Dark jazz-infused RnB star on a rise invites you to get ‘Lost In London’ with her.

“This is everyone’s story,” says 22-year-old Tara Lily on ‘The Things You Do’, a single from her debut EP ‘Lost in London’. “This is every relationship that ever was. This is love, betrayal and violence.” A story painted perfectly in a retro-spirited video that goes with it. Set in the art deco RIO cinema, it encompasses all that Tara Lily is about. Mystery on the dark jazz backdrop, spiced up with modern RnB beats.

Mix-heritage musician, growing up in a council flat in Peckham has been soaking up classic jazz at school and sourcing the contemporary sounds straight from South London’s rap scene. Taking it all in from each side of the spectrum, Tara makes songs that resonate can deeply with anyone. It doesn’t matter what place your musical roots originate from. She’s the best of both worlds.

Tara got tipped by Virgil Abloh who helped get her signed to Motown Records and named one of Skepta’s favourite female artists right now so it’s needless to say that her voice on the mainstream scene is only going to get louder and louder. Seek it out on South London’s nocturnal streets, lost in the feelings.

Can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

Hi, I’m Tara Lily. I’m a jazz singer/musician from Peckham working with electronic RnB and rap

production.

How did it all start?

I grew up in Peckham and studied jazz at Trinity Laban conservatoire. Whilst I was training my first

song ‘who saw who’ was released, produced by grime rapper/producer Jammer BBK.

If you were to describe your sound to someone who’d never heard you before,

what would you say?

Dark Rnb Jazz.

How are you feeling about the release of your new EP ‘Lost in London’?

Up and down, every day is a new mood.

Can you tell us more about the themes behind this EP?

‘Lost In London’ context is about being young, about mad deep relationships and getting lost in

that. It’s also about being lost in the music and not having a place in any genre. This is my version of

Jazz and that’s life!

What inspires your music?

My upbringing, relationships. Thoughts. Feelings.

What advice would you give for anyone trying to achieve a similar sound to yours?

My sound is original which is not easy. Nowadays people want something that fits into a

box.

If your music were a film or TV show which would it be?

James Bond.

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s important to you?

‘Sarah Vaughn’ Album 1955. I love a good classic jazz album because every time I listen to I can hear something new. Whether it’s the instrumentation, dissonant melodic line or interesting phrasing there’s always something

you haven’t heard before.

What do you hate right now?

Lockdown.

What do you love right now?

Wine and coffee.

What comes next in the Tara Lily story?

No clue, let’s just hope it’s something exciting.

Is there any new music you’re enjoying from 2021?

Lost In London, Nala Sinphero, Anoushka Shankar, Dave, King Krule, Muva of earth, Billie Eilish.

Start Listening To: Tara Lily