis & Osiris, Planet Nine, Saturday Night (Need You Now), Dark Side of The Sun (feat. Baloji_(rapper)), Place of Worship (feat. Xênia_França) String Arrangement, Vocal Arrangement, Composer, lyricist, Vocals, Handclaps
2022 ache for Moby ache for Composer, lyricist, Vocals
2021 Merry Christmas from José James José James Christmas in New York, Christmas Day, This Christmas Composer, lyricist, Vocals
2020 No Beginning No End 2 José James You Know What It Do, Turn Me Up (feat. Aloe Blacc), Feels So Good (feat. Cecily), Baby Don't Cry (feat. J. Hoard), I Found A Love (feat. Taali), Saint James, Oracle (高尾山) (feat. Hindi Zahra and Erik Truffaz) Composer, lyricist, Synthesizer, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals, Xylophone
2020 Wonderbloom Becca Stevens Slow Burn (feat. Jacob Collier), Feels Like This, Halfway (feat. Laura Perrudin) Composer, lyricist
2019 Lune Rouge Erik Truffaz Reflections (feat. José James) Lyricist
2017 Love in a Time Of Madness José James Remember Our Love, Live Your Fantasy, To Be With You, Breakthrough, I'm Yours Composer, lyricist
2014 While You Were Sleeping José James U R The 1, Without U Composer, lyricist

[25]

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References

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  1. ^ "Grammy Artists". Grammy.com. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Taali Feature". Arq. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  3. ^ Bacior, Robin. "Label Spotlight: Rainbow Blonde". Spotify For Artists. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  4. ^ Billig, Talia. "TAALI: COMING TO THE SPACE". Unrated Magazine (Interview). Interviewed by Dan Locke. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Meet Taali". Voyage LA. November 27, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  6. ^ Billig, Talia. "The Orchard Sessions: Volume 11". The Orchard Sessions Blog (Interview). Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  7. ^ "Artist Long Form Biography". taalimusic.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  8. ^ Zeitlin, Alan (April 2, 2019). "This New York Singer Gets Down To Earth With Her Jewish Roots In New Album". The New York Jewish Week. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d Sparkman, Jennifer. "Taali: An Interview". Articles of Antiquity. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  10. ^ "José James: While You Were Sleeping Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  11. ^ Anders, Simon. "Taali new single ft. José James'". With Guitars. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  12. ^ a b Mention, Bry'Onna. "Taali's Debut Album "I Am Here" Is Both Pop And Profound: BUST Premiere". BUST Magazine. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  13. ^ Graff, Gary. "Taali Debuts 'Powerful and Vulnerable' Video for 'Hear You Now': Premiere". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  14. ^ Valadez, Anthony (October 16, 2019). "Track Premiere: Taali "Snowfall On Orchard" (feat. José James)". KCRW. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  15. ^ "Artist Spotlight: Taali". Songbird Sessions. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  16. ^ "José James new faculty member of the CvA Jazz Department". Conservatorium van Amsterdam. December 21, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  17. ^ "Bikes, zombie apocalypse planes, etc". Substack. January 10, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  18. ^ "José James sings in the Concertgebouw on Valentine's Day". Het Parool. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  19. ^ "Taali - Paradiso Main Hall". Paradiso. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  20. ^ "José James - Independence Tour special guest Taali". AB Concerts. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  21. ^ "Talia Billig Website". Talia Billig website. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  22. ^ Hussey, Allison (November 24, 2020). "Grammy Nominations 2021: See the Full List of Nominees Here". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  23. ^ "José James And Taali: Alone Together Duets". NPR. May 25, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  24. ^ "José Porches, welcome committees, etc". Substack. September 11, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  25. ^ "Talia Billig Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
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